107th FS

(Photo visual: USAF John S. Swanson)

Most of the US ANG units nowadays operate the F-16, amongst which the Michigan ANG is no exception. AviaMagazine.com looks into the 107th fighter squadron (Red Devils) located at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan.

Organized at Kelly Field, TX, on 27 August 1917, as the 107th Aero Squadron. The unit moved to France in January 1918. On 1 February 1918 it was redesignated as 801st Aero Squadron. The unit assembled, serviced and repaired aircraft and was demobilized at Garden City, NY, on 18 March 1919. In 1936, its lineage and honors were consolidated with those of the 107th OS which had been activated as a Michigan National Guard unit in May 1926.

History

7 May 1926	107 th OS extended federal recognition at Wayne County Airport, Romulus, as the aviation unit in the 32nd Division, Michigan NG, and initially equipped with Consolidated PT-1's. 1926-1940: Remaining based in Romulus, the 107th OS was equipped over the years with the mix of aircraft typical of prewar Guard units, including Consolidated PT-1's, Douglas BT-1's, O-2's and O-38's, North American O-47's and BC-1's.
15 Oct 1940	Called to active duty, assigned to the Fourth Corps Area, and moved 13 days later to Camp Beauregard, LA. On 31 December 1940 it had one BC-1A, two O-38E's and nine O-47A/B's . W.O.II: Before being shipped to England in August 1942, the federalized Michigan unit moved twice, was redesignated on two occasions, and briefly flew ASW patrols along the Carolinas and Georgia coasts. Trained on Spitfire V's but re-equipped with North American P-51/F-6's before being redesignated 107th TRS, the squadron was assigned to the 67th TRG, 9th Air Force, and flew tactical reconnaissance missions in the European Theatre between December 1943 and VE-Day. Inactivated at Drew Field, FL, in November 1945, the squadron was redesignated 107th BS before being allotted back to the Michigan National Guard on 24 May 1946.
26 Sep 1946	107th BS (Light) extende federal recognition at Wayne City Airport, Detroit, and soon equipped with Douglas A-26B/C's (plus support aircraft).
Spring 1950	Converted from B-26B/C's to Republic F-84B's
1 July 1950	Redesignated 107th FS (Jet)
1 Feb 1951	Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up and transferred to Luke AFB, AZ to serve as a component of the 127th Pilot Training Wing (with F-84E/G's later supllementing and finally supplanting the initially assigned F-84B/C's.
1 Nov 1952	Returned to state control at the Detroit-Wayne Metro Airport to be reorganized as the 107th FBS and equipped with North American F-51H's .
Nov 1953	Converted from F-51H's to North American F-86E's
Jun 1955	Converted from F-86E 's to Northrop F-89C's
1 July 1955	Redesignated 107th FIS
Spring 1958	Converted from F-89C's to Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
12 Apr 1958	Redesignated 107th TRS
1 Jul 1960	Became TAC gained upon implementation of gaining command concept
1 Oct 1962	Reached group status with federal recognition of 127th TRG
Jan 1971	Moved to Selfridge AFB and converted from RF-85F's to McDonnell RF-101A/C's
July 1971	Selfridge AFB inactivated and transferred to Michigan ANG as Selfridge ANGB
Summer 1972	Converted from RF-101A/C's to North American F-100D/F Super Sabre.
1 Jul 1972	Redesignated 107th TFS
9 Dec 1974	127th TFG inactivated and 107th TFS placed directly under 127th TFW
Summer 1978	Converted from F-100D/F's to LTV A-7D Corsair II's. 'MI'tailcode applied with red/black fincap (checks)
1 April 1990	Completed conversion from A-7D/K's to General Dynamics F-16A/B's; role off the F-16's was CAS (Combat Air Support)
15 Mar 1992	Unit designation changed to 107th Fighter Squadron and 127th Fighter Wing (Tactical was deleted)
1 Jun 1992	As part of the Air Force resteructuring program, gaining command changed to ACC.
1994	converted from F-16A and B to F-16C and D. Most of the vipers are former 432 FW/MJ. 85-1504 F-16C 85-1573 F-16D
1996	With the 171 AS (former 171 FIS) with C-130E's the designation changed to 127 Wg
2004	Combat operations Iraq. An unknown numbers of F-16's from the 107thFS Michigan ANG has arrived at Kirkuk AB in March. They replaced the A-10's from the 354thEFS from Davis Monthan.
May 2009	Converted to the A-10 79-0193 OA-10A

Former Vipers with 107th

Tailcode:	MI
Tailmarkings:	horizontal fintip from top to below: red/ yellow, blue and green containing the name 'Michigan'. Later changed to dark grey/light grey checks on the top of the fin and a bird's head middle of the fin. The tailcode 'MI'was skipped.
F-16A:	78-0001, 78-0003, 78-0011, 78-0014, 78-0017, 78-0018, 78-0020, 78-0049, 78-0058, 78-0059, 79-0307, 79-0328, 79-0333, 79-0342, 79-0347, 79-0359, 79-0360, 79-0361, 79-0368, 79-0369, 79-0379, 79-0387, 80-0485, 80-0494, 80-0495, 80-0501, 80-0503, 80-0505, 80-0568, 80-0571, 81-0701, 81-0792.
F-16B:	78-0079, 78-0084, 79-0432, 80-0626
Losses:	79-0307 21 April 1993 -> became GF-16A with the 82 TRW/ST (Sheppard AFB), 79-0379 21 April 1993 near Selfridge ANGB.

78-0011 (FG0059), 78-0014 (FG0060), 78-0017 (FG0206), 78-0018 (FG0153), 78-0020 (FG0161), 78-0049 (FG0112), 78-0049 (FG0240), 79-0328 (FG0086), 79-0333 (FG0162), 79-0342 (FG0152), 79-0347 (FG0165), 79-0361(FG0121), 79-0369 (FG0140), 80-0485(FG0139), 80-0494 (FG0084) and 80-0503 (FG0160).

Most of these are with 'MI' tailcode and the colored fintip with 'Michigan'in it. 78-0011 was first Viper of the 107 FS that arrived on AMARC at 27 January 1994 (FG059). Some of the former Michigan F-16's are operational at the moment with the Israelian Air Force (IDAF).

Active Vipers Operations (until 2009)