The 149th Fighter Wing ‘Lone Star
Gunfighters’ marked the 70th
anniversary of the US Air Force in
2017 by painting one of its F-16Cs in
special markings that hark back to
the unit’s origins.PHOTOS Liz Lutz
T
HE AIR NATIONAL Guard’s
149th Fighter Wing ‘Lone Star
Gunfighters’, based at Joint
Base San Antonio-Lackland,
Texas, has made a special
formation flight to showcase
its heritage jet — F-16C Block 30 serial
86-0321. The 149th FW applied the
striking markings to commemorate the
USAF’s 70th anniversary last year, takingthe opportunity to commemorate the
wing’s lineage. The chosen livery dates
back to a 396th Fighter Squadron
‘Thunder Bums’ P-47 Thunderbolt paint
scheme from 1944.
The recent formation flight saw the
specially painted F-16 flying alongside
P-51D Mustang 44-74452/N74190 Happy
Jack’s Go Buggy, which is locally owned
and operated.HERITAGE
The 149th Fighter Wing traces its origin back
to 1943 when the 396th Fighter Squadron
was activated. It was later re-designated
as the 182nd Fighter Squadron. This
subsequently grew to become the 149th
Fighter Wing. This special F-16 scheme was
designed by the 149th Maintenance Group’s
TSgt Guillermo De La Cruz.http://www.combataircraft.net // June 2018 29
28-29 149FW C.indd 29 19/04/2018 15:43