page_title: 178th Reconnaissance Squadron
section_title: Air Defense
hierarchical_section_title: 178th Reconnaissance Squadron / History / North Dakota Air National Guard / Air Defense
caption_attribution_description: English: USAF F-16A ADF #81-0777 from the 178th FS piloted by Maj. Michael DePree takes off on a practice air defense scramble mission from Langley AFB, the same location from which F-16s were launched during the attacks of September 11th, 2001. Today's practice scramble brought the North Dakota Air National Guard past 70,000 hours of accident-free F-16 fighter operations. The aircraft was retired to AMARC as FG0518 Dec 5, 2006. Reported Mar 2004 to be destined for Jordanian AF, however was still on AMARC inventory Jan 15, 2008 [Photo by SMSgt David Lipp]
context_page_description: The 178th Reconnaissance Squadron is a unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard 119th Wing located at Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota. The 178th is equipped with the MQ-1A Predator.
context_section_description: The squadron was redesignated the 178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and reactivated at Fargo the same day. In September 1953 the squadron began to keep two F-51D Mustangs on alert status 14 hours a day.  The squadron continued to maintain this alert in various forms for over 50 years until it lost its fighter mission in the summer of 2007.  On 1 November 1954, the 192d began the transition from the piston-engine, propeller driven F-51D to its first jet aircraft, the Lockheed F-94A Starfire interceptor.  The Starfire was armed with 20 millimeter cannon and was equipped with radar.
  On 15 April 1956, the 178th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 119th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was established to command the squadron and its associated support units. The 178th became the new group's flying squadron. Other units assigned into the group were the 119th Material Squadron, 119th Air Base Squadron and the 119th USAF Dispensary.
  The "Happy Hooligan" pilots upgraded to the Northrop F-89 Scorpion in 1958.  Its first Scorpions were F-89Ds, armed with Mighty Mouse rockets, but a year later the squadron began to receive the F-89J, which could carry the nuclear armed MB-1 Genie (later AIR-2).  The Scorpion was also equipped with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system.   The 178th was one of the last units to fly the F-89, only replacing then in 1966 when it received the supersonic Convair F-102A Delta Dagger interceptor, armed with AIM-4 Falcons.  It replaced its "Deuces" in 1969 with McDonnell F-101B Voodoo interceptors.  In 1977, it began tp fly McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs, and two years later, its mobilization gaining command changed to TAC, when ADC was inactivated and replaced by Air Defense Tactical Air Command.
  The unit's first overseas deployment occurred in 1983, when six Phantoms and 120 support personnel deployed to Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. Eight Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bombers were intercepted by Hooligan pilots during the deployment. In 1986, the 119th Fighter Group became the first Guard unit to assume the USAF Zulu alert mission at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany in Operation Creek Klaxon.  The 119th and other air defense units rotated to Ramstein and stood continuous alert for one year, to provide air sovereignty in Western Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, 107 Happy Hooligans were mobilized and deployed to support operations at numerous locations within the United States.
  The 178th FS converted from the F-4 Phantom to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in mid-1990.  The first squadron "Vipers" were mostly older Block 5 and 10 models. although some Block 15 aircraft were delivered to the squadron. The main task for the unit remained air defense, as with many Guard units that were equipped with the F-16. In 1991 the F-16s were modified to be brought up to the Air Defense Fighter variant of the plane . This improved the performance and capability of the squadron in their air defense role.
  The Hooligans earned first place at the October 1994 William Tell worldwide weapons meet.  William Tell tests pilots and ground crews from the Air Force fighter units in air-to-air combat. This was the Hooligans' third William Tell victory, which it added to wins in 1970 and 1972.  It also placed first among F-4 units in William Tell 1986. In 1994 the 119th Group won the Hughes Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding air-to-air unit in the Air Force. The only Air National Guard unit to win the award twice, the Hooligans are also the only F-16 unit ever to win the Hughes Trophy.
  A permanent alert detachment of the squadron was established at Kingsley Field, Oregon, beginning 1 October 1989. The detachment, staffed by 18 members, was relocated to March Air Force Base, California, on 31 July 1994 when the Oregon Air National Guard took over air defense at Kingsley. An announcement was made in March 1999 that the squadron would convert from an air defense mission to a general purpose mission with 15
caption: F-16A of the 178th FS takes off on a practice scramble[note 7]
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