Montgomery Air National Guard Base

Montgomery Air National Guard Base Dannelly Field Air Guard Station Gunter Army Airfield Auxiliary #6
Part of Alabama Air National Guard (AL ANG)
Located near: Montgomery, Alabama
F-16C Block 30K Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 160th Fighter Squadron, 187th Fighter Wing
Coordinates	32°18′16″N 086°24′01″W / 32.30444°N 86.40028°W
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1943
In use	1943–present
Garrison information
Garrison	187th Fighter Wing

Airfield information
IATA: MGM – ICAO: KMGM – FAA LID: MGM
Summary
Elevation AMSL	221 ft / 67 m
Coordinates	32°18′02″N 086°23′38″W / 32.30056°N 86.39389°WCoordinates: 32°18′02″N 086°23′38″W / 32.30056°N 86.39389°W
Website	www.187fw.ang.af.mil
Map
KMGM Location of Montgomery Air National Guard Base
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 3/21 4,010 1,222 Asphalt 10/28 9,010 2,746 Asphalt

Montgomery Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Alabama Air National Guard 187th Fighter Wing.^[1]

History

The roots of the 187th Fighter Wing date back to 1952 when the Alabama Air National Guard organized the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama equipped with the RF-51 Mustang. The squadron moved to Dannelly Field on January 1, 1953, and entered the jet age with the arrival of the RF-80 Shooting Star in 1955. Within a year the 160th transitioned to the RF-84 Thunderflash aircraft, which served as the squadron's primary aircraft for the next 15 years.^[1]

The squadron was mobilized during the Berlin Crisis in 1961-1962 and deployed to Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France. In August 1962, the squadron returned to normal peacetime status and was reorganized. It was then officially designated the 187th Reconnaissance Group.^[1]

In 1971, the Thunderflash was replaced by the RF-4C Phantom II, which was flown for 17 years. From 1971-1982, the group remained in the reconnaissance role. The 187th won many honors during this timeframe, including the best reconnaissance unit in the nation in the Photo Finish "81" competition.^[1]

In 1982, the 187th changed missions from reconnaissance to the multi-purpose fighter role after acquiring the F-4D. The Group established itself as a premier tactical fighter unit by capturing overall top honors in the ANG Fangsmoke competition in 1987. In October 1988, the Group converted to the F-16 aircraft. In October 1995, the Group was designated a Wing under Air Force reorganization; becoming the 187th Fighter Wing.^[1]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document "The history of the 187th Fighter Wing" (retrieved on 2016-02-27).

1. 187th Fighter Wing website