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  • The OreANG’s Orange Flight Suit Era

    In this undated 1970s picture, aircrew of the 123rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 142nd Fighter Group, Oregon Air National Guard (OreANG) at Portland ANG Base, Oregon, are seen here in concentration in the squadron’s old main briefing room.  They are perhaps taking one of several annual or

  • Remembering Captain David L. Seitz

    During this December, 2022, we remember Captain David L. Seitz, with gratitude for his service to community, state and nation and his sacrifice for all, 50 years ago.  The lessons learned from his loss helped improve flying safety which we may sometimes take for granted today.

  • The Oregon Air National Guard’s First Outstanding Unit Award

    The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), renamed in 2020 as the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA), is the Air Force’s highest peacetime unit award.  It was established in the aftermath of the Korean War and was the first independent Air Force decoration created. Sixty years ago this

  • The Oregon Air Guard’s First Thanksgiving

    Happy Thanksgiving!  The first Thanksgiving Day celebrated by Oregon’s first military aviation unit, the 123rd Observation Squadron (today’s 123rd Fighter Squadron) was on Thursday, November 27, 1942. It was a first not only for the 123rd Observation Squadron, but in a sense for the nation as well. 

  • The Storm Before the Calm – October, 1962 Part 2: The ANG RIO School

    As the USAF developed air defense interceptor aircraft with night and all-weather capabilities, some of the aircraft such as the Northrop F-89 Scorpion had a radar intercept officer (RIO) position in addition to the pilot.  For the F-89, the USAF operated a RIO school at James Connally Air Force

  • The Storm Before the Calm – October, 1962 Part 1: The Columbus Day Storm

    This series takes a look back at 142nd Wing history highlights from 60 years ago, in October, 1962. Many will remember it as the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis (Part 3 of the series), arguably the closest the world has been to a nuclear war. This was at the height of the Cold War, when even

  • An Oregon “Guest” of the Luftwaffe

    History can be a complex subject, finding the evidence of days gone by in documents, artifacts, images, interviews and such.  Even when one is familiar with the details of a given aspect of history, it’s common for new details to emerge.  History is not a static thing, and a surprising amount of

  • The Beloved Portland Air Base Chapel

    It’s the oldest building left on Portland Air National Guard Base, and a survivor. Not only has the base chapel survived the Flood of 1948 and the 1980s demolition campaign of virtually all World War II-era buildings on the base, it’s survived some years of lean budgets and others of indifference.