New Mexico and Colorado Air National Guard A-7D Corsair IIs flying over the Rocky Mountains 1976
A pair of Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair IIs of the New Mexico and Colorado Air National Guard, respectively, flying over the Rocky Mountains. The “Sprit of 76” is 70-1048 of the 188th TFS, 150th TFG, NMANG out of Kirtland AFB. It was one of two Air National Guard A-7s that wore a special bicentennial scheme.
Cool photo, if you look closely under the Minute Man you will see COLORADO not NEW MEXICO in this photo.
According to Bougher (https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1970.html) , 70-1048 (MSN D-194) served with USAF 355th TFW 1970-76. 1976-81: New Mexico ANG 188th TFS (150th TFG). Pennsylvania ANG 146th TFS (112th TFG) Greater Pittsburgh IAP, PA. To AMARC as AE0060 Sep 11, 1991. To Fritz Enterprises (actually to HVF West yard, Tucson, AZ) Aug 11, 1997. Scrapped. I can’t tell you why it has “Colorado” under the Minuteman. Maybe they planned to move it there but went with NM instead but didn’t beat the paint.
Meanwhile, the camo A-7D-14 in the background, 73-0992, was listed to 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron/140th Tactical Fighter Wing of Colorado ANG based at Buckley ANG Base. It later went to NM ANG 188th TFS (150th TFG) and by 1991 was with Oklahoma ANG’s 125th TFS (138th TFG)
Using the Aerospace Vehicle History reports from the USAF [AHV-22/23/24]
the following administrative dates are:
355TFW to 150TFG 74010 [January 10, 1974]
150TFG to Tinker ALC 75157 [June 6, 1975]
Tinker ALC to 150TFG 75196 [July 15, 1975]
150TFG to Tinker ALC 75268 [September 25, 1975]
Tinker ALC to 150TFG 75315 [November 11, 1975]
150TFG to 140TFW 75319 [November 15, 1975]
140TFW TO 150TFG 76009 [January 9, 1976]
For some reason she bounced between the two units, at least administratively from November 1975 to January 1976. I enjoy your posts, keep it up!