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175th Fighter Squadron [175th FS]

The South Dakota Air National Guard was founded by Medal of Honor recipient and former South Dakota Governor Joe Foss on Sep. 20, 1946, at Sioux Falls with federal recognition of the 175th Fighter Squadron. The unit was equipped with F-51 Mustangs and several support aircraft. The 175th was called to active duty in March 1951 during the Korean War and moved to Rapid City Air Force Base to support the B-36 bombers stationed there. The unit returned to state control in December 1952.

The squadron made the transition to jet fighters in 1954 with the F-94A/B. In April 1956, the newly-christened 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, now flying the F-94C , became part of the new 114th Fighter Intercptor Group, headquartered at Sioux Falls. In 1958, the unit went to the F-89\J and in 1960 received its first F-102. During the next 10 years, the fighter group maintained five-minute alert while performing its air defense mission. The 114th was redesignated as a tactical fighter group in 1970 when it received a new mission and new aircraft, the F-100D/F. In 1977, the group traded its F-100s for much newer A-7Ds. The 114th TFG saw duty in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989-90. Unit members also saw duty in Operation Desert Sheild and Desert Storm.

In 1991, the unit began converting to the F-16C/D and was fully combat ready once again in 1992. In December 1993 and January 1994, the unit flew combat air patrol missions over northern Iraq in support of Operation Provide Comfort, protecting Kurdish refugees. The 114 FW again flew combat air patrol missions over northern Iraq from 2 Jan. - 8 Feb. 1996.

In 1998 pilots of the 175th Fighter Squadron deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, the US and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. The 175th deployed from the 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Air National Guard. Ninety-three South Dakota guardsmen deployed as part of Joint Task Force - Southwest Asia, ensuring Iraqi aircraft don't enter designated no-fly zones. South Dakota's 114th Fighter Group, nicknamed the Lobos, arrived at the sand-scrubbed camp 15 February 1998 to support active-duty units enforcing Operation Southern Watch. With their F-16s, they deliver air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack capabilities. No stranger to JTF-SWA's mission, they also flew two tours in past years at Incirlik AB, Turkey, for Operation Northern Watch. Unlike their active-duty counterparts who work from Jaber for up to 120 days, the Lobos' stay was much shorter: one month, rotating every two weeks. However, it was part of an overall six-month undertaking by several Guard organizations.

The 175th Fighter Squadron had six aircraft flying 4-turn-4 (four sorties that return for another four sorties) daily That was the regular schedule ever since the F-16 community joined their A-10 counterparts in Operation Southern Watch.

The 114th Fighter Wing, the first operational Guard unit to fly F-16Cs, brought Fighting Falcons, maintenance and equipment from South Dakota and Iowa. When their one-month mission ended in mid-March, an Iowa crew from the 185th Fighter Wing [Sioux City, Iowa] accepted the job using equipment and aircraft left at Jaber, which sits only 75 miles south of the Iraqi border. While deployed for only a month, the 114th Fighter Wing began earnest planning for the deployment in August 1997.