187th Fighter Wing

187th Fighter Wing
USAF F-16C Block 30, AF Ser. No. 87-0217 from the 160th FS is seen wearing special tail markings for the Alabama ANG commemorating the reactivation of the 100th FS of the Tuskegee Airmen, flies formation with a P-51 Mustang in Tuskegee Airmen markings on 12 Sep 2007 [Tuskegee Airmen markings on P-51 as shown is in correct. Tail should be totally painted red]
Active	15 October 1962
Country	United States
Allegiance	Alabama
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Fighter
Part of	Alabama Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Montgomery Air National Guard Base, Alabama
Tail Code	"AL"
Engagements	Berlin Crisis, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Insignia
187th Fighter Wing emblem

The 187th Fighter Wing (187 FW) is a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard, stationed at Montgomery Air National Guard Base, Alabama. If activated to federal service in the United States Air Force, the 187 FW is operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

To provide the Governor of Alabama, the National Command Authority, and Combatant Commanders with a superbly equipped and trained general purpose F-16C+ Block 30 Aviation Package, associated Expeditionary Combat Support functions and RC-26B counter drug package for worldwide combat and peacetime/humanitarian tasking in support of our community, state, and national interests.

The 187th Fighter Wing consists of the following units:

On 15 October 1962, the Alabama Air National Guard's 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 160th TRS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 187th Headquarters, 187th Material Squadron, 187th Combat Support Squadron, and the 187th USAF Dispensary. The unit was flying the RF-84F Thunderstreak.

In 1971, the RF-4C Phantom II photo-reconnaissance aircraft was being withdrawn from Southeast Asia, and the 160th began to receive these Vietnam War veteran aircraft. The RF-84Fs were retired and during the 1970s the squadron flew the Phantoms in its aerial reconnaissance mission.

In 1983, the 187th was realigned from its photo-reconnaissance mission and converted to a tactical fighter mission, transferring its RF-4Cs and receiving Vietnam Veteran F-4D Phantom IIs. The F-4D Phantoms were part of a batch equipped to use the AVQ-23 Pave Spike laser designation pod and the AGM-65 Maverick ASM in the 1970s. By 1988 the Phantoms were being withdrawn from the Air National Guard inventory, and the 160th began to receive Block 30 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons to use in the tactical fighter mission.