Information supplied and copyrighted
by Joe Baugher
Service of General
Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon with USAF
Last revised April 29,
2000
The USAF accepted its first F-16 on
August 17, 1978. The first operational unit to get the F-16A/B was the 388th Tactical
Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, which received its first machines on January 6, 1979. It
built up to a strength of 102 F-16s by the end of 1980, and trained crews from both TAC
and export customers. Hill AFB was designated as the worldwide F-16 system logistical
center, with both USAF and European F-16 pilots receiving their initial training there.
In the beginning, some thought had been
given to naming the F-16 Mustang II, even though the original Mustang was a North
American Aviation product. The name Condor was also considered. On July 21, 1980,
Deputy Defense Secretary Clements announced that the official name of the F-16 would be Fighting
Falcon, which was the mascot of the USAF Academy. The prefix was considered necessary
in order to avoid litigation by Dassault (which marketed an executive jet with the name
Falcon), as well as to avoid confusion with the Hughes Falcon air-to-air missile. Pilots
and ground crews almost never use the full name, usually referring to the F-16 simply as
Falcon. The unofficial name Viper is quite often used for the F-16, as well as
"Electric Jet", a reference to the fly-by-wire flight control system.
The 4th TFS of the 388th TFW achieved
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on November 12, 1980. In March of 1981, this unit
took twelve of its F-16s for a month-long deployment to Norway, marking the first
deployment of the USAF F-16s overseas.
Next to get the F-16 was the 56th
Tactical Training Wing based at MacDill AFB in Florida, which became the replacement
training unit (RTU) for the entire F-16 fleet. They began to receive its first F-16A/B
Block 1/5 aircraft on October 22, 1979.
In May of 1981, the USAF announced that
completion of the 18-month Multinational Operational Test and Evaluation Program showed
that the F-16 had exceeded expectations in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. In
June of 1981, seven 388th TFW aircraft won the Royal Air Force-sponsored tactical bombing
competition, winning out over RAF Jaguars and Buccaneer and USAF F-111s. They defended
themselves against RAF Lightnings and Phantoms in simulated air-to-air combats, scoring 88
simulated "kills" against no losses.
In August of 1981, all USAF F-16s were
grounded following a fatal crash at Hill AFB. The caused was traced to a problem with the
bleed air valve on the 13th stage of the F100 engine. When the bleed air valve got stuck
in the open position, bleed air was directed onto the emergency power unit, causing an
electrical surge which shut down the flight control computer and caused an uncommanded
pitchover.
First deliveries to the 8th TFW at Kunsan
in South Korea took place in September of 1981. The 8th TFW at Kunsan had the 35th and
80th TFS re-equipped with F-16s, which replaced the F-4D Phantom. This marked the first
American F-16 base overseas. This modernization program was aimed in part to compensate
for US troop drawdowns that had taken place in South Korea during the Carter
Administration. The first USAF F-16 unit in Europe was the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing
based at Hahn AB in Germany, with Block 15 F-16A/Bs replacing F-4E Phantoms in July of
1982.
By the spring of 1982, 345 F-16s were in
service with TAC units.
After a period of initial training at
Zaragoza in Spain, the 50th TFW's 313rd Tactical Fighter Squadron became operational at
Hahn AB in Germany in December 1982. It was followed by the 496th and 10th TFS. Three more
squadrons--the 417th, 512th, and 526th from the 86th TFW at Ramstein also switched to the
F-16C from the F-4E Phantom. The first F-16s deployed to Europe were Block 15, with the
larger horizontal tail surfaces and inlet hardpoints for AMRAAM missiles and LANTIRN
sensors.
The 401st TFW at Torrejon in Spain began
to receive Block 15 F-16s in 1983. However, in 1989 the Spanish government voted to evict
all US combat units from its territory, and the 401st made plans to re-establish itself at
Crotone AB in Italy. The 401st deactivated in 1991 after Desert Storm and the new
wing was eventually formed in 1993 as the 31st Fighter Wing.
Production of the F-16A and B for the
USAF ended in the winter of 1984/85. 785 F-16A/Bs were delivered to the USAF. Production
of the first (Block 25) F-16C and D began in 1984, with the first example being delivered
to the USAF in July.
In October 1985, F-16 units took six of
the top seven spots in Gunsmoke 85, the USAF worldwide fighter gunnery meet held at
Nellis AFB in Nevada. the 419th TFW, AFRES won first place, whereas the 50th TFW took
second.
The first European-based unit to operate
the F-16C was the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Ramstein AB in Germany, which
switched to the Block 30 F-16C/D from the F-4E Phantom in December of 1985.
F-16s gradually replaced the older F-4
Phantoms in USAF service and soon became the USAF's primary ground attack aircraft. In
1987, the 52nd TFW began to deploy Block 30 F-16C/Ds as a replacement for its F-4Es. These
planes operated in cooperation with F-4G Phantoms in the *Wild Weasel* SAM suppression
role. By 1989 the USAF in Europe had traded in all of its F-16A/B aircraft for the newer
C/D models. Night operations using the LANTIRN system started in West Germany in late
1989.
By 1990, about 1500 F-16s had been
delivered, and production switched over to the Block 40/42 version.
In the late 1980s, two squadrons of F-16s
were supplied to the 51st TFW at Osan AB in Korea.
The F-16 was used in the Persian Gulf war
of 1991 in larger numbers than any other fighter, with 249 F-16As and Cs seeing action.
Most of the F-16s sent to the Gulf were Block 40 models. Most of them were fitted with
LANTIRN navigation pods. However, LANTIRN targeting pods were still in short supply and
the F-15E force had the higher priority, so few were available for the F-16.
Operation Desert Storm began on
January 17, 1991, with coordinated air attacks against Iraq. The F-16 played a major role
in the air campaign, performing 25 percent of all sorties and attacking a wide range of
targets including fixed sites, radar systems, tanks, and other vehicles. The weapons
delivered by F-16s were typically a pair of Mk 84 bombs, six Mk 82 bombs, CBU-52 and
CBU-58 cluster munitions, the CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition, and the AIM-65 Maverick
air-to-ground missile. Most of the Mavericks used in the Gulf War were the AGM-65D
infrared version, which proved ideal in dry desert conditions, although a few of the older
AGM-65A/B television-guided Mavericks were also used. The kill rate for the Maverick was
claimed to be about 80 percent, but its high cost limited its use against high-value
targets such as tanks. Early in Desert Storm, it was thought that the F-16s might
encounter significant air-to-air opposition, so they carried four AIM-9 Sidewinder
missiles, one on each wing tip and one on each of the outboard underwing stations. As the
Iraqi air-to-air threat diminished, the Sidewinder load was reduced to only two, carried
at the wingtips. Only 72 of the F-16s used during Desert Storm were fitted with
LANTIRN pods (most of them carrying only the navigation pod), so the majority of the F-16
force was used only during daylight hours.
With the Iraqi air force having been
knocked out during the first few days of the war or forced to flee to Iran, F-16s never
got the chance to tangle with Iraqi fighters, and no air-to-air kills were scored by F-16s
during Desert Storm. All of the Iraqi fixed-wing aircraft downed in air-to-air
combat by USAF fighters were shot down by F-15C Eagles.
In March of 1982, it was announced that
the USAF's Thunderbirds flight demonstration team would trade in its T-38 Talons for F-16
Fighting Falcons. Transition to the F-16 was completed in November 1982, with the first
public demonstration being flown in April of 1983. In March of 1985, the team re-equipped
with Block 15 F-16As, plus one F-16B which is used for media orientation flights. The
space normally used for the gun on the F-16 is taken up by an oil tank which is used to
make smoke during air show demonstrations. The Thunderbirds' F-16s have been modified with
F100-PW-220 engines.
It was not until after Desert Storm
that the F-16 was to get its first kill with the USAF. On December 27, 1992, a pair of
Iraqi Air Force MiG-23 Floggers were spotted flying in violation of the no-fly zone over
southern Iraq. They were intercepted by a pair of USAF F-16Ds from the 363rd TFW/33rd TFS.
The Iraqi fighters were given a verbal warning, but they turned to confront the American
aircraft. One of the MiGs was shot down by a single AIM-120A AMRAAM fired from a range of
about 3 miles. The other MiG fled to Iran. This marked the combat debut of the AIM-120
AMRAAM and was also the first air-to-air combat for a USAF F-16. The victorious pilot was
LtCol Gary North, flying F-16D Block 42 serial number 90-0778.
Under Operation Deny Flight,
instituted on April 12, 1993, Serbian aircraft were forbidden to fly over Bosnian
territory. On February 18, 1994, two USAF F-16Cs from the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing/526th
Tactical Fighter Squadron shot down four Serbian Soko G-4 Super Galebs over
Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was the first offensive action ever performed by NATO warplanes.
Six Galebs had been spotted by an E-3 Sentry while bombing targets in the town of Bugojno.
They were warned twice to land or leave the UN no-fly zone, but both warnings were
ignored. Two USAF F-16s were then vectored in to intercept the Galebs. Two more warnings
were given, and the F-16Cs were given clearance to fire. F-16C 89-2137 flown by Capt.
Robert Wright fired a single AIM-120 AMRAAM which dispatched the lead Galeb, and then
fired two Sidewinders which destroyed two more Galebs. The second F-16C flown by Capt.
Scott O'Grady fired a Sidewinder at the fourth aircraft, but this missile missed. A second
flight of F-16Cs was vectored in by the AWACS, and the lead aircraft from this flight
(89-2009) , destroyed a fourth Galeb. The remaining two Galebs managed to escape Bosnian
airspace via Croatia.
Operation Deny Flight continued
until December 20, 1995, when control of Bosinian peacekeeping was handed over to NATO.
During 26 months of operations from Aviano, more than 400 missions were flown.
In March of 1995, the 23rd FS operated
Block 50 Wild Weasel aircraft in support of Operation Provide Comfort, the
enforcement of the no-fly zone over nothern Iraq. A number of HARMs were fired at Iraqi
SAM sites that were attempting to illuminate coalition aircraft.
Operation Deliberate Force began
on August 30, 1995.
The Air Force has announced plans to
convert as many as 200 Block 30 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons for high-intensity daylight
close-air support. An additional 200 Block 40 F-16C/Ds will be provided with enhanced
capability for night CAS patrols. The Block 30 F-16C/Ds will have an improved data
computer, a laser spot tracker, and possibly a missile approach warning system. The Block
40 F-16C/Ds will be given an upgraded LANTIRN system which will have a laser spot tracker
to enhance identification of ground targets. The primary weapon for CAS will be the AGM-65
Maverick air-to-surface missile.
USAF units operating the F-16 Fighting
Falcon:
- 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB,
Korea:
35th and 80th Tactical
Fighter Squadrons
F-16A/B Block 10 taken on strength in
September 1981, the 8th becoming the first overseas USAF unit to be equipped with the
F-16. Later equipped with Block 15 F-16A/B. Converted to F-16C/D Block 30 in October 1987.
In 1990, began to receive F-16Cs passed on to it from the 36th TFS at Osan.
- 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena AB,
Japan:
26th Aggressor Squadron
Was to have received Block 30 F-16Cs in
1989, but was disbanded in 1990 before planes could be taken on strength when USAF
disbanded its agressor program. Planes transferred to 36th TFS at Osan.
- 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, North
Carolina
55th, 77th, 78th, 79th
Fighter Squadrons
- 23rd Wing, Pope AFB, North Carolina:
74th Fighter Squadron
23rd Wing was activated in June 1992.
Dedicated to support of 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. Other squadrons are A-10 and
C-130 units. Was lead unit in planned invasion of Haiti. Took part in major reinforcement
of Kuwait in response to Iraqi maneuvers.
- 27th Fighter Wing, Canon AFB, New Mexico:
428th, 522nd, 523rd and 524th Fighter Squadrons.
- 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB,
Florida:
306th, 307th, 308th and
309th Tactical Fighter Squadrons.
Received F-16A/B Block 15 in October
1982. 306th TFS have been deactivated. Converted to F/16C/D Block 40 in 1990. The
"Tactical" was dropped from the designation in 1991. In August 1992, Hurricane
Andrew devastated Homestead and the unit was deactivated. Squadron numbers transferred to
Luke AFB as training squadrons. Wing number of 31 later reestablished at Aviano, Italy
with the 512th and 555th Fighter Squadrons.
- 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy:
510th and 555th Fighter Squadron.
Made up of 401st TFW that was deactivated
in 1991. Received 31st FW number from disbanded Homestead unit. Activated April 1994 with
Block F-16C/D aircraft from Ramstein AB. 526th FS was renumbered 555th FS, which had
previously been an F-15E training unit at Luke AFB. The 512th FS was transferred directly
from Ramstein. In 1994, the 512th FS was renumbered 510th FS, assuming the identity of an
A10 unit. This unit has been heavily involved in the Deny Flight operations over
former Yugoslavia.
- 35th Figher Wing, Misawa AB, Japan:
13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons
Previously operated F-4Gs at George AFB,
and was inactivated in December 1992. Reactivated in 1993 in Iceland, but numberplate
transferred to Misawa in October 1994, replacing the 432nd FW. Operates Block 50 F-16CJs.
- 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB,
Germany:
10th , 313th, and 496th
Tactical Fighter Squadrons.
First USAF F-16 unit in Europe, with
Block 15 F-16A/Bs replacing F-4E Phantoms in July 1982. Upgraded to Block 25 F-16C/D in
1986. 50th TFW deactivated in September 1991. 313th and 496th TFS disbanded and planes
redistributed to ANG.
- 51st Tactical Fighter Wing, Osan AB,
Korea:
36th Tactical Fighter
Squadron.
Received first Block 30 F-16C/Ds in
January 1989. Received new LANTIRN-equipped F-16C Block 42 aircraft in June 1990. These
are equipped with the F100-PW-220 engine. Initial batch of F-16Cs transferred to 8th TFW
at Kunsan. In October 1990, became 51st Fighter Wing. Also has a squadron of A-10s and a
C-12J squadron.
- 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem
AB, Germany:
22nd, 23rd, 81st, and
480th Tactical Fighter Squadrons
Acquired Block 30 F-16C/D in July 1987.
Acts in conjunction with F-4G Phantom in the "Wild Weasel" SAM suppression role.
81st squadron later converted to an A-10 unit. 480th was later renumbered as 22nd FS.
Acquired Block 50 F-16C/D in 1993. Today, the 52nd is a composite wing, with two F-16
squadrons, one of A-10s, and one of F-15Cs. Heavily involved in Deny Flight
operations over former Yugoslavia, with detachments based at Aviano AB.
- 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida
85th TES, 422nd TES
- 56th Tactical Training Wing, MacDill AFB,
Florida:
61st, 62nd, 63rd, and
72nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons
Received first Block 1/5 F-16A/Bs in
October of 1979, replacing the F-4D Phantom. Eventually standardized on F-16C/D Block 30
aircraft in 1990. Wing and squadrons were redesignated as FW and FS respectively in 1991.
Inactivated in 1994, with squadron numbers and wing numberplate being assigned to 58th FW
at Luke AFB. 58th FW later redesignated 56th FW.
- 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB,
Nevada:
422nd Test Squadron, F-16
Fighter Weapons Squadron. 414th Training Squadron, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Detachment 2
at Luke AFB, Detachment 16 at Hill AFB.
Carries out flight test and evaluation
duties. 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron received first F-16A in September of 1980.
Small numbers of Block 15s F-16A/B and Block 25 F-16C/Ds were used. 57th was one of the
first two units to take delivery of F-16C/D Block 32s, in June/July of 1987. Fighter
Weapons School used for instructional purposes. 64th AS operated Block 32 F-16C/D, but
with cancellation of USAF adversary program, the 64th AS was deactivated on October 5,
1990. A small number of Block 32 F-16C/Ds operate in Russian-style camouflage with the
Adversary Tactics Division of the 414th Training Squadron (formerly the 4440th Tactical
Fighter Training Group), the unit responsible for organizing the *Red Flag* exercises. The
Aerial Demonstration Swuadron (Thunderbirds) are based at Nellis, now operating F-16C/D
Block 32. Redesignated 57th Wing in 1994.
- 58th Tactical Training Wing, Luke AFB,
Arizona:
61st, 62nd 63rd, 308th,
309th, 310th, 311th, 312th, 314th, 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons
Acquired F-16A/B Block 10 aircraft in
February 1983, initially equipping 310th, 311th, and 312th TFTS. 314th TFTS added in 1986.
310th, 312th, 314th converted to F-16C/D Block 25 in 1986. The 311th TFTS remained with
the F-16A, and was the primary squadron providing training to FMS transition to foreign
F-16 pilots. Lost 312th TFTS in 1991. Redesignated 58th FW on October 1, 1991. When
MacDill closed, F-16 training committment was transferred to Luke. Name changed to 56th
Fighter Wing on April 1, 1994, taking over training duties from MacDill AFB. Acquired
61st, 62nd, and 63rd squadron numbers from MacDill, plus 308th and 309th numbers from ex-
Homestead 31st FW. 425th FS is expected to adopt the 307th FS number in the future. Only
the 310th and 311th FS from the original 58th TTW lineup have survived. 56th FW has 8 F-16
squadrons, standardized on Block 40, but 61st and 62nd retain Block 25s and the 425 still
has Block 15 A/Bs for training of FMS customers. This FMS mission is to be handed over to
the Arizona ANG in late 1995, with the 425th receiving F-16C/D. Current squadrona are
21st, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 308th, 309th, 310th, 311th, and 425th.
- 75th Air Base Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
Ogden Air Logistics Center operates two F-16 for
testing of new maintenance procedures and modifications.
- 79th Test and Evaluation Group, Eglin AFB,
Florida: 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron--redesignated 85th TS 1992
Operates a variety of F-16s on test and evaluation
programs
- 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF
Bentwaters, England:
527th
Aggressor Squadron
Acquired Block 32 F-16Cs in January 1989
for agressor role. Disbanded in 1990, with aircraft being dispersed to other units.
- 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
Equipped with a number of GF-16 ground
instructional airframes.
- 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ramstein AB,
Germany:
512th and 526th Tactical
Fighter Squadrons
Converted to Block 30 F-16C/D in December
1985, replacing F-4E Phantom. First overseas operator of F-16C/D. Received Block 40
LANTIRN-capable F-16C/D in 1993/1994. Heavily involved with Deny Flight operations
over former Yugoslavia. These two F-16 squadrons relocated to Aviano AB, Italy in 1995.
The 526th was redesignated the 555th, and the 512th became the 510th, and they were
transferred to the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing. The 86th Wing remained at Ramstein, but
became an air transport wing.
- 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Moody AFB,
Georgia:
68th, 69th, 70th, 307th,
308th Tactical Fighter Squadrons
68th, 69th, and 70th TFS converted to
Block 15 F-16A/B in 1985. In early 1990, converted to F-16C/D Block 40 with LANTIRN. 69th
TFS was dispatched to Desert Storm. In 1993, absorbed 307th and 308th FS from
deactivating 31st FW in preparation to becoming an Army support composite wing.
Redesignated 347th Wing on July 1, 1994. Lost 69th, 70th, and 308th FS, and 307th was
renumbered as the "new" 69th FS. 70th FS number was transferred to a new A-10
squadron. Now has 68th and 69th FS with Block 40 F-16C/D. The 52nd AS flies C-130s.
- 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB,
Alaska:
18th Tactical Fighter
Squadron
Was formerly 343rd Fighter Wing, but
acquired the number of the 354th FW in 1993 when it disbanded as an A-10 unit. Obtained
Block 40 LANTIRN-capable F-16C/D in 1991.
- 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB,
South Carolina:
17th, 19th, and
33rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons
Had been the 363rd Tactical
Reconnaissance Wing, operating the RF-4C Phantom. 17th and 19th TFS began converting to
F-16A/B Block 15 in 1982, but transitioned to Block 25 F-16C/D in 1985. 33rd TFS retained
its RF-4Cs until 1989 when it transitioned to F-16Cs. Reequipped with F-16C/D Block 42 in
1991 and soon therafter to Block 50D. Stationed at Al Dafra AB at Sharjah for *Desert
Storm*. Became 363rd FW (17th, 19th and 33rd FS) in 1991. Achieved first USAF F-16 kill on
December 27, 1992, a MiG-25 over southern Iraq. 363rd FW redesignated 20th FW in January
1994, with its squadrons being renumbered 77th, 78th, and 79th FS. 20th FW was formerly an
F-111E unit which had been deactivated, the 77th and 79th FS had formerly been F-111E
squadrons, and the 78th FS had formerly been an A-10 unit.
- 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home
AFB, Idaho:
389th Tactical Fighter
Squadron
Redesignated 366th Wing on January 1,
1992. Acquired Block 25 F-16C/D in Summer of 1992 Other squadrons in the wing are equipped
with F-15, KC-135R, and B-1B. 389th FS upgraded to Block 52D F-16C/D at end of 1994.
Supported Operation Provide Comfort.
- 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill AFB,
Utah:
4th, 34th, and 421st
Tactical Fighter Squadrons. 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.
First USAF unit to operate the F-16A/B,
taking delivery of first F-16A on January 6, 1979. Operated Block 1, 5, and 10 machines,
and primarily used as a training unit, including instructors from the initial four
European users. 16th TFTS deactivated in 1987 and its planes transferred to Montana ANG.
The remaining 3 squadrons converted to Block 40 LANTIRN-capable F-16C/Ds beginning in May
of 1989. 4th FS received Block 50 F-16C in 1993. 34th and 421st did not. 4th reverted to
Block 40 aircraft in early 1995. Hill AFB is a possible candidate for base closure.
- 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon AB,
Spain:
612th, 613th, 614th
Tactical Fighter Squadrons
Reequipped with F-16A/B in April 1983,
replacing the F-4D Phantom. Re-equipped in 1989 with F-16C/D Block 30 aircraft. In 1989,
Spanish government voted to evict US combat units from its territory, and 401st prepared
to move to Italy. The Gulf War intervened, and the 614th TFS was sent to Qatar to provide
air defense. 401th TFW vacated Torrejon in 1992. 612th, 613th, 614th TFW deactivated and
aircraft were redistributed to other units. Relocated to Aviano AB, Italy, but with no
aircraft. Redesignated the 31st Fighter Wing in April 1994 and equipped with Block 40
F-16C/D aicraft relocated from Ramstein AB.
- 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Misawa AB,
Japan: 13th and 14th Tactical Fighter Squadrons
Second Pacific Air Force wing to receive F-16. Converted to
F-16A/B Block 15 in July 1985. Later converted to F-16C/D Block 30 in 1990. Renumbered as
35th Fighter Wing in 1992, adopting the number of a disbanding F-4 wing at George AFB. In
early 1995, received Block 50 F-16C/D aircraft.
- 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB,
Nevada:
428th, 429th, and 430th
Tactical Fighter Squadrons
Third wing to receive Fighting Falcons.
Received first Block 1/5 F-16A/Bs in November 1980, replacing F-4D Phantom. Later operated
Block 10 F-16A/Bs. Unit deactivated in 1989, the three squadrons resurfacing as F-111
operators with the 27th FW.
- 3246th Test Wing, Elgin AFB, Florida:
39th and 40th Flight Test Squadron, 3247th Test
Squadron
Flight test mission for armament work.
Received first F-16A/B Block 5s in 1980. Renumbered 46th Test Wing in 1992, with 3247th TS
becoming the 40th FTS. The 39th FTS was added later.
- 6510th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, California:
6512th Test Squadron, 416th
Fighter Test Squadron
Flight test duties, chase aircraft,
aircraft for the Test Pilot School. Renumbered 412th Test Wing October 1, 1992, and its
fleet organized into squadrons by type. All F-16 flying now conducted by 416th FTS.
- Tactical Air Warfare Center, Elgin AFB,
Florida:
4485th Test Squadron.
Has operated a mixed bag of F-16s since
1975 on weapons delivery and other tactics test missions.
- Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah
operates a single F-16A for test
duties.
Air Force Reserve:
In March of 1982, the USAF announced that
the Air Force Reserve would be supplied with F-16A/B Fighting Falcons. The Air Force
Reserve, like the Air National Guard, has in recent years been assigned a greater
responsibility for supplementing frontline units, and has been assigned the latest
aircraft types and equipment to support active duty units if needed. Initially primarily a
transport-oriented unit, the AFRes now operates a variety of combat aircraft as well as
aeromedical evacuation, rescue, and air evacuation aircraft. The AFRes has even been
assigned strategic bombers.
In January of 1984, the 419th Tactical
Fighter Wing based at Hill AFB in Utah became the first Air Force Reserve unit to operate
the F-16, taking delivery of F-16A/B blocks 1, 5, and 10 aircraft transferred to it from
the 388th TFW, also based at Hill. They replaced F-105 Thunderchief fighter bombers.
AFRes F-16s have flown a number of
missions over northern Iraq under Operation Provide Comfort.
The Air Force Reserve is scheduled for
drastic cutbacks under the current defense drawdown following the end of the Cold War. The
seven surviving F-16 units will reduce their complements from 18 to 15 aircraft, and the
89th Fighter Squadron at Wright Patterson AFB will retire its F-16A/Bs in exchange for
C-141B transports and will join the 356th ALS, 907th AG.
USAF Reserve Units operating the F-16
Fighting Falcon:
- 301st Fighter Wing, Carswell AFB, Texas:
457th Fighter Squadron
Operates F-16A/B beginning in December
1990. Now equipped with Block 30 F-16C/D
- 419th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill AFB,
Utah:
466th Tactical Fighter
Squadron
Received first Block 1/5/10 F-16A/B in
January 1984, replacing F-105. Aircraft acquired from active-duty 388th TFW. Upgraded to
Block 30 F-16C/D in mid 1994.
- 482nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead
AFB, Florida:
93rd Tactical
Fighter Squadron
Acquired Block 15 F-16A/B July 1989.
Based at MacDill AFB between 1992 and 1994 after Homestead was damaged by Hurrican Andrew.
Returned to Homestead in 1994.
- 507th Tactical Fighter Group, Tinker AFB,
Oklahoma: 465th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Acquired Block 10 F-16A/B in 1988. 507th FG inactivated in 1994, the 465th
becoming a KC-135 squadron.
- 906th Tactical Fighter Group,
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: 89th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Acquired Block 10 F-16A/B in October 1989 Inactivated in late
1994 and 89th squadron number was transfereed to a C-141B airlift unit.
- 924th Fighter Group, Bergstrom AFB, Texas:
704th Fighter Squadron
Converted
to Block 15 F-16A/B in 1991. Acquired Block 32 F-16C/D in 1994. 924th was raised to Wing
status on October 1, 1994.
- 926th Fighter Group, NAS New Orleans,
Louisiana:
706th Fighter Squadron
Equipped with Block 30 F-16C/D in 1992.
- 944th Tactical Fighter Group, Luke AFB,
Arizona:
302nd Tactical Fighter
Squadron
Issued with Block 32 F-16C/D in 1987.
Designation changed to 944th FG/302nd FS in 1992.
Sources:
- Combat Aircraft F-16, Doug Richardson,
Crescent, 1992.
- General Dynamics Aircraft and their
Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
- The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and
Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
- United States Military Aircraft Since
1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- F-16 Fighting Falcon--A Major Review of
the West's Universal Warplane, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower Journal, Spring 1991.
- The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft,
Gallery, 1989.
- Lockheed F-16 Variants, Part 1, World
Airpower Journal, Volume 21, Summer 1995.
- Continental NATO Air Forces, Paul Jackson,
World Airpower Journal, Volume 1, Spring 1990.
- Modern Military Aircraft--F-16 Viper, Lou
Drendel, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.
- The Fury of Desert Storm--The Air
Campaign, Bert Kinzey, Tab Books, 1991.
- F-16 Operators: Part 1, David Donald,
World Airpower Journal, Volume 23, 1995.
- United States Air Force, Tom Kaminski and
Mel Williams, Combat Aircraft Vol 2 No. 8, March-April 2000.
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