EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012: Wisconsin ANG F-16 Fighting Falcon

By Fred Harl

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012 hosted a number of military aircraft at the Phillips 66 Plaza, and one of them was an F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 115th FW of the Wisconsin Air National Guard based in Madison.  The unit was formed as the 176th Fighter Squadron in 1948 at Truax Field, receiving F-51 Mustangs and an invitation to join the Korean War in 1950.  Other aircraft assigned to the unit include F-89 Scorpion, F-86 Sabre, F-102 Delta Dagger, O-2 Skymaster, OA-37 Dragonfly, A-10 Thunderbolt, and F-16s. The unit designation was changed to the 128th TFW in 1981 with the arrival of the A-10s, and later to 115th FW in 1995, three years after converting to the F-16.  Here are some interesting views of the F-16C, s/n 87-0318, on display: