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The 125th Fighter Squadron, Florida Air National Guard,
is located at Jacksonville International Airport (IAP), FL, with a NORAD
Alert Detachment at Homestead ARB, FL, and a team comprising 1100 citizen
airmen and women.
In June 1995, the 125th converted to the F-15 Eagle, a
fighter which adds air superiority capability to the Air Defense Mission.
The 125th Fighter Squadron has a dual mission - one
state and one federal. The state mission is to provide trained and equipped
personnel to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order, and
public safety. The federal mission is to provide fully trained and qualified
personnel to CINCNORAD in time of war or national emergency for the defense
of the North American Continent. On a daily basis, the 125th is responsible
for the maintenance of a NORAD Air Defense Alert site at Homestead ARB. In
this capacity, the unit provides armed F-15 aircraft capable of
intercepting, identifying, and, if necessary, destroying unknown aircraft
which penetrate sovereign U.S. airspace. In the past, this threat has
included Soviet Bear bombers, Cuban fighters, and narcotics traffickers.
Since conversion to the ADF-16, the 125th was the
first operational NORAD Air Defense Alert, the first operational ADF-16 unit
to employ the AIM-7 missile, the first ADF-16 unit to sit alert with the
AIM-7, and the first unit to deploy to Howard AFB Panama, in support of JCS-directed
operation CORONET NIGHTHAWK
 using enhanced identification tactics. In
October 1995, the 125th became the first unit ever to complete a transition
from one fourth generation fighter to another fourth generation fighter as
it transitioned from the ADF-16 to the MSIP F-15. In April 1997, the 125th
Fighter Squadron became the first Air Defense Unit to employ as Blue Air in
an Offensive Counter Air role, integrated with an active duty unit, during a
flag exercise.
The unit was rated “Outstanding” during an Alert Force
Evaluation by the North American Air Defense Inspector General in November
1997. This was the highest rating ever given by NORAD. In January 1998, the
125th Fighter Squadron received an “Outstanding” on its Operational
Readiness Inspection.
The unit also operates a C-26B in support of state and
federal law enforcement agencies.
Detachment 1, 125th Fighter Squadron, is responsible
for the maintenance of a NORAD Air Defense Alert site at Homestead ARB.
(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Kilebasa) Maj. James Spooner of the Det. 1,
125th Fighter Wing, in an F-15 Eagle at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.,
Feb. 5 2009
In this capacity, the unit provides armed F-15
aircraft capable of intercepting, identifying, and, if necessary, destroying
unknown aircraft which penetrate sovereign U.S. airspace. In the past, this
threat has included Soviet Bear bombers, Cuban fighters, and narcotics
traffickers.
The FANG was the first
Air National Guard unit to deploy to Laage, located north of Berlin, in what
was once a Communist Bloc Air Force Base, to fly against one of Germany’s
most sophisticated aircraft.
The deployment
was designed to teach pilots how to successfully engage and win battles
against the MiG-29 FULCRUM. The FULCRUM is one of the most advanced and
maneuverable fighters in the world and is employed by many nations with
hostile intentions toward the United States; in fact, American forces
engaged the MiG-29 in both Iraq and Bosnia. The unit now has more sorties
against the FULCRUM than any other American unit.
While in Germany, pilots flew missions fighting the
Fulcrum in two phases: close-in, dog-fighting “Basic Fighter Maneuvers” and
longer range “Beyond Visual Range” engagements.
Twenty full-and
part-time FANG pilots participated in the training. An additional 65
personnel were airlifted to Germany to provide support for the deployment
including Maintenance, Supply, Security Forces, Intelligence, Life Support,
and Visual Information personnel.
This deployment presented a
unique opportunity to “combat season” FANG pilots against the sophisticated MiG aircraft during a peacetime environment.
'Florida pilots take
spotlight for Guard's first Super Bowl flyover
by MSgt Tom Kielbasa
JFHQ FLANG
2/10/2010 - MIAMI (Feb. 9, 2010) -- At the biggest
sporting event of the year the Florida -- Four F-15 Eagle fighter jets
from the 125th Fighter Wing roared over Sun Life Stadium at the
beginning of Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, Feb. 7, flying in a perfect
formation as singer Carrie Underwood finished her rendition of the
National Anthem. "It was awesome!" said Lt. Col. John "Homer" Black,
lead F-15 pilot for the Super Bowl flyover. "It was an honor to even be
chosen to do this."
 This
was the first time an Air National Guard unit performed the prestigious
Super Bowl flyover.
Black and his wingmen - Col. Bill "Yogi" Bair, Col. Bob "Squirt" Branyon
and Lt. Col. Mike "Speedo" Rouse - took off from their base at the
Jacksonville International Airport in North Florida about an hour before
kickoff and flew in a holding pattern above Miami until the beginning of
the National Anthem. While keeping in constant radio contact with an Air
Guard ground crew at the stadium, the jets blasted through the South
Florida twilight high above the pre-game show. "I was the only one
looking forward so I'm the only one who had a pretty good view of what
was going on," Black said, describing the approach over the stadium.
"The other guys are just basically looking at me...At about a mile and a
half out I could recognize Carrie Underwood on the big (screen)." With
afterburners glowing orange in the darkening sky, the jets brought a
surge of applause and cheers from the crowd, and even drew a big smile
from Carrie Underwood on the center stage. "We just wanted to make the
formation look perfect," said pilot Bair after the successful flyover.
"Representing the Air National Guard in one of the biggest venues in the
world was awesome! As we were coming across the stadium we could hear
the people screaming and see the flash bulbs going off. It was something
I'll never forget." After the jets landed safely at nearby Homestead Air
Reserve Base, the pilots were brought back to the stadium by helicopter
and invited onto the field to watch legendary rock band The Who perform
the halftime show. Later in the third quarter the Florida Air National
Guard pilots were officiallyrecognized on the field - again drawing
applause and cheers from the pumped-up football fans.
The Air Guardsmen were again present on the field after the game as
Super Bowl winners the New Orleans Saints received the Vince Lombardi
trophy amidst showers of confetti and shouts of "Who Dat!!" from
jubilant Saints' fans. Following several photo-ops with players and
cheerleaders, the Airmen left the stadium to a peppering of cheers and
applause from lingering fans. "I've had a pretty incredible 20 years
between the Florida Air National Guard and my time in the active duty
Air Force," Black said, "And to have this happen to me toward the
twilight of my career is something that I'll carry
with me forever."
(left to right) 125th Fighter
Wing Commander Col. Bob "Squirt" Branyon, 125th Fighter Wing Maintenance
Squadron Commander, Major Brian "Bonsai" Bell, 125th Fighter Squadron
Commander Lt. Col. Mike "Speedo" Rouse,125th Fighter Wing Detachment 1
Commander Lt. Col. Mike Birkeland, 125th Fighter Wing Operations Group
Commander Col. Bill "Yogi" Bair, 125th Fighter Wing Chief of Stand. Eval.
Lt. Col. John "Homer" Black, 101st Air Operations Group, Major Gregory
Krane, and 125th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Col. Richard
Bittner, are recognized on the field at Super Bowl XLIV, Sun Life
Stadium, Miami Fla, February 7, 2010.The 125th Fighter Wing's
participation marked the first Air National Guard flyover in the history
of the Super Bowl. (USAF Photo by TSgt. Shelley Gill)
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