Unit #05 - I AM THE GUARD - 124th Fighter Squadron

Located at the Des Moines International Airport, the Iowa Air National Guard's 132nd Fighter Wing can trace its roots back to February 1941 with the establishment of the 124th Observation Squadron. The unit at that time had 110 men, 27 officers (15 pilots), and operated North American O-47 and Douglas O-38 aircraft.

In the 61 years since activation, the 132nd Fighter Wing has participated in numerous conflicts beginning with World War II, then the Korean Conflict, and many of the support functions of Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990/91. Peacetime training detachments to Europe were also common. Between 1979 and 1991 they deployed their A-7s four times to Europe as part of the USAF 'Checkered Flag' training program under the code name "Coronet Stallion" in August 1979 and "Coronet Buffalo" in May 1985, both to RAF Waddington. A year later the unit deployed under the codename "Creek Corsair" to Wittmundhafen, Germany and in 1991 they brought their A-7s to Europe for the last time for "Sentry Corsair", a TDY to Spangdahlem AB, Germany. More recent operations have included five separate ONW and OSW deployments as part of one of the Aerospace Expeditionary Wings.

This is the first time that inventory F-16s have been re-engined with a higher-thrust engine. The ANG wanted to have enough aircraft modified to support an upcoming "rainbow" deployment to the Middle East. This is part of the scheduled 90-day Aerospace Expeditionary Force rotation commitment for the three ANG units operating the Block 42 version, namely the 112th FS Ohio ANG, 125th FS Oklahoma ANG and the 124th FS.

Lockheed Martin also expedited fielding of a new software tape to provide compatibility with the new engine. This tape also provides improvements to mechanizations for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW). The new-built -229 engines replace the existing F100-PW-220 engines, which, in turn, will be used to re-engine some of the ANG's F-15 aircraft, which have the older F100-PW-100 engines.

Current Assigned A/C

Type/Block	Serial	Cons.No	Remarks
F-16C Blk42	88-0502	1C-104
F-16C Blk42	88-0527	1C-129
F-16C Blk42	88-0534	1C-136
F-16C Blk42	88-0539	1C-141
F-16C Blk42	88-0545	1C-147
F-16C Blk42	89-2019	1C-172	marked '132 FW'
F-16C Blk42	89-2022	1C-175
F-16C Blk42	89-2025	1C-178
F-16C Blk42	89-2034	1C-187	2 x Mission Mks
F-16C Blk42	89-2037	1C-190
F-16C Blk42	89-2045	1C-198
F-16C Blk42	89-2051	1C-204
F-16C Blk42	89-2076	1C-229
F-16C Blk42	89-2142	1C-295
F-16C Blk42	90-0731	1C-339
F-16C Blk42	90-0748	1C-356	marked '124 FS'
F-16D Blk42	89-2179	1D-54

The 124th entered the jet age in 1953 with the F-80. Several conversions followed with the unit flying the F-84, F-86, F-89, F-100, and the A-7 aircraft. Conversion to factory fresh Block 42 F-16Cs took place in 1992.

The unit recently began modifying its combat-coded Block 42 F-16C/Ds with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 Increased Performance Engine. The F100-PW-229 engine is in the 29,000-pound thrust class and provides approximately 20 percent more thrust than the original F100-PW-220 engine in these aircraft. Four-man maintenance teams are able to modify the aircraft, swap out engines and do the necessary systems checks in a four-day, single-shift operation.

	The Hawkeyes operated A-7D/Ks from 1977 until receiving Vipers in 1992. Photographed here visiting Luke AFB is A-7K 81-0076. Of note is the IA tailcode which didn't make the swap to F-16s. Bob Shane Unknown		F-16C 88-0539 on Oct 11 1994 carries the original markings of the 132 FW, the Iowa State Flag, which earned the unit the (unwanted) nickname 'the Frog's'! John A Sheets Unknown
	Two Iowa Guard Vipers have their last chance checks completed before departing on an early morning training hop from Des Moines IAP, August 2001. Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 70-200mm K64 200/F8		The majority of ANG 'Viper' units have a two-seater assigned, the 124th's F-16D is 89-2179, a Block 42 previously with the 57th WG at Nellis. Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K25 125/F8
	89-2034 'Hawkeye 52' heads for Runway 31 at Des Moines IAP. Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 70-200mm K25 250/F5.6		89-2034 carries three GBU-12 markings from a previous Operation Northern Watch (ONW) deployment. The Block-42 F-16C usually carries the Lantirn targeting pod under the intake although it is absent on this occasion. Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 70-200mm K25 250/F5.6
	Awaiting it's 'driver' and the first mission of the day is 89-2051, a Block 42 F-16C which was delivered direct from the factory back in 1992. Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K25 125/F7.1		Displaying the current unit markings of a 'Vipers' head and also 132FW titles is 89-2019. The 124th FS currently have 16 F-16Cs and 1 D-Model assigned. Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 70-200mm K25 250/F5.6
	The 124th Fighter Squadron's 'FlagShip', 90-0748, returns to the End of Runway (EOR) area following a short training hop over Iowa. Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 70-200mm K25 250/F5.6		Two 'Hawkeyes' Block 42 Vipers head out to the runway at Des Moines Airport. Kevin Jackson EOS-1N 35-350mm K64 500/F5.6
	Crew Chiefs monitor engine starts as the 132nd FW ramp comes alive for the morning 'go'. Kevin Jackson EOS-1N 35-350mm K64 500/F5.6		Hawkeye 51 comes to rest on it's parking spot while his wingman continues to practise low approaches at Des Moines Airport. Kevin Jackson EOS-1N 35-350mm K64 500/F5.6

Article by:
	Kevin Jackson
	Photos by:
Peter Greengrass
Kevin Jackson

© ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal. NO PHOTOS MAYBE USED/PUBLISHED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal.