U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Bong, commanding officer of 120th Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, Montana Air National Guard, taxiis an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft to the runway prior to a training flight at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 5, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson/Released)
Montana ANG F-15s to stand alert in Hawaii
by Maj. Rick Anderson 120th Fighter Wing
7/23/2010 – Great Falls, Mont. — Within months of declaring Initial Operating Capable – F-15s, pilots and personnel have been assigned to conduct an Air Sovereignty Alert mission at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
The 154th Air Wing, located at Hickam AFB on the island of Oahu, will transfer alert status to the 120th Fighter Wing Detachment on August 6, 2010. The 154th is currently transitioning from the F-15 Eagle fighter jet to the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.
More than 30 Airmen from the MTANG will deploy to Hickam and some will take their families. Six of MTANG’s F-15s will be sent to stand ready on 24-hour alert against threats to the Hawaiian Islands and a large area of the Pacific Ocean.
In a recent planning meeting, the 120th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Pete Hronek exclaimed that he had the utmost confidence in the men and women of the MTANG to perform this enormous responsibility for our nation’s defense.
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The 120th Fighter Wing ramp sat empty of aircraft as three F-15 Eagle fighter jets flew in tight formation over the Montana Air National Guard base October 24. This was the final mission unit pilots would fly as members of a fighter wing, as they were bound for Fresno, Calif. to complete the transfer of fighter aircraft to the California Air National Guard. Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson reports.
Lt. Col. James Bong, commanding officer of 120th Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, Montana Air National Guard, dons his helmet prior to a training flight at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 5, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson/Released)
Lt. Col. James Bong, commanding officer of 120th Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, Montana Air National Guard,finished a training flight at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 5, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson/Released)
The final three F-15 Eagles assigned to the 186th Fighter Squadron of the Montana Air National Guard make one last flight over the airfield in a basic V formation on Oct. 24, 2013. The fighter jets were flown to the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, Calif., to be transferred to the California Air National Guard on Oct. 24, 2013. (National Guard photo/Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson)
