| The 2004 Air
Power Over Hampton Roads, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
As the host unit at Langley Air Force Base, Va., the
1st Fighter Wing operates and maintains one of the largest
fighter bases in Air Combat Command. The wing flies
the F 15 Eagle: “To rapidly deliver decisive,
sustainable air superiority anytime…anywhere,
and to set the standard in services and support for
Team Langley.”
To accomplish their mission, the men and women of the
1st Fighter Wing work in one of four groups: the Operations
Group, Maintenance Group, Mission Support Group, or
Medical Group. Over 20 squadrons comprise the four groups,
which includes three fighter squadrons: the 27th FS
known as the Fighting Eagles, the 71st FS known as the
Ironmen, and the 94th FS known as the Hat-in-the-Ring
Gang.
 The
F-15 Eagle, the Air Force’s air superiority fighter,
entered operational service at Langley AFB in January
1976 with the 1st FW. The wing’s current compliment
of F-15s stands at 75. Continuing the 1st FW’s
tradition of first to bring new fighters operational,
the Air Force announced in 2002 that the 1st FW will
become the first F/A-22 operational wing; paving the
way for the future of air superiority.
In addition to the F-15 and F/A-22, the 1st FW has
tallied many other firsts throughout its distinguished
history. In World War I when it was known as the 1st
Pursuit Organization and Training Center, the wing scored
its first aerial victory when Lt. Douglas Campbell of
the 94th FS downed a German Phalz D-3 over
France. By the time the war ended, the unit’s
name changed to the 1st Pursuit Group and it earned
202 confirmed kills.
During World War II the 1st FW again excelled,
earning three Distinguished Unit Citations for outstanding
performance of duty. Redesignated as the 1st Fighter
Group, the unit entered the war flying the P-38. Throughout
the war, the 1st FG flew more than 20,000 sorties on
1,405 combat missions, and scored more than 400 aerial
kills.
......................
On Aug. 7, 1990, the 1st FW, then known as the 1st
Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed to Saudi Arabia in support
of Operation Desert Shield, adding to the list of firsts
by becoming the first US unit to establish air superiority
over Saudi Arabia. Through both Operations Desert Shield
and Desert Storm, the wing flew more than 6,200 sorties
and nearly 25,000 flying hours. The wing also recorded
an aerial victory when Capt Steve Tate of the 71st FS
shot down an Iraqi F-1 Mirage.
 In
1991, the 1st TFW became known as it is today, the 1st
Fighter Wing. For most of the 1990s, the wing practiced
the lessons it learned in Desert’s Shield and
Storm; participating in numerous deployments and exercises
throughout the world. This practice would pay off.
In 2003, the Air Force called once again to the 1st
FW to provide air superiority in combat. The wing deployed
to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
where it flew over 360 training and combat sorties.
Throughout its history, the 1st Fighter Wing has led
the way. As it looks toward the arrival of the first
F/A 22 in 2004 and the future of air combat, the 1 FW
is prepared to fly, fight, and win wherever and whenever
called upon.
Every year The First Fighter wing organize the Airpower
over Hampton Roads air show at Their Home base, Langley
Air Force Base, Virginia. This year the date was set
for May 21-23th. This big event with a great Variety
of Air and Static Display always attract a lot of people
enthusiastic of Aviation and the US Air Force.
One of the Highlights of the 2004 Air show was the
Heritage flight which highlighted the 60 years of 1st
FW aircraft. All the Aircraft which participated in
the heritage flight were are currently active in the
1st Fighter wing. The four-ship formation included an
F-15C from the First FW, the AT&T F-86 flown by
Dale Snodgrass , the P-38 Lightening “Glacier
Girl,” and a P-51C Mustang in the Tuskegee Airman
colours.
Besides the large static display with
Aircraft from the Old and the new generation the Flying
display started at 10 A.M. and ended at 5 P.M without
any pause, so there was no time for the spectators to
get bored as there was loads to see and to do for the
young and the old.
As A grand Finally the United States Air Force Thunderbirds
performed a great aerial demonstration with six Lockheed
Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons. The pilots perform approximately
40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including
ground and air, runs about one hour.
The 2004 Air Power Over Hampton Roads
was A big succes and the weather was the best for an
Airshow, but you had to drink a lot to avoid dehydration.
There were a lot of stands for food and drinks and a
lot of Aircraft where
you could find the Shade. A great Airshow one not to
miss and RDAVP is already looking forward to Report
The APOHR Airshow Again.
A special Thanks goes out to Erin Zagursky , Melissa
Hancock, John Mclaughlin and the whole PAO team for
their hospitality and all the help to RDAVP for a pleasent
stay and report Possibility.
text by the 1st Fighter Wing and RDAVP
Aviation
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