F-16 Fighting Falcon News

March 28, 2007 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The 419th Fighter Wing is losing its F-16 aircraft and becoming the first fighter associate wing in the U.S. Air Force along with their active duty partners, the 388th Fighter Wing.
They are having 'Viper Out' and Alumni festivities on 8-10 June 2007. Activities include a golf tournament, icebreaker social, and banquet, among other things.

You can check out the website at www.hillviperout.com or call (801) 777-3119 for more information.

419th Tactical Fighter Wing - A bit of history

The first F-16 was accepted formally on 28 January 1984. That day, in Building 590, the congressional delegation of Utah and 13 general officers attended the acceptance ceremony. As members of the 419th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron pushed the F-16 into the hangar, the United States Air Force Academy Band played until it came to rest.

Acceptance pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Bane Lyle, 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron, climbed from the aircraft as Utah Senator Jake Garn and active duty and reserve commanders stepped forward to accept the aircraft records.

Reservists assigned began to exceed 1,000 and by November 1985, the 419th had safely logged over 7,000 F-16 flying hours.

With flying colors, rating 419th Air Reserve Technicians completed transition training at Luke AFB, Arizona, and soon led an exemplary F-16 mission training program at home station. Likewise, aircraft maintenance and support Air Reserve Technicians were trained, trained other Air Force Reservists, and contributed to the initial operational capability on 1 July 1984, three months sooner than programmed.

The 419th with F-16s excelled during a 14 July to 4 august 1984 deployment to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The unit's first deployment with the Fighting Falcon included over half of the personnel, 12 aircraft, and 62 tons of supplies and equipment. Thirty pilots flew over 500 hours exchanging experience with the host F-15 pilots. The last four pilots to transition from the F-105 completed their initial qualification checks while eight of the deployed aircraft remained fully mission capable.

In August 1984 from home station, the 419th trained with Marine Corps A-4s, Air Force Reserve F-4s, and Air National Guard A-7s. The following month from George AFB, California, four F-16s, six pilots, and eight maintenance personnel participated in an F-4 unit's Operational Readiness Inspection. The 419th received Tactical Air Command's Flying Safety Award for the first year with F-16s and met all requirements to receive the award for the second year with the aircraft. By 1985, it had 45 F-16 pilots, each with between 1,000 and 5,000 hours of fighter time.

In January 1985, the Wing earned an overall "Excellent" during a Twelfth Air Force Standardization Evaluation. In February, plans called for an F-16 Group to be assigned at Luke AFB, Arizona. From 13-22 May 1985, the 419th successfully completed a Twelfth Air Force Operational Readiness Inspection at Decker Field, Wendover, Utah. Eighteen F-16s and 426 Reservists participated with over 200 tons of material. In August and September 1985, 419th Reservists were again at Skrydstrup Royal Danish Air Station, Denmark. Twelve 419th F-16s participated in Oksboel '85, a Danish exercise involving North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces.

The 419th Tactical Fighter Wing with F-16s won Gunsmoke '85, the United States Air Force Worldwide Fighter Gunnery Meet. Held at Nellis AFB from 6-19 October, the competition included 17 Active force and Air Reserve force units. Pilots for the 419th were Colonel Bane Lyle, Major Tom King, Maj. Danny Hamilton, Maj. Wayne Conroy, and Maj. Don Harder. These officers, Major Terry Paasch, 419th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, and 39 enlisted people did a fantastic job, as did 419th personnel who remained at Hill. Major Danny Hamilton earned the title of "Top Gun" for the competition.