F-15 Eagles – 142nd Wing

The Oregon Air National Guard 142nd Wing is based in Portland. They currently maintain and fly a fleet of F-15 Eagles.

Brief History

The Oregon Air National Guard and 142nd Wing can trace its roots back to just before WWII.

1941

Maj. G. Robert Dodson, an Oregonian, serving in the Army Reserves in Washington reguested the National Guard to form an Oregon flying unit. The request was granted, and the 123rd Observation Squadron was launched on April 18, 1941.
They deployed to Gray Field in Washington in September 1941 to conduct coastal patrols. They participated in one of the first wartime missions flown from a U.S. Base on Dec. 7, 1941, a coastal patrol.

1943

In March 1943, they were redesignated as a Reconnaissance Squadron. Then in August 1943, they were redesignated again as the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (PRS). Not all members of the 123rd ended up serving with the 35th PRS; many were diverted to other units.

1944-1945

They flew the F-5E with the Fourteenth Air Force, the famed “Flying Tigers”’ in the China-Burma-India theatre.
The 35th PRS was inactivated in 1945 in New Jersey.

1946

The 35th PRS was reactivated and redesignated as the 123rd Fighter Squadron, and returned to the Oregon National Guard. However, at this time the Oregon National Guard was undergoing a major reorganization, as the 371st Fighter Group was also allocated to Oregon. Both the 123rd and the 371st became part of the 142nd Fighter Group (FG). The first aircraft the 142nd FG flew was the P-51D Mustang.

1950s

In 1950, the group mobilized in response to the Korean War. They participated in a variety of capacities, including flying combat missions over Korea, helping with radar coverage in Alaska, and air defense missions.
During the Cold War, they remained active and on alert. They began a 24-hour air defense alert that continues to this day.

1990s

In 1995, the 142nd was elevated to wing status when it was named the 142nd Fighter Wing (FW).
In 1998, they deployed to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Panama to help with major operations.

2000s

In 2001, they were one of the first units to respond to the 9/11 attacks with air dense and enhanced security on the West Coast.

The provided support in 2004, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and in 2007, they responded to the floods in Veronia, Oregon.

Today, they continue to support military missions in the Pacific Northwest and globally when needed.

Learn more about the history of the 142nd Wing: https://www.142wg.ang.af.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article/438160/142-wing-history/

The first F-15s arrived at the 142nd Wing in 1989, replacing the F-4. For nearly 20 years, the Wing flew the A and B models of the F-15. In 2007, they began flying the C and D models. Then in 2024, they received a new upgrade, the F-15EX Eagle II.

History of the F-15s

The F-15A made its first flight in 1972, and the F-15B (the two-seat variant) made its first flight in 1973. In 1976, the first Eagle ready for combat was delivered.

It wasn’t long before the F-15C and D entered the Air Force inventory, with major upgrades. The first of these models joined in 1979.

However, as times changed, so did the needs of the Air Force, and in an effort to keep the F-15s flying, they initiated the F-15 Multistage Improved Program in 1983. This included upgrading the computer system.

Mission and Features

The F-15 is an all-weather tactical fighter that helps the Air Force maintain air control over a battlefield.
The Eagle has an unbeatable set of features, including its maneuverability, acceleration, range, and weapons and electronic systems. These features enable pilots to safely perform air-to-air combat.

Specifications

Primary function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100, 220 or 229 turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: (C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine
Wingspan: 42.8 feet (13 meters)
Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters)
Weight: 31,700 pounds
Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 36,200 pounds (three external plus conformal fuel tanks)
Payload: depends on mission
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2 class)
Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Crew: F-15A/C, one; F-15B/D/E, two
Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9 Sidewinder and four AIM-120 AMRAAMs or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.
Initial operating capability: September 1975
Inventory: Total force, 249

Learn more about the F-15s: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104501/f-15-eagle/

At the show, you can expect to see several flybys that demonstrate the power and maneuverability of the F-15s