Tactical Fighter

McDonnell F-4C-15-MC Phantom II fighter (s/n 63-7411) of the 188th Tactical Fighter Group, Arkansas Air National Guard, prepares for take-off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (USA), during the "Gunsmoke '85" exercise on 6 October 1985.

F-16Cs Arkansas ANG at Ft Smith 2002

The 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, Ark., welcomed its transition from F-16s to A-10s 14 April. Federal, state and local elected officials along joined unit members to say farwell to the F-16 (foreground) and hello to the A-10 (background). Both pictured planes were flying off the wing of a 189th Airlift Wing C-130 before they returned to their base for an aerial demonstration. F-16 84-1285

Following their withdrawal from the Vietnam War, numerous USAF F-100D Super Sabres were turned over to the Air National Guard. Tactical Air Command realigned the 188th into a Tactical Fighter Group in 1972, and equipping the unit with Vietnam Veteran F-100D and twin-seat F-100F Trainers. In 1979, the Super Sabre was being retired and the 184th TFS began receiving F-4C Phantom IIs to be used in an air defense role. In 1988, as part of the retirement of the Phantom II, the squadron began receiving Block 15 F-16A Fighting Falcons. The first F-16 delivery to the squadron was on 1 July 1988 and the formal acceptance of the F-16 happened on 15 October. On 15 March 1992 the 184th dropped the Tactical name from the squadron as the parent 184th converted to the USAF Objective organization.

In early 2001 the 184th FS began to retire its F-16A/B block 15s to AMARC in exchange for F-16C block 32s. They never received any D-models. Because the squadron flew the rarely seen block 32, the squadron became a source for spare F-16s for the USAF Thunderbirds flight demonstration team. In the end the 184th FS never had to give up any of their aircraft as the Thunderbirds took needed aircraft from home based Nellis 57th Fighter Wing.

Deployed to Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia (24 October 2002 to December 2002) in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 2005, the 188th deployed nearly 300 Airmen and multiple F-16C Fighting Falcons to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

BRAC 2005

BRAC 2005 initially decided to inactivate the 188th Fighter Wing and close Fort Smith ANGB. With a great deal of effort by Arkansas' leaders caused the BRAC panel to change its decision on the 184th FS and give it a new mission. The squadron would still lose its F-16s but in their place would get a total of eighteen A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft. One of the deciding factors was Fort Smiths location near Fort Chaffee, a former National Guard training post.

On 18 October 2006 the 184th FS began giving up F-16s when two departed for the 194th Fighter Squadron located at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. By April 2007 the 184th FS had already begun to receive the A-10 from the Massachusetts ANG 104th Fighter Wing and pilots had already commenced cross training in October. On 14 April 2007 the 184th FS marked the day with a celebration 'Viper Out/Warthog In' day. The 184th FS took the opportunity to display their new A-10 paint scheme and to still fly the F-16 but the 184th FS at this point was officially an A-10 unit.

Current status

Between late March and early July 2012, the Wing deployed 375 Airmen and 10 aircraft to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They were assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, near Kabul. This was the second AEF deployment for the 188th as a unit since receiving A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" 14 April 2007. The 188th's last AEF deployment transpired in 2010 when the unit deployed about 300 Airmen and 12 A-10Cs to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield.

The Guardsmen remained in Afghanistan until October, flying close-air support in response to ground troops who may be in contact with the enemy, or to escort convoys in particularly hostile areas. When not supporting ground troops, A-10s patrol designated sectors and provided aerial reconnaissance on locations of interest to ground commanders. In three months, Arkansas ANG A-10s delivered more than 60,000 30mm cannon rounds and more than 250 precision munitions on enemy targets.

In early 2013 the Air Force planned to realign the 188th Fighter Wing and replace its 20 A-10 aircraft, converting the 184th FS to operate the General Atomics [MQ-9 Reaper] remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). On 7 June 2014, the last A-10 aircraft departed the 188th Fighter Wing. At the same time, the 184th Fighter Squadron was re-designated the 184th Attack Squadron.

In late 2014 the 188th Fire Department which supported the fighter wing operations, but also covered the regional airport, was disbanded after over two decades of full-time service.

On 3 June 2021 Ebbing Air National Guard Base was chosen as the location to host a multi-national training site for the F-16 Falcon and F-35. The 188th Wing will become a host unit for these new aircraft.^[3]

Assignments

• 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 15 October 1962
• 127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, c. 1 August 1965
• 140th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 June 1972
• 131st Tactical Fighter Wing, c. 1978
• Arkansas Air National Guard, 1 October 1995 – present

Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 15 October 1962

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – present

Components

• 188th Operations Group, 1 October 1995 – present
• 184th Tactical Reconnaissance (later Tactical Fighter, Fighter, Attack) Squadron, 22 August 1962 – Present

Stations

• Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 15 October 1962

Designated Fort Smith Air National Guard Station, 1991 – present

Aircraft

Bibliography

• 188th Fighter Wing history page
• 188th Fighter Wing@globalsecurity.org
• 184th Fighter Squadron@f-16.net