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The 1st Fighter Association consists of present and past members of the 1st Fighter Group/1st Fighter Wing with the mission of preserving the heritage of the 1st Fighter Group/Wing.
Become a member!
May 6th-7th, 2023
Thanks to all who came out for Air Power over Hampton Roads. Below are a few shots to enjoy.
This was the first time the 1st Fighter Association sponsored a flight line tent to share space with squadron snackos, wives clubs and maintainers.
We are thrilled to welcome 71 current & former 1st Fighter Wing members to our email distribution (appropriate # with IRON Standup).
This will give us the opportunity to share association updates with you as we expand our membership benefits!
SAVE THE DATE - Our next Association adventure will begin when we head out to Las Vegas to support the 27th FS / FGS at Red Flag from 20 - 22 July. As soon as we have more details, we'll send them out.
This was the first time the 1st Fighter Association sponsored a flight line tent to share space with squadron snackos, wives clubs and maintainers.
We are thrilled to welcome 71 current & former 1st Fighter Wing members to our email distribution (appropriate # with IRON Standup).
This will give us the opportunity to share association updates with you as we expand our membership benefits!
SAVE THE DATE - Our next Association adventure will begin when we head out to Las Vegas to support the 27th FS / FGS at Red Flag from 20 - 22 July. As soon as we have more details, we'll send them out.
COMACC Announces William Tell 2023 (WT23)
70 years ago we lost our last American soldier killed from an attack by a manned enemy aircraft. It is fitting that General Mark Kelly formally announced the first William Tell Air-Air Superiority Competition in nearly 20 years.
SAVE THE DATES: 9 - 16 Sep 2023 - Stay Tuned for specific opportunities to volunteer, sponsor, support and join us for WT23 fun in Savannah, Georgia!
If you have been tracking updates since last November, you know the 1st Fighter Association has been very involved in supporting WT23.
There have been numerous reasons to actively engage in this project, not the least of which is supporting our active duty Airmen with a huge project that is stretching everyone to the limit, especially given real-world circumstances.
The 1st Fighter Association Board and supporters have been working to help plan, support and facilitate morale events to enhance the onsite experience for as many as 1,000 Airmen descending on Savannah, Georgia this fall.
We held January and April board meetings to ensure legal and financial compliance with all matters related to our actions.
The Board has also worked hard to ensure there is full disclosure to the 1st Fighter Wing and Air Dominance Center in Savannah to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest.
SAVE THE DATES: 9 - 16 Sep 2023 - Stay Tuned for specific opportunities to volunteer, sponsor, support and join us for WT23 fun in Savannah, Georgia!
If you have been tracking updates since last November, you know the 1st Fighter Association has been very involved in supporting WT23.
There have been numerous reasons to actively engage in this project, not the least of which is supporting our active duty Airmen with a huge project that is stretching everyone to the limit, especially given real-world circumstances.
The 1st Fighter Association Board and supporters have been working to help plan, support and facilitate morale events to enhance the onsite experience for as many as 1,000 Airmen descending on Savannah, Georgia this fall.
We held January and April board meetings to ensure legal and financial compliance with all matters related to our actions.
The Board has also worked hard to ensure there is full disclosure to the 1st Fighter Wing and Air Dominance Center in Savannah to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest.
A Couple other Dates to Save
These dates are not all in ink, but we are working with lead organizations to pin down details as soon as possible. Standby for words.
1st FW Change of Command - Friday 30 June
27th FS / FGS Red Flag Support - 14 - 15 July
71st FS / FGS Reactivation Celebration & 1st B-Course Graduation - 29 - 30 Sep
Final word of thanks to the 1st Fighter Wing Historian, Josh Lashley, for your tremendous support and effort helping us take our association to the next level. Here's to the future.
These dates are not all in ink, but we are working with lead organizations to pin down details as soon as possible. Standby for words.
1st FW Change of Command - Friday 30 June
27th FS / FGS Red Flag Support - 14 - 15 July
71st FS / FGS Reactivation Celebration & 1st B-Course Graduation - 29 - 30 Sep
Final word of thanks to the 1st Fighter Wing Historian, Josh Lashley, for your tremendous support and effort helping us take our association to the next level. Here's to the future.
71st Fighter Squadron brings its first two F-22s to Joint Base Langley-Eustis
On March 29, 2023, history was made as the 71st Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing welcomed its first two F-22s, # AF040 and AF042, to their new home on Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Flown by Lt. Col. Andrew Gray, the 71st FS commander, and Lt. Col. Matthew Evers, the 71st FS director of operations, these aircraft mark the beginning of a new era in combat training missions as Langley takes on the F-22 Formal Training Unit (FTU) mission. The primary mission of the 71st FS will be to train pilots on how to employ the F-22, making them the most lethal F-22 pilots in the Air Force.
1st FW Gets Approval For Special Paint Scheme
The 7 FTS (formerly the 71 FTS) flies over 300 sorties per month to keep the 1st Fighter Wing's F-22 pilots combat mission ready and prepared to deploy on short notice. To celebrate this tradition of professional Adversary Air, the 1 FW requested to paint a jet in an Aggressor's color scheme with 1 FW insignia. The Aggressor paint scheme is designed from a Su-27 paint scheme. Their goal was twofold: First, they designed a paint scheme that celebrates their aircraft's heritage and points to the service their Wing provides to combatant commanders around the globe. Second, they designed a jet that visually shows their core mission to anyone who sees the jet across North America. The 1 FW is frequently approached for help with static displays at airshows around the United States and Canada. Sending a 1 FW T-38 with an Aggressor paint scheme visually demonstrates the mission and role that T-38s play in the world's most advanced air superiority fighter training.
Southern France Heritage Experience
The association is finalizing South of France Heritage Experience details for approximately 20-30 April, 2023. We have commitments from several association members to attend. Our French host is lining up exciting excursions to 1st Fighter historical sites (in addition to wineries and other cool tourist spots).
This includes an optional few days to the Island of Corsica with historians who will take us to airfields and other unique places where our WW2 members served.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Buick Olds (steve.olds@patriotmission.com) ASAP. You can hold space for a period of time with no cancellation penalty.
This includes an optional few days to the Island of Corsica with historians who will take us to airfields and other unique places where our WW2 members served.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Buick Olds (steve.olds@patriotmission.com) ASAP. You can hold space for a period of time with no cancellation penalty.
1st Fighter Association’s 2022 Reunion 6-8 May 2022
1st Fighter Association Reunion was held in Newport News, Virginia on May 5-8, 2022. Thursday members attended a social at the Marriott City Center sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Friday started with a group photo in front of "Balls 55". The group then went to the OSS briefing room in the original 27th TFS/AMU building for 1st Fighter Wing and 192nd Wing Mission Briefings/1FW Deployment Update. The mission briefings included an unclassified intel briefing regarding the current situation in the Ukraine, an Operation Desert Strom briefing with several Association members participating including Maj. Gen. (ret.) Greg “Beast” Feest telling his story of being the first to strike with the F-117 on night 1. Lunch was held at the Langley Club. In the afternoon a dedication to our last WWII veteran Felix Pasteris was held. It included a plaque being presented to the 27th FS maintenance group by Felix’s daughter, and a renaming of the 27th Heritage Room to the "Felix Pasteris Heritage Room". An identical plaque was also presented to Felix’s family. It was followed by a burger burn in the 27th FS Maintenance area and new Felix Pasteris Heritage Room. Saturday, the reunion reception and dinner was held at the Marriott City Center in Newport News. The guest speaker was Dr. Coyt Hargus, Poli-Mil Advisor to COMACC.
Official 1st Fighter Association polo shirt w/embroidered logo (short/long sleeve in your squadron color with call sign is encouraged, as desired) -- see photo below. You may place your order through the local Islander Sports uniform business. Cost is ~$40, depending on shirt brand/sleeve length. Order online: www.islanderteamsports.com. Or call the owner, John Roberts at 757-868-8467.
1 FW Customized SwissPL Watch Opportunity
Moto was contacted by Alldaron Knewitz, Owner/Designer of the SwissPL Watch Company to gauge our interest in ordering a personalized version of his watch. Each 1FW-branded watch is tailored to the owner featuring their name with rank and callsign, squadron patch, flight hours, wings, deployments, etc. He will give the Association a 25% commission on each watch sold. So I guess this offer could also be viewed as an Association fundraiser.
The “base model” is about $1000. Your final cost depends on which of several options (self-wind, back casing personalization, etc.) you desire.
Here is a link to his proposed design for our group and any active 1FW members:
The “base model” is about $1000. Your final cost depends on which of several options (self-wind, back casing personalization, etc.) you desire.
Here is a link to his proposed design for our group and any active 1FW members:
** Please call/email me if you are interested in ordering one of these customized watches.**
Rich “Moto” Shook, 757-344-7775
Rich “Moto” Shook, 757-344-7775
1st Fighter Wing Centennial Video
Note From the President
We really need your help to grow our Association by reaching out to all former 1st Fighter Wing contacts you may know and encouraging them to join us. Be sure to include our web site link: http://1stfighterassociation.weebly.com. Please highlight the successful Centennial event and our recent Dayton Reunion as our “value-added” proposition for joining in order to stay connected with our robust alumni network. We encourage the $250 “Life Membership” option but also offer annual memberships for $10 (Active Duty) or $20 for everyone else. We are an all-ranks, inclusive organization and are moving forward with other exciting projects that will help preserve and honor our rich 1st Fighter Wing heritage—more to follow.
Thanks very much--Moto.
Thanks very much--Moto.
