162d Fighter Wing

162nd Wing
152nd Fighter Squadron - General Dynamics F-16D Block 42A Fighting Falcon 88-0156
Active	1969-present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Arizona
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Training
Part of	Arizona Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Tucson Air National Guard Base, Tucson, Arizona
Tail code	Arizona state flag tail stripe "AZ"
Insignia
162nd Fighter Wing emblem

The 162nd Fighter Wing (162 FW sometimes 162d) is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard, stationed at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

The primary mission of the 162nd Fighter Wing is education and flight training of international F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrews. In addition, the wing performs air defense and homeland protection of the United States.

The 162nd Fighter Wing consists of the following units:

On 1 July 1969, the Arizona Air National Guard 152nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 162nd Tactical Fighter Training Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 152nd TFTS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 162nd Headquarters, 162nd Material Squadron (Maintenance), 162nd Combat Support Squadron, and the 162nd USAF Dispensary.

As part of Tactical Air Command, the 162nd TFTG's mission was producing combat-ready pilots for the F-100 aircraft. The 152nd TFTS equipped with the F-100C Super Sabre, and the group graduated their first students in 1970. Shortly afterward, the unit formed the Air National Guard Fighter Weapons School (FWS) in Tucson. This school taught Air Guard and Reserve fighter pilots from throughout the country to effectively use advanced tactics and weapons technology.

In 1977, the group received A-7D Corsair II ground support aircraft and replaced the F-100s. In the early 1980s the group also received the A-7K, a two-seat combat-capable training aircraft derived from the single-seat A-7D. This was the first time an aircraft manufacturer produced a new aircraft specifically designed for Air National Guard use.

The unit received its second Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation for successfully continuing to train F-100 students while completing the most challenging conversion in the unit's history. That tasking was to convert from F-100s to A-7Ds.