Maj. Jon Burd, with the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, looks out from the cockpit of an F-15 Eagle aircraft June 18, 2013, at Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif. Maj. Burd landed the first of 21 F-15 Eagle aircraft that will replace the 144th Fighter Wing’s F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Paul Wade)
Eagle History
The 144th Fighter Wing started the conversion process to the F-15C Eagle with the arrival of the first of 21 F-15 Eagles in June of 2013.
The last F-16 departed on November 7, 2013 and the wing was declared a fully operational capable F-15 Eagle unit on June 23, 2016. the 194th Fighter Suadron was declared Fully Operational Capable with the F-15C Eagle by the U.S. Air Force. In the firstt year, the1 94 FS maintained its continual alert mission and carrying out successful intercepts, sorties in defense of the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the alert mission the 194 FS went on an overseas deployment and a training exercise in Hawaii.
After achieving FOC, the 194 FS deployed as a Theater Security Package for Operation Atlantic Resolve in July 2016. The 144th flew sorties overseas with live weapons to ensure air superiority and stability in the Northern Command and European Command Theaters of Operation. The 194 FS deployed to several different countries around Eastern Europe including Bulgaria,Romania and Estonia. In Europe
am searching for more information of the 194th FS, like squadron competition, history, photos and personal stories related to the squadron. Any information you would like to donate and have posted here on this page can be sent to janpeter@skytrailer.nl
Atlantic Resolve 2016
Lt. Col. Robert Swertfager, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, communicates with Airman 1st Class Brandon Colbert, 144th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, during a preflight inspection at the Fresno Air National Guard Base June 22, 2016. The USAF deployed six F-15 Eagles from the 144th Fighter Wing to Europe demonstrating continuing U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Klynne Pearl Serrano)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brandon Colbert, 144th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, salutes Lt. Col. Robert Swertfager, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot at the Fresno Air National Guard Base June 22, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Klynne Pearl Serrano)
A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle assigned to the 144th Fighter Wing takes off at the Fresno Air National Guard Base June 22, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Klynne Pearl Serrano)
A collection of helmets belonging to California Air National Guard F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft pilots remain on a table at the 194th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s flight operations room at Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria, Sept. 8, 2016. Four of the squadron’s F-15Cs will conduct joint NATO air policing missions with the Bulgarian air force to police the host nation’s sovereign airspace Sept. 9-16, 2016. The squadron forward deployed to Graf Ignatievo from Campia Turzii, Romania, where they serve on a theater security package deployment to Europe as a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden)
A California Air National Guard F-15C Eagle lands on the flightline at Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria, Sept. 8, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden)
Quick Draw 2017
The 194th Fighter Squadron stand ready for launch during Operation Quick Draw December 21, 2017. The operation was the wing’s first ever large-scale aircraft generation exercise. The 144th FW was able to generate 16 of 16 F-15 Eagle fighter jets with only a 24-hour notice. (All photos by by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Sentry Aloha 2018
Senior Airman Adriana Wright, 144th Fighter Wing, marshals an F-15C Eagle fighter jet from the 144th FW at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii prior to Sentry Aloha 18-01 Jan. 8, 2018. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Lt. Col. Daniel Wittmer, 194th Fighter Squadron commander and Sentry Aloha detachment commander, is greeted by Staff Sgt. Jason Crandall, 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, after landing during Sentry Aloha 18-01 Jan. 8, 2018 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Adriana Wright, 144th Fighter Wing, marshals an F-15C Eagle fighter jet from the 144th FW at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii prior to Sentry Aloha 18-01 Jan. 8, 2018. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Lt. Col. Christopher Corliss, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, performs post-flight checks, after landing an F-15C Eagle fighter jet during Sentry Aloha 18-01 Jan. 8, 2018 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
1st Lt. Benjamin Martin and Capt. Christopher Lacroix, both 194th Fighter Squadron fighter pilots, complete flight plans prior to the morning sortie during Sentry Aloha 18-01 (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Capt. Christopher Lacroix and 1st Lt. Benjamin Martin, both 194th Fighter Squadron fighter pilots, step to F-15 Eagle fighter jets for the morning sortie during Sentry Aloha 18-01 (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Lt. Col. Kelly McCoy, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, is harnessed into the seat of an F-15 Eagle fighter jet from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing by Staff Sgt. Elliot Verdugo, 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, prior to the morning sortie during Sentry Aloha 18-01 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jets from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing prepare to taxi out for the afternoon mission during Sentry Aloha 18-01 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
1st Lt. Charles Jamieson, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, taxis out to the runway in a F-15C Eagle fighter jet from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing during Sentry Aloha 18-01 (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Two U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jets from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing return to base led by F-22 Raptor fighter jet from Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing during Sentry Aloha 18-01 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Jan. 10, 2018. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
Sentry Aloha 2020
Crew chiefs from the 144th Fighter Wing prepare a F-15C Eagle fighter jet for the morning mission on the first flying day of Sentry Aloha 20-1, Jan. 08, 2020(Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Crew chiefs from the 144th fighter wing prepare a F-15C Eagle fighter jet for the morning mission on the first flying day of Sentry Aloha 20-1, Jan. 08, 2020 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
An F-15C Eagle from the California Air National Guard’s144th Fighter Wing taxis to the runway at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 08, 2020 during fighter exercise Sentry Aloha 20-1. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Capt. Jacob McCoy, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, prepares to taxi out to the runway in a F-15C Eagle fighter jet from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing during Sentry Aloha 20-01 (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Col. Robert Swertfager, 144th Operations Group commander, puts on his flight gear prior to the afternoon mission on the first day of flying during Sentry Aloha 20-1. ( Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
194th Fighter Squadron pilots from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing step to their F-15 Eagle fighter jets for the afternoon mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii during Sentry Aloha 20-01 Jan. 08, 2020. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Capt. Daniel Behrens, 194th Fighter Squad pilot, returns from the morning mission Jan. 8, 2020 during Sentry Aloha 20-1 ( Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Sentry Aloha 20-1 ( Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Sentry Aloha 20-1 ( Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn)
Checkered Flag 21-1
Airmen from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing depart for Tyndall Air Force Base, FL to participate in Checkered Flag 20-1. The event is the DoD’s largest fighter exercise designed to integrate fourth and fifth-generation aircraft to enhance mobility, deployment, and employment capabilities of Air Force aviators and maintainers. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn.
Airmen from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing depart for Tyndall Air Force Base, FL to participate in Checkered Flag 20-1. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Burd, 194th Fighter Squadron pilot, puts on his helmet for his return home flight after exercise Checkered Flag concluded, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 10, 2020. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Christian Jadot)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jet from the 194th Fighter Squadron, Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, sit on the run way during downtime for Checkered Flag at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 9, 2020. Checkered Flag provides Dissimilar Air Combat Training for fourth and fifth-generation aircraft to optimize the skill set of all the Airmen involved. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Christian Jadot)
194th Fighter Squadron F-15 takes-off for the morning sortie at the Honolulu International Airport March 31, 2017 during Sentry Aloha 17-03. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)
