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The F-15 Eagle has become increasingly more time consuming and difficult to maintain as each year goes by. In efforts to reduce maintenance overhead and to help extend the F-15's operational life with the Air Force
and Air National Guard units, a number of life extension initiatives have been developed. One of the most important projects has been to update the hydromechanical-powered F100-PW-100 engines which power the F-15A/B Eagles (known to mechanics as the "Dash 100"),
to an electronically enhanced and more maintenance friendly model called the "Dash 220E" or the F100-PW-22OE. This modification includes the addition of electronic diagnostics systems to allow technicians to quickly and reliably
assess each engine for malfunctions, taking away a lot of the 'guesswork' which was previously required to keep the engines serviceable.
The 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard have been working on the update of their aircraft with the Dash 220E specification engines. However, it was found that a number of their aircraft would not take the upgrade and as a result several have been retired to AMARC.
Four aircraft have been confirmed as leaving the unit including 75-0025 and 75-0078, both of which are at AMARC, and 75-0039.
The fourth confirmed aircraft, F-15B 75-0088, has been swapped out to the 110th Fighter Squadron of the 131st Fighter Wing, Missouri ANG, for their F-15B 76-0126. 75-0088 will probably also be retired to AMARC when the 131st receives their contingent of F-15C's.
All of the personnel who have maintained these aircraft have done a tremendous job of keeping them at a high rate of readiness. When the engine upgrades are complete their workload will be considerably reduced and simplified as they will not have to constantly make tweaks to optimize engine performance.
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The 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, is located at Jacksonville International Airport (IAP), FL., with a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Alert Detachment at Homestead ARB, Fla.
The 125th has a dual mission - one state and one federal. The state mission is to provide trained and equipped personnel to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order, and public safety.
The federal mission is to provide fully trained and qualified personnel to NORAD in time of war or national emergency for the defense of the North American Continent. On a daily basis, the 125th is responsible for the
maintenance of a NORAD Air Defense Alert site at Homestead ARB, Fla. In this capacity, the unit provides armed F-15 aircraft capable of intercepting, identifying, and, if necessary, destroying unknown aircraft which
penetrate sovereign U.S. airspace. In the past, this threat has included Soviet Bear bombers, Cuban fighters, and narcotics traffickers.
The unit also operates a C-26B aircraft supporting state and federal law enforcement agencies and a C-130E supporting Fighter Support Airlift (FSA) missions.
The roots of the 125th Fighter Wing date back to the period following World War II when the unit was first organized as the 159th Fighter Squadron Feb. 9, 1947 with
an initial strength of 18 personnel equipped with P-51 Mustangs. In 1948 the 159th became one of the first Air National Guard units to be equipped with jets when it
converted to the F-80C Shooting Star.
The unit was called to active duty Oct. 10, 1950 as a result of the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. After a nine-month conversion from the F-80 to the F-84E Thunderjet,
the unit deployed to Japan where it flew air combat missions over the Korean peninsula. In so doing, it became the first unit to employ in-flight refueling operations in
combat. The unit was released from active duty July 9, 1952, returning home to be re-equipped with the F-51H Mustang.
During the remainder of the early 1950s, the 159th was equipped with a multitude of different aircraft, including the T-6, B-26, C-45, F51H, T-33, F-80, and F86A.
By the end of 1954, the unit was equipped with an entire squadron of F-80s.
July 1, 1956, the primary unit designation was changed to the 125th Fighter Interceptor Group, and the unit converted to the F-86D Super Sabre with the primary mission
of air defense.
July 1960, the 125th converted from the F-86D to the all-weather, supersonic F-102A/B Delta Dagger, followed in July 1974 by a conversion to the F-106A/B Delta Dart
April 1987, the 125th converted to the F-16A/B, a multi-role fighter that was subsequently modified as the ADF-16 specifically designed for the air defense role.
June 1995, the 125th converted to the F-15A/B which provides better radar
detection, a greater weapons load, and two engines that provide more safety
during long over water missions.
Over the years the 125th Fighter Wing have achieved many firsts and have been presented with an impressive number of awards rewarding their dedication and professionalism.
Firsts And Achievements
- In 1958, became the first Air National Guard unit to earn the right to compete in WILLIAM TELL, and was the first team ever to fire a perfect score in that competition.
- October 1995, became the first unit ever to complete a transition from one-fourth generation fighter to another fourth generation fighter as it transitioned from the ADF-16 to the MSIP F-15.
- The unit was the first operational NORAD Air Defense Alert.
- The first operational ADF-16 unit to employ the AIM-7 missile.
- The first unit to deploy to Howard AB, Panama, in support of JCS-directed Operation CORONET NIGHTHAWK using enhanced identification tactics.
- The NORAD Inspector General rated the unit “Outstanding” during an Alert Force Evaluation in November 1997. This was the highest rating ever given by NORAD.
- January 1998, the 125th Fighter Wing received an “Outstanding” on its Operational Readiness Inspection.
The Wing operational intensity has increased exponentially since the ORI success recording deployments to Iceland April-May 1998; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey for Operation
NORTHERN WATCH May-July 1999, Laage, Germany April-May 2000 for Exercise AGILE ARCHER and Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia Oct.-Nov. 2000 for Operation
SOUTHERN WATCH. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the wing has supported Operation NOBLE EAGLE continuously and deployed personnel worldwide to support Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Awards
Just days after receiving the “Outstanding” rating on the ORI, the unit was notified of its receipt of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of Sept. 1 1995-Aug. 31, 1997.
The 125th subsequently received the AFOUA for the periods of Sept. 1, 1997-Aug. 31, 1998 and again for the period of Sept. 1 1998- Aug. 31, 1999.
The 125th received previous awards in 1979 and 1984.
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