Scramble at Phan Rang (Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Vonnida)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. —
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and other officials will join 140th Wing Colorado Air National Guard members, veterans, and their families, to celebrate 95 years of military service at a reunion Oct. 14, 2018, at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.
“Our Colorado National Guard members, veterans, and their families embody Colorado’s spirit of service,” Hickenlooper said. “We owe them much appreciation as they have faithfully served our state and nation through disaster, crisis and conflict.”
“Not only does this year mark 95 years of service for the wing,” the Assistant Adjutant General for Air U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Floyd W. Dunstan said. “We also recognize the 50th anniversary of when our 120th Fighter Squadron, during the Vietnam War in 1968, became the first Air National Guard unit ever to be mobilized into combat.”
The ceremony will honor several veterans who were part of that deployment and recognize those who never made it home.
“During the same ceremony, we will hold the formal deactivation ceremony for our 200th Airlift Squadron, which ended operations in June of this year,” Dunstan said.
The 200AS, formerly a geographically separated unit under the 140th Wing, flew C-21 aircraft out of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“Despite a rich history, and countless accolades, the Air Force decided to consolidate assets and deactivated our unit,” said Dunstan. “The 200AS Bobcats will now hold an esteemed part of our history.”
The 140th Wing welcomes anyone who was a part of the COANG to join in this time of celebration beginning at 8:30 a.m., at Hangar 801, 18860 East Breckinridge Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011.
F-16 fighter jets from the 120th Fighter Squadron will perform a missing man flyover at approximately 10:00 a.m. over Buckley Air Force Base to honor our Vietnam veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. The flyover is weather dependent.