120th Fighter Squadron

	120th Fighter Squadron First in the Air Guard

Callsign : COUGARS

Nato Tiger Association status : honorary member

The 120th Aero Squadron, was officially organized on 6 August 1917, with 160 volunteers. The first duty of the squadron was to assemble about 100 airplanes, and put them in a flyable condition for use as training planes. Only a few U.S. Army Air Service aircraft arrived with the squadron, most of the aircraft were shipped in wooden crates by railcar.

On 30 January 1918, the squadron was ordered for overseas duty. They arrived at Liverpool, England on 4 March 1918. The squadron was than attached to the Royal Flying Corps (the RFC was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force) for additional training at the ‘The School of Aerial Gunnery, RFC’. The school’s primary role was to train observers in machine-gun use. This continued until 9 August when orders were given for the squadron to divide into Flights. "A" and "B" Flights were ordered to RFC Stamford, England, while "C" Flight was ordered to RNAS Crail, Scotland. This meant that the squadron had completed its training in England and was ready for duty at the front. After about a month of final training the squadron arrived at Le Havre, France on 3 September, and took a train to the Replacement Concentration Center, American Expeditionary Forces, arriving on 6 September 1918. After processing, the squadron was ordered to report to the 2nd Air Instructional Center, Tours Aerodrome, in central France. This came as a great disappointment to the squadron, as it was prepared to serve on the front. However, as the squadron has almost no experience in the French biplanes used at the front, it was felt it could do better other work at the training center and the men of the 120th were assigned to nearly every department. The squadron remained at there until after the Armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918. They returned to the United States via Bordeaux, France, in April 1919, in New York on 6 May 1919. The squadron was demobilized on 17 May 1919.

On 27 June 1923 the 120th Aero Observation Squadron, 45th Infantry Division Air Service, Colorado Army National Guard was activated. Initially composed of eight officers and 50 enlisted men, the unit flew the Curtiss JN-4E “Jenny”. In May 1927, four Consolidated PT-1 “Trusty”, similar in construction and size and slightly more efficient than the Jennies, arrived. In later years, they would transition through a variety of more powerful observation aircraft such as the Douglas O-2, Consolidated O-17 “Courier”, suited for high-altitude maneuverability, and the Douglas O-38, equipped for either photographic work or instrument flying and which could be adapted with aerial machine guns and bombing racks.

17 June 1932 the Secretary of War approved a design to be painted on all airplanes of the 120th Observation Squadron as the official squadron insignia. It was designed by 1Lt Floyd E. Welsh and was intended to exemplify the squadron's primary duty of observation as well as its fighting spirit. In 1935 the Squadron received the Thomas-Morse O-19, an improvement over prior planes, but still under-powered for flying in mountainous Colorado. The move to Denver Municipal Airport During the latter part of 1937 was necessary because of the assignment of the North American O-47. In February 1939, the 120th Observation Squadron was relieved from the 45th Division and attached to the 24th Cavalry Division as the 24th Division Aviation. The squadron was subsequently relieved from the 24th Cavalry Division in 1940 and reformed as the 120th Observation Squadron, Army Air Corps. In 1940 the O-47 were replaced by the Beech UC-43 “Traveler”.

Mobilization for World War II took place on 6 January 1941. During World War II the squadron supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. During those years they were equipped with many different aircraft types: North American BC-1, Stinson O-49 Vigilant, Bell P-39 “Airacobra”, Curtiss P-40 “Warhawk”, Cessna UC-78 “Bobcat”, Stinson L-1 “Vigilant”, Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” and the Stinson L-5 “Sentinel”. The 79th was re-named several times during World War Two: 120th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942, 120th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942, 120th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943 and finally 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943. After Pearl Harbor, there was great concern that an enemy attack could occur from the south, precipitating another mission: patrolling the Mexican border from Douglas, Arizona., to Big Bend, Texas, between March and July 1942. The unit's O-47s would land in remote areas with no landing strips to wait and observe questionable movements. A ground outpost with aircraft standing by was also established to watch for movements of unscheduled or suspicious aircraft. The 120th was placed on the inactive list and disbanded on 30 November 1943.

After the war, a movement arose for creating a new aviation unit in the Colorado National Guard. It would be, in effect, a re-establishment of the old 120 Observation Squadron. The wartime 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then re-designated as the 120th Fighter Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946, equipped with North American F-51D ”Mustang” (a postwar production P-51) and was allocated to the 140th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Wing, Colorado Air National Guard. The squadron was stationed at Buckley Field, Aurora, Colorado and was bestowed the history, honors, and colors of the previous 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron It was the first Air National Guard unit to again obtain federal recognition, on 30 June 1946, almost exactly 23 years after the first time. Thus, their motto is, "First in the Air Guard". On 20 December 1946 Buckley Field was handed over to the ANG and was renamed Buckley Air National Guard Base. As part of the Continental Air Command Fourth Air Force, the unit trained for tactical fighter missions and air-to-air combat. In 1947 the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) organized an aerial demonstration team called the "Minute Men" making it the first and only Air National Guard precision aerial demonstration team before being disbanded in favor of a federal team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, created on 25 May 1953.

On 31 October 1950 the 86th Fighter Wing was inactivated, and on 1 November 1950 the 140th was changed in status to a Wing, taking over the personnel and mission of the 86th. As a result of the Korean War, the 120th and its parent, the 140th Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty on 1 April 1951. The 140th and its components were still equipped with North American F-51D ”Mustang” and were re-designated as Fighter-Bomber squadrons on 12 April 1951 so the 140th became a Fighter-Bomber Wing. Most of Colorado's 120 Fighter Squadron pilots were assigned to Korea, where their flying skills were desperately needed. The unit was ordered to the new Clovis Air Force Base, Clovis, New Mexico, where they arrived in October 1951. On 15 November 1952, the elements of the 140th returned to Air National Guard control in their respective states. The 120th finally reached the jet age in 1953 when they received their first Lockheed F-80A “Shooting Star” and Lockheed T-33 “T-Bird”. On 1 July 1955, the squadron was re-designated as the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, with its parent 140th Fighter-Interceptor Wing being assigned to the 34th Air Division, Air Defense Command (ADC). The unit's mission was changed from tactical to air defense. Air-to-ground firing was eliminated and training efforts concentrated on air-to-air combat. Upon return to Colorado state control, the 120th was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with Lockheed F-80C “Shooting Stars”.

The Colorado Air Guard began the transition from F-80s to the North American F-86E “Sabre Jet” in 1957. 1 July 1957, the wing was reorganized and redesignated the 140th Air Defense Wing. With pilots fully qualified and combat ready, the Colorado ANG was placed on alert status 1 January 1959. In 1960 the F-86Es were again replaced by the North American F-86L “Sabre Interceptor”, a day/night/all-weather aircraft. The 140th was transferred back to Tactical Air Command in January 1961, the squadron being re-designated as the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron, attached to the 140th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). Recalled to active-duty 1 October 1961, for the Berlin Crisis of 1961 (4 June - 9 November 1961), the 120th TFS had been officially assigned to the 113th TFW, District of Columbia ANG, Maryland, when alerted two months prior. At that time, they were flying the North American F-100C “Super Sabre” and the F-100F two-seater version.

The possibility of Air Guard involvement in Vietnam loomed on the horizon as 1965 came to an end. As part of a modification program in the spring of 1966, the fighters were camouflaged with subdued markings, adding further "fuel to the fire" about their potential use in Southeast Asia. On 26 January 1968 official confirmation was received that the 140th TFW was being activated immediately in support of USAF requirements. 120 TFS became the first guard unit activated and shipping orders for Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam arrived 22 April 1968. Combat operations began on 8 May. As part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing the 120 TFS was tasked with flying missions such as Direct Air Support, Close Air Support (CAS), Trail Dust (air cover for defoliation missions), Bookie Escort (air cover for transport aircraft on re-supply missions), Landing Zone preparation (suppression of enemy during landing of ground troops), and Landing Zone construction (blowing down trees for helicopter landings). Additionally, the 120 was tasked with providing aircraft and pilots to sit 24-hour alert, primarily to assist Troops-in-Contact (TIC) situations. On 11 April 1969 most squadron personnel returned home to Buckley ANG Base. The 120th flew more than 10,000 hours and 6,127 sorties, of which 5,905 were combat missions. They dropped 5.9 million pounds of 500-pound bombs, 8.2 million pounds of 750-pound bombs, 5.5 million pounds of napalm and fired almost 1.8 million rounds of 20mm cannon. The squadron was credited with over 750 confirmed enemy combatants killed, and 4500 bunkers and 350 sampans destroyed. After returning from Vietnam, the Guard F-100C was upgraded with the F-100D model.

The LTV A-7D “Corsair II” replaced the F-100’s in April 1974. A year later, the 140 TFW became the first ANG A-7 unit to attain full combat-ready status. In September 1986 the 140th gained an A-7K, a two-seat version of the D-model. In September of 1990 the 140th TFW was selected for conversion to the F-16A & F-16B “Fighting Falcon”, but come December the conversion was to be to the F-16C & F-16D. The A-7Ds were operated until March 1992 when the Wing converted to Block 30 F-16s. On 15 March 1992 the 140 TFW was renamed 140th Fighter Wing and the 120th became a Fighter Squadron. 1 July 1995 saw this was changed to 140th Wing

Today the 120th FS is a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA), OCA Interdiction, Close Air Support (CAS) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions. The 120th Fighter Squadron has participated in many exercises when not deployed to support real world contingency operations as part of the United States Air Force's Total Force. The unit has deployed to Iraq multiple times, amongst other in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They also deployed many times in support of United States Central Command operations, like to Djibouti in 2012-2013 and several deployments to Afghanistan. The 120th has also supported Air Expeditionary Forces deployments in the Pacific region and multiple National Special Security Events.


(all aircraft are to scale, not all drawings show an aircraft in 120 markings)
Aircraft Curtiss JN-4E “Jenny” Consolidated PT-1 “Trusty Douglas O-2 Douglas O-38 Consolidated O-17 “Courier” Thomas-Morse O-19 North American O-47 Beech UC-43 “Traveler” North American BC-1 Stinson O-49 “Vigilant” Bell P-39 “Airacobra” Curtiss P-40 “Warhawk” Cessna UC-78 “Bobcat” Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” Stinson L-5 “Sentinel” North American F-51D ”Mustang” Lockheed F-80A “Shooting Star” Lockheed T-33 “T-Bird” Lockheed F-80C “Shooting Star” North American F-86E “Sabre Jet” North American F-86L “Sabre Interceptor” North American F-100C “Super Sabre” North American F-100F “Super Sabre” North American F-100D “Super Sabre” LTV A-7D “Corsair II” LTV A-7K “Corsair II” F-16C “Fighting Falcon” F-16D “Fighting Falcon”

Insignia
2nd Air Instructional Center	45th Infantry Division	Colorado Army National Guard

24th Cavalry Division	120th Observation Squadron	120th Tactical Fighter Squadron (WW2 version)

86th Fighter Wing	Colorado Air National Guard	Air National Guard

Continental Air Command	Fourth Air Force	Minutemen Aerial Demonstration Team

3600th Air Demonstration Flight (USAF Thunderbirds)	34th Air Division	Air Defense Command

Tactical Air Command	113th Tactical Fighter Wing	District of Columbia ANG

35th Tactical Fighter Wing	140th Tactical Fighter Wing	120th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1st version)

120th Tactical Fighter Squadron (2nd version	140th Fighter Wing	120th Fighter Squadron

140th Wing	United States Air Forces Central Command

Unit awards
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat Valor “V” device




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text & picture sources : own collection & library + the world wide web / No copyright infringement intended : drawings, photos, etc. belong to the rightful owners.