IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1697 

Honoring the New Mexico Air National Guard and recognizing the invaluable 

service of the 150th Fighter Wing. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 

Mr. HEINRICH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the New Mexico Air National Guard and 

recognizing the invaluable service of the 150th Fighter Wing. 

Whereas the mission of the New Mexico Air National Guard 

is to provide unsurpassed aerospace combat capability 

and combat support forces to meet any contingency in 

the world; 

Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard was federally 

recognized on July 7, 1947, as the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron; 

Whereas the mission of the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron 

was changed from fighter-bomber to fighter-interceptor 

on February 12, 1951, and the squadron was redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on July 

1, 1955; 


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•HRES 1697 IH 

Whereas on February 1, 1951, the pilots of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were called to active duty for the 

Korean War; 

Whereas First Lieutenants Robert Lucas and Joseph Murray, Guardsmen of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, were killed while flying close-air-support missions 

during the Korean War; 

Whereas Captain Francis Williams and First Lieutenant 

Robert Sands, Guardsmen of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were each credited with three air-to-air 

kills against the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich 15 (MiG–15) 

fighters during the Korean War; 

Whereas the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron adopted the 

nickname ‘‘Enchilada Air Force’’ during the Korean War 

and used the flying call-sign ‘‘Enchiladas’’ in honor of 

the large enchilada dinners they would prepare for their 

associates; 

Whereas on July 1, 1960, the 188th Fighter-Interceptor 

Squadron was redesignated and federally recognized as 

the 150th Tactical Fighter Group; 

Whereas on January 26, 1968, the 150th Tactical Fighter 

Group was called to active duty as a result of the U.S.S. 

Pueblo Crisis and remained active for the Vietnam War, 

flying over 6,000 combat flights in the F–100 Super 

Sabre; 

Whereas 150th Tactical Fighter Group Guardsman Captain 

Michael Adams was killed-in-action and Guardsmen 

Major Bobby Neeld and First Lieutenant Mitchell Lane 

were reported missing-in-action during the Vietnam War; 

Whereas the 150th Tactical Fighter Group changed its nickname and call sign to ‘‘Tacos’’ during the Vietnam War 


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•HRES 1697 IH 

in order to give air traffic controllers a name that was 

easier to pronounce; 

Whereas on December 3, 1990, members of the 150th Tactical Fighter Group’s Security Forces Squadron were 

called to active duty in support of Operation Desert 

Storm; 

Whereas on October 16, 1995, the 150th Tactical Fighter 

Group was redesignated and federally recognized as the 

150th Fighter Wing; 

Whereas on April 12, 1997, the 150th Fighter Wing was 

called to active duty in support of Operation Southern 

Watch and deployed to Kuwait; 

Whereas on January 13, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing was 

called to active duty in support of Operation Northern 

Watch and deployed to Turkey; 

Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing flew Combat Air Patrols in 

response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; 

Whereas in 2004, the 150th Fighter Wing helped fly the first 

F–16C’s into Balad Air Base, Iraq to establish fighter 

operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas in 2007, the 150th Fighter Wing maintained a 100 

percent hit rate with no duds, fratricide, or collateral 

damage during its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas since September 11, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing 

has supported national security objectives during numerous Air Expeditionary Force and Expeditionary Combat 

Support deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Saudi 

Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Columbia, Oman, and 

Kuwait; 


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•HRES 1697 IH 

Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard received numerous accolades for superior performance, including the 

Spaatz Trophy in 1956, Presidential Unit Citation in 

1968, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in 

1968 and 1969, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 

Valor in 1969, Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards in 

1977, 1989 and 1996, the Winston P. Wilson Trophy in 

1980, the top A–7 Team at Gunsmoke in 1989 and 

1991, the Distinguished Flying Unit Award in 1991, and 

Outstanding Air National Guard Unit in 1991; 

Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard flew numerous 

aircraft throughout its history, including the A–26 Invader, F–51 Mustang, P–51 Mustang, T–6 Texan, F–80 

Shooting Star, F–100 Super Sabre, A–7D Corsair II, 

and F–16C Fighting Falcon; and 

Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing will continue serving New 

Mexico and the United States by associating with the 

58th Special Operations Wing in a Total Force Integration initiative training combat aviators in the HC–130P/ 

N Combat King, MC–130P Combat Shadow, UH–1N 

Huey, and HH–60G Pave Hawk: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the members of the New Mexico Air 

3 National Guard who have made the ultimate sac4 rifice in defense of the United States; 

5 (2) recognizes the association between the 

6 150th Fighter Wing and the 58th Special Oper7 ations Wing, which will help prepare mission-ready 

8 personnel in direct support of Air Expeditionary 

9 Forces worldwide; 


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•HRES 1697 IH 

1 (3) commends the Air Force Chief of Staff, 

2 General Norton Schwartz, and the New Mexico Na3 tional Guard commander, Major General Kenny C. 

4 Montoya, as their interaction and coordination were 

5 instrumental in establishing the association between 

6 the 150th Fighter Wing and the 58th Special Oper7 ations Wing; 

8 (4) commends the 150th Fighter Wing com9 mander, Colonel Frederik ‘‘Garvin’’ Hartwig, and 

10 the members of the 150th Fighter Wing for their 

11 tremendous service to New Mexico and the United 

12 States; and 

13 (5) honors the New Mexico Air National Guard 

14 for providing over 63 years of exemplary service and 

15 continuing their protection of New Mexico and the 

16 United States. 

Æ 


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