First National Guard F-15EXs Arrive on the Job
The Redhawks of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing are the first in the country to receive the new AN/APG-82-equipped F-15EX Eagle II and they were unveiled to the public last week.
An F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 142nd Wing, takes off during the official Unveiling Ceremony for the new fighter jet at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon on July 12, 2024. The 142nd Wing will be replacing the F-15 C/D model Eagles with the new F-15EX Eagle II models. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
The all-weather multirole strike fighter, developed from the circa 2013 F-15 Advanced Eagle which led to the very sophisticated F-15SA and F-15QA for the Saudis and Qataris, is intended to replace the venerable F-15C/D, which in many cases is pushing 50 years old.
With the USAF slated to receive 104 new F-15EXs, the 142nd will get 18 airframes as will fellow Air National Guard ADF units: the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, and the 159th Fighter Wing at New Orleans.
On the active side of things, the Okinawa (Kadena AB)-based 18th Wing will fly F-15Exs in its 44th FS and 67th FS.
So far, Boeing has only delivered 8 F-15EXs, with the first six going to training units. The 142nd is getting the first Lot 1 combat-ready models, including EX7 and EX8, which left the factory in the unit’s markings earlier this month.
The Oregon Air Guard has been “Eagle Drivers” for 35 years. As noted by the service:
The history of the F-15 Eagle fighter jet at the Portland Air National Guard Base began on May 24, 1989, as the replacement for the F-4 Phantom II. Most of the early planes came from the 318th Fighter Interceptor Group at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, which was being disbanded. For the next 20 years, the 142nd flew the F-15 A/B models, including the last ‘A model’ in the U.S. Air Force inventory, which was retired on Sept. 16, 2009, while phasing in upgraded C and D models in late 2007.
An F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 142nd Wing, taxis on the flight line before take-off during the official Unveiling Ceremony for the new fighter jet at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon on July 12, 2024. The 142nd Wing will be replacing the F-15 C/D model Eagles with the new F-15EX Eagle II models. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
Hello, have a correction for you. The old P-400 which is stated to have a “ZZ” flash on its tail is actually squadron number 22. 67th FS planes with a shark mouth had their squadron numbers repainted on the tail, as shown in the photo of plane #6.
I will add that Bryan Brown was likely flying a plane named “Li’l Jo”, an aircraft “owned” by LT Richard B. Johnston, on the Sept 14th mission. Five P-400’s were operational that morning, but they only had fuel for three (ref squadron history). John Thompson was probably flying his well-known “Hells Bell”, which is usually shown mistakenly with the shark-mouth decor.
Also note that neither of the two aircraft behind #6 in the famous archives photo were necessarily lost on 30 August 1942. Of the four planes that were lost on the 30th, three are known, and none of these three was behind #6; the fourth plane lost is not known, and may not have had shark-mouth decor. LT Wythes could have been flying any of a number of planes; it is known that LT Wythes was not flying his own plane on 30 August, as it was flown by LT Johnston for that mission. LT Wythes’s plane was not supposed to be used that day due to some minor engine problem, but Johnston was sent up with Wythes’s plane as a replacement for LT Fountain, who developed engine trouble. It is known that of the two pilots lost on 30 August, LT Wythes and LT Chilson, one was in the “Flying Pole” (newspaper interview of LT Brzuska, “owner” of the “Flying Pole”, on his return to the US, states that “Flying Pole” was lost). It is also possible that LT Wythes’s plane was #12 “Fancy Nancy”, which can be seen in several other photos.
I’ve deleted the post, thanks for the feedback