The 159th Fighter Wing (159 FW) is an Air National Guard unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Louisiana Air National Guard. Headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana, the Wing is operationally gained by Air Combat Command (ACC) and serves as a critical component of national air defense.
Mission and Operations: The primary mission of the 159th Fighter Wing is to provide air superiority for both federal and state contingencies. For its federal role, the Wing is tasked with the air defense of the Gulf Coast region of the United States, participating in Operation Noble Eagle, which involves continuous alert and intercept missions. Additionally, the 159th FW supports overseas deployments and combat operations as required by Air Combat Command, contributing to global security and stability. In its state role, the Wing can be called upon by the Governor of Louisiana for disaster relief operations, security support, and other emergency response tasks within the state.
Aircraft: The 159th Fighter Wing operates the F-15C/D Eagle aircraft. The F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. The "C" variant is a single-seat air superiority fighter, while the "D" variant is a two-seat trainer with full combat capability.
Organization: The 159th Fighter Wing is structured into several groups that enable its diverse mission sets:
- 159th Operations Group: This group is responsible for all flying operations, including the 122nd Fighter Squadron, which is the operational flying unit. It oversees training, scheduling, and execution of air superiority missions.
- 159th Maintenance Group: Provides comprehensive maintenance and logistics support for the F-15C/D aircraft, ensuring their readiness and operational capability.
- 159th Mission Support Group: Offers essential services such as personnel management, security forces, communications, logistics, civil engineering, and force support for all Wing personnel.
- 159th Medical Group: Provides medical services, health care, and aeromedical support to members of the 159th Fighter Wing.
History: The lineage of the 159th Fighter Wing dates back to the activation of the 122nd Pursuit Squadron in January 1941, prior to the United States' entry into World War II. Over its history, the unit has undergone numerous redesignations and operated a variety of aircraft, reflecting the evolving needs of air power. These aircraft have included the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, and F-4 Phantom II. The Wing transitioned to the F-15C/D Eagle in the late 1980s, solidifying its role as an air superiority unit. The 159th Fighter Wing has actively participated in numerous exercises, deployments, and real-world operations, consistently contributing to national defense and international stability.