115th Operations Group
The 115th Operations Group is the flying and operational component of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 115th Operations Group is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard based at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison, Wisconsin. It is the operational group of the 115th Fighter Wing and is centered on the wing's flying, intelligence, training, and operational-support functions. Its principal flying unit is the 176th Fighter Squadron, supported by the 115th Operations Support Squadron. The organization was established on 15 April 1956 as the 115th Fighter Group (Air Defense), when the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and associated support elements were reorganized into a group structure. During the Cold War, it performed an air-defense mission. From 1960, crews operated Northrop F-89 Scorpion interceptors in an around-the-clock runway-alert role, including aircraft equipped to employ the AIR-2 Genie missile. The group later converted to Convair F-102 Delta Daggers, resuming its alert mission after retraining. In 1972, the 176th Squadron won the William Tell weapons and tactical competition in the F-102 category, competing against leading Air National Guard, active-duty United States Air Force, and Canadian units. The group's mission changed in the 1970s as the Air Force reorganized its tactical aviation forces. In 1974, it replaced the F-102 with the Cessna O-2A Skymaster and was redesignated the 115th Tactical Air Support Group. The O-2A supported forward air control, commonly coordinating with ground teams that directed and reported on tactical air operations. The group was inactivated on 1 January 1979, with its components assigned directly to its parent wing. The organization returned to active status on 1 October 1994 as the 115th Operations Group, following the 115th Fighter Wing's transition to the Air Force Objective Wing structure. The wing had begun receiving F-16 aircraft at Truax Field in 1993, and the reactivated group assumed responsibility for operations associated with the F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcon. Its modern mission includes air interdiction, close air support, air-to-air combat, and precision-guided attack. Aircraft and personnel have supported domestic air-defense activities and overseas operations in Europe, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. As an Air National Guard organization, the group normally operates under the authority of the governor of Wisconsin, while its federal mission is performed under the United States Air Force. When federalized, the unit falls within the operational structure of Air Combat Command. Its personnel and aircraft have supported Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Jump Start, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and other named deployments. The group remains an active military aviation organization rather than a commercial brand; its public identity is associated with the Wisconsin Air National Guard, the 115th Fighter Wing, and the 176th Fighter Squadron.
History
The 115th Operations Group traces its lineage to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's reorganization of 15 April 1956, when the 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and supporting elements became the 115th Fighter Group (Air Defense). The group was initially associated with the 128th Air Defense Wing and later the 126th Air Defense Wing. Its Cold War responsibility was the defense of the United States airspace network, with annual training at Volk Field before the unit moved to a year-round training model in 1963. In January 1960, the group's F-89 Scorpion crews began maintaining a continuous runway-alert commitment involving two armed aircraft. The F-89J could carry the AIR-2 Genie, an air-to-air missile designed for use against formations of enemy bombers. The group transitioned to the supersonic Convair F-102 Delta Dagger in 1966 and resumed runway-alert operations after completing conversion training. The alert period ended in 1969 when the unit conducted summer training at Gulfport, Mississippi. In September 1972, its 176th Squadron won the William Tell Competition's F-102 category, a major weapons and tactical evaluation involving United States and Canadian aviation units. The organization shifted from air defense to forward air control in 1974. Its F-102s were replaced by Cessna O-2A Skymasters, and the group became the 115th Tactical Air Support Group. The O-2A was a twin-engine aircraft used to observe and coordinate battlefield activity, often working with ground forward air controllers and ROMAD teams. This change also moved the unit's gaining command from Air Defense Command to Tactical Air Command. The group was inactivated on 1 January 1979, while its subordinate elements were assigned directly to the 128th Tactical Air Support Wing. The unit's modern incarnation began on 1 October 1994, when the 115th Operations Group was redesignated and activated as part of the Air Force Objective Wing reorganization. This followed the conversion of the parent organization into the 115th Fighter Wing and the arrival of F-16 aircraft at Truax Field beginning on 1 April 1993. The group became responsible for operations involving F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcons and for missions including air interdiction, close air support, air-to-air combat, and precision attack. Its weapons capabilities have included the Joint Direct Attack Munition family and the AIM-9X air-to-air missile. Since reactivation, the group has supported a broad range of domestic and overseas missions. Named operations listed in its historical record include Coronet Chariot, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Coronet Nighthawk, Enduring Freedom, and Noble Eagle. Deployments and detachments have involved locations in Denmark, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands Antilles, Qatar, Iraq, and Africa. The unit has also supported Operation Jump Start and recurring Air Expeditionary Force rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group is dual-status in the sense characteristic of the Air National Guard. In its normal state it serves Wisconsin under the governor's authority; when called into federal service, it operates within the United States Air Force and is gained by Air Combat Command. Its continuing organization consists of the 176th Fighter Squadron and the 115th Operations Support Squadron. The group is therefore best understood as a military operational unit, not as a consumer-facing brand or commercial enterprise.
- 1994
115th Operations Group reactivated
[1]The organization was redesignated and activated as the 115th Operations Group on 1 October 1994 under the 115th Fighter Wing.
- 1993
F-16s arrive at Truax Field
[1]The first F-16 aircraft arrived at Truax Field on 1 April 1993, preceding the reactivation of the operations group.
- 1979
Inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 1 January 1979 and its components were assigned directly to the parent wing.
- 1974
Forward-air-control conversion
[1]The group replaced the F-102 with the Cessna O-2A Skymaster and became the 115th Tactical Air Support Group.
- 1972
William Tell Competition victory
[1]The 176th Squadron won the F-102 category at the William Tell Competition at Tyndall Air Force Base.
- 1966
Conversion to F-102 Delta Dagger
[1]The group's 176th Squadron replaced its F-89 aircraft with Convair F-102 Delta Daggers and returned to the air-defense alert mission after retraining.
- 1960
Continuous F-89 runway alert begins
[1]F-89 Scorpion crews began maintaining a continuous alert commitment with two armed aircraft at the unit's base.
- 1956
Group established for air defense
[1]The 115th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was established and federally recognized on 15 April 1956 from the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and supporting elements.
Products and positioning
A Wisconsin Air National Guard operational aviation unit providing fighter, air-defense, close-air-support, interdiction, and expeditionary capabilities for state and federal missions.
interceptor aircraft · 1960
Northrop F-89 Scorpion
The F-89 was the group's principal interceptor during its early Cold War air-defense period. From 1960, crews operated the aircraft in a continuous runway-alert role. The F-89J variant associated with the unit could carry the AIR-2 Genie, a specialized air-to-air missile intended for use against bomber formations.
supersonic interceptor aircraft · 1966
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
The F-102 replaced the group's F-89s during the mid-1960s. After conversion training, the unit resumed its air-defense alert duties with this supersonic interceptor. The aircraft remained central to the group's mission until the organization changed roles in the 1970s.
forward air control aircraft · 1974
Cessna O-2A Skymaster
The O-2A Skymaster supported the group's forward-air-control mission after the 1974 conversion from air defense. Its twin-engine configuration and observation role suited coordination with ground forward controllers and ROMAD teams during tactical operations.
multirole fighter aircraft · 1993
F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcon
The F-16C/D Block 30 became the group's principal aircraft after its modern reactivation. The aircraft supports air-to-air combat, close air support, air interdiction, and precision-guided bombing. Historical descriptions of the group's weapons include JDAM-series bombs and the AIM-9X air-to-air missile.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Africa operations
Africa
The group participated in an Africa-based deployment or operation recorded in its unit history.
- 2006Operation Enduring Freedom
Iraq
The unit supported operations from Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2006, 2008, and 2009.
- 2004Operation Enduring Freedom
Qatar and Southwest Asia
The group deployed personnel to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during 2004–2005.
- 2001Operation Coronet Nighthawk
Netherlands Antilles
The group took part in Coronet Nighthawk operations from Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles.
- 2001Operation Noble Eagle
United States
The group has supported domestic aerospace-defense duties under Operation Noble Eagle from 11 September 2001 onward, according to the unit's historical account.
- 1999Operation Southern Watch
Saudi Arabia
The unit participated in Southern Watch operations from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
- 1997Operation Northern Watch
Turkey
Group personnel supported the northern Iraq no-fly-zone operation from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
- 1997Operation Southern Watch
Kuwait
The group supported Southern Watch activities from Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait during 1997–1998.
- 1994Operation Coronet Chariot
Denmark
The group participated in an overseas operation at Karup, Denmark, during the transition to its modern F-16-era mission.
- Operation Jump Start
United States
Personnel and/or aircraft associated with the group have supported Operation Jump Start, a domestic federal mission listed in the unit's history.
Brand decisions
1994
Reactivation as an operations groupStrategyBackground
The Air National Guard adopted the Air Force Objective Wing organization, while the parent wing transitioned to the 115th Fighter Wing and received F-16 aircraft.
Action taken
The organization was reactivated and redesignated the 115th Operations Group under the 115th Fighter Wing.
Aftermath
The group assumed responsibility for modern F-16 fighter operations, including air interdiction, close air support, air-to-air combat, and precision attack.
1974
Conversion from air defense to forward air controlStrategyBackground
The group shifted away from its Cold War interceptor role as force structures and tactical requirements changed.
Action taken
It exchanged F-102 interceptors for Cessna O-2A aircraft and was redesignated the 115th Tactical Air Support Group.
Aftermath
The unit operated in a forward-air-control role until its inactivation in 1979.
Sources1 sources
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