Air National Guard fighter jet to be disassembled, moved to history display in Capital Region

SYRACUSE, NY (11/04/2015)(readMedia)-- An F-16 fighter aircraft from the 174th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard that flew combat missions over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm will be dissembled on Thursday at Hancock Field as part of its final journey for display in the Capital Region.

The F-16 will be re-assembled and placed at the main entrance of New York National Guard headquarters in Latham Saturday afternoon as part of an historic display.

WHAT: Disassembly of an Air Force F-16 fighter jet at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base.

WHO: Chief Master Sergeant Mark Shearer, Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent, 174th Attack Wing.

WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, November 5.

Members of the Media MUST call the Public Affairs office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4 to attend the disassembly and MUST be at the Thompson Road gate of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base NO LATER THAN 7:15 a.m.

WHERE: Main Hangar, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, 6001 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211. Entry through Thompson Road gate.

Members of the media must the Public Affairs Officer NLT 4:30 p.m. at (315) 233-2651/2408 or (315) 559-4131 for access to this secure military facility.

Media Opportunity:

News reporters will be able to gather imagery of the F-16 fighter jet being disassembled. Interviews with Chief Master Sergeant Mark Shearer who has been involved with the maintenance of the F-16.

F-16 Fighting Falcon # 80-0504

F-16A tail number 80-0504 was last assigned as a ground maintenance trainer at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse before its retirement from service.

The 174th had flown the F-16 as a fighter wing for 20 years, with service for Operation Desert Storm, Operations Provide Comfort and Southern Watch, and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This particular aircraft, 80-0504, has historical legacy with the New York Air National Guard. It flew numerous combat missions with the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron during Operation Desert Storm, one of only two Air National Guard units to fly combat missions in the close air support role.

Deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1991 for Operation Desert Shield, Aircraft 80-0504 flew several combat missions from Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia as part of the 174th Fighter Wing's combat tour for Operation Desert Storm.

The F-16 returned to Hancock Field until the wing new received block 30 aircraft in 1993.

The aircraft was transferred back to Syracuse in 2002 after nearly a decade of service with the 162nd Fighter Wing in the Arizona Air National Guard.

Back at Hancock Field, the aircraft served as a ground maintenance training aircraft, where it was utilized for weapons load training until 2010.

The display of this historic aircraft is part of the regular transfer of retired airframes by the Collections Committee of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB. The committee approved the aircraft for static display at DMNA in January 2015.

174th Attack Wing

The 174th Attack Wing was established in 1947 as the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. It provided Close Air Support and Fighter support roles for Air Force missions before transition in 2010. The wing currently flies the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.