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Last four 119th FW F-16s leave Fargo base
January 16, 2007 (by
Asif Shamim) -
The last four F-16 Fighting Falcons of the North Dakota Air National Guard left their Fargo base and headed to the military bone yard in Arizona. On route the jets performed a final fly past of the state capital, Bismarck.
Fargo's F-16s were officially retired in October 2006 with a ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The last flight on Tuesday coincided with the bases 60th anniversary.
Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, one of the 4 pilots who took the controls of his F-16 for the final time was quoted to have said "It's emotional. It's the end of an era, but as the military changes, we do what we have to do to remain relevant."
The Fighter Wing's mission is changing from Air Defence with the F-16 to flying Predator UAVs and C-21 transport planes. The change in role will be reflected in the unit designation, which will be changed from 119th Fighter Wing to 119th Wing. The nickname "Happy Hooligans" derived from a 1950s comic strip will remain however.
Most of Fargo's guard personel have retrained for the new mission. Some pilots continue to fly jets with other units. Others are learning to fly both the C-21 and Predator, including Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, one of the 4 pilots who flew the last F-16 mission from Fargo.
The 178th FS/119th FW "Happy Hooligans" flew more than 70,000 accident-free hours with the F-16.
Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, one of the 4 pilots who took the controls of his F-16 for the final time was quoted to have said "It's emotional. It's the end of an era, but as the military changes, we do what we have to do to remain relevant."
The Fighter Wing's mission is changing from Air Defence with the F-16 to flying Predator UAVs and C-21 transport planes. The change in role will be reflected in the unit designation, which will be changed from 119th Fighter Wing to 119th Wing. The nickname "Happy Hooligans" derived from a 1950s comic strip will remain however.
Most of Fargo's guard personel have retrained for the new mission. Some pilots continue to fly jets with other units. Others are learning to fly both the C-21 and Predator, including Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, one of the 4 pilots who flew the last F-16 mission from Fargo.
The 178th FS/119th FW "Happy Hooligans" flew more than 70,000 accident-free hours with the F-16.
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