F-16 Fighting Falcon News

June 29, 2006 (by Joachim Jacob) - According to news reports from the "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" and "NEWS3 channel", during a change-of-command ceremony already on May 7, Col. Kevin Wear assumed command of the 188th Fighter Wing "Flying Razorbacks" (Arkansas ANG), Forth Smith Regional Airport, which includes the 184th Fighter Squadron with F-16s.
Col. Wear relieved Col. J. R. Dallas who commanded the 188th FW for four and a halve years. Dallas took command shortly after the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks and was struggling against a federal proposal to take away the unit's planes and flying mission.

Related to BRAC decissions, the U.S. military is phasing out the F-16s that members of the unit fly, but the unit will receive A/OA-10A Thunderbolt II ("Warthog") attack jets in their place.

Col. Wear served as the wing's vice commander throughout Col. Dallas' command. Wear has been in the 188th FW for 27 years. He flies DC-10s for FedEx.

Col. Dallas is not retiring from the Air National Guard, but transferring to the state headquarters at Little Rock AFB as a traditional guardsman. There he will work as a special assistant. He is also returning full time to American Airlines to fly international routes in Boeing 767s.

According to "5KFSM News", on June 18 Col. Dallas had his last F-16 flight during a training mission.

• Fort Chaffee: 188th Fighter Wing gets new boss (Arkansas Demokrat Gazette - May 8, 2006)
• Commander of 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith to leave (5KFSM News, Ft. Smith - Fayettevile)
• Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Fighter Wing has New Leader (KTTV)
• Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Fighter Wing has new leader (NEWS3 channel)
• 188th Fighter Wing commander takes his last flight as the man in charge (5KFSM News Ft. Smith – Fayetteville)