Forum: F-16 News

Jay Pearsall at Inactivation 9-16-07

Virginia Air National Guard Commander Jay Pearsall at the INACTIVATION ceremony 9-16-07
To SixerViper....I think I know who you are now, after talking to some of your old buddies at the ceremony Sunday. Only nice things were said. Will you be at the Club 149 Farewell 9-22-07? Do you fly? Avionics? Play harmonica?
KennethKeeton

F-16.net Sponsor

Ken-
I fly (or at least I used to...), I was Avionics, and I play guitar, but had a harmonica in my camo jacket pocket that I used to play "Hail to the Redskins" on just to piss people off!

Oh--I will be at the party on Saturday--wouldn't miss it for the world!!

The crowd gathers at Club 149 for a final drink. 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

The F-16's are gone.The base is closing. Our time here is coming to an end.
Sixty years of flying for freedom from RIC in Sandston, Va., is coming to an end. Please join us for food, fun and fellowship at Club 149 for our
"Farewell Blow-Out"

3-5pm Social Hours at Club 149
5-7pm Dinner in the Va ANG "Hangar"
7-11pm Dance w/DJ Rodney Woody

Some of the crowd outside Club 149 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

VaANG Club 149 Bell & Black Cat 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

The Club 149 Bell was a tradition for many years. The Bell has gone back to the
Navy. It was on loan from the Navy and had to go back where it came from.
Many a drink was had from this Bell Tradition! The words and memories remain
but the Bell is Gone. The Black Cat used to sit on the Bell I believe.

VaANG Hangar set for dinner 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

The "Hangar" was empty except for the VaANG People And food.

VaANG - outside Hangar 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

Some of the crowd outside the Hangar with a view of the totally empty Flight Line. Or maybe a NO FLY ZONE!

VaANG Hangar at night 9-22-07

The Virginia Air National Guard Club 149 Farewell Party - September 22, 2007

It is an eerie sight....the Virginia Air National Guard Hangar at night with no
F-16's. But we had a GOOD TIME! Kenneth Keeton .

We had a HELLUVA time! A typical Va Air Guard party: Good to the last sip, and we went out in a blaze of glory. A bittersweet way to go out. I wonder if I'll ever set foot on that base again. Glad I met Kenny there.

The 192AMX helped the 169AMX in our ORE early last year (EOR duty).it was then we learned about the move to the F-22 which some of the people were happy about. Bragging rights maybe?
The devil came in the details when they found out they would blend with the Langley bunch.
It seems the trend is to blend not only Guard but the Reserves as well. We have a Reserve Associate unit at Shaw.
Further decay of the old way came when the Reserves dropped the civilian clothing option for the civil service members. AKA as ARTs.
The 169 is slated to get the F-35 when that starts to fill the ranks. Shaw is slated to change about the same time.
The 157FS is fighting the blend with Shaw, but only time will tell if they prevail.
Some years back I was in a meeting concerning the F-16 deployment and retirement plans. The Reserve were changing to a signal block number making it easier to deploy with a combined mixed unit.
The plan was to retire some blocks and sand bag others to cut back on airframe time.
As the next few years unfold with deployment after deployment we may see more blocks retire early and more units blended with Active duty.

I think the 192FW has been relegated to being the "ANG ancillary of the 1FW". I've heard horror stories about active-duty people trying to give ANG technicians article 15s when somebody boo-boos. I know a lot of people who got out of the USAF and into the Guard for just that attitude. Bet they're happier than a bug in a rug about being back in the Air Force again...

I have assurances from the 192d Wing King that steps are being taken to put some unit pride on some of the Langley jets. Sure would be nice to see a Raptor with "VA" on the tail instead of "FF" but I'm not holding my breath.
I'll believe it when I see it.

ACMIguy-- Good luck with your "integration" with the Shaw folks. Don't be surprised to see the same thing happen when y'all convert to the -35. The best news for y'all is that you'll only have to move about 35-40 miles instead of 70 like we did. After all that happens, you'll then be the "ANG ancillary of the 35FW". Welcome to the club!

Col. Pearsall, the 192nd Wing Commander is encasing the units flag during the inactivation ceremony held on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the Richmond International Airport.

192nd Activation at Langley 10-13-07

Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr. the Adjutant General of Virginia, hands the 192nd Fighter Wing guidon to Col. Jay M. Pearsall, 192nd Fighter Wing Commander, during the 192nd's unit activation ceremony at the 27th Fighter Squadron Oct. 13, 2007. The 192nd Fighter Wing is now officially integrated with the 1st Fighter Wing as an associate wing where both maintain separate administrative command, but share aircraft and equipment and work together functionally to accomplish the same mission. (U.S. Air Force photo / Master Sgt. Carlos J. Claudio)

Forum: F-16 News

VaANG to fly their last F-16 sorties