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  • Remembering Catherine "Kate" Black Elk

    Catherine “Kate” Black Elk, born on January 24, 1922 was one of 70 enlisted Women’s Army Corps (WAC) soldiers who served at Portland Army Air Base during World War II.

  • An Armistice Day Overseas, 1944

    Eighty years ago, on November 11, 1944, Armistice Day, known as Veterans Day since 1954, was observed overseas by the World War II elements of the 142nd Wing. 

  • Observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2024

    National Prisoner of War / Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day is an annual observance to remember and honor those who were held as prisoners of war by an enemy as well as those still missing in action and their longsuffering families.

  • First Campaign: The 371st Fighter Group in the Air Offensive, Europe

    Eighty years ago today, April 12, 1944 the 371st Fighter Group (371st FG) began combat operation in the European Theater of Operations (ETO).  Getting into combat in the Air Offensive, Europe campaign required some changes in the unit’s mission and tactics, and overcoming obstacles unique to the

  • Reflections of Southeast Asia: Oregon ANG Veterans of the Vietnam War

    March 29, 2024 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, when the nation honors those US military members who served during the Vietnam War.  Some nine million Americans served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War years.  Over 58,000 of them died.  On this day we remember their service and

  • Oregon’s Viper Years

    The 50th anniversary of the very first flight of the General Dynamics F-16 on January 20, 1974 was recently commemorated. That first time in the air was an unplanned event - the first formal flight followed shortly afterward on February 2, 1974. Either way, it’s been 50 years now since the first

  • Remembering that 1957 “New Plane Smell”

    This was the scene on November 22, 1957, some 66 years ago, at Portland Air Force Base on the Oregon Air National Guard ramp. It was a year of transition for the primary aircraft assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s (OreANG) 142nd Fighter Group (Air Defense). Here group personnel receive a

  • Wings Clipped: A Redhawk Captured in Korea

    Seventy years ago this summer, the guns went silent on the Korean Peninsula after three years of intense fighting as the Armistice took effect on July 27, 1953. Although combat had ceased, a number of actions resulted from this - one of which was the repatriation of prisoners of war. Of the 7,

  • Wing History: Coronet Nighthawk

    Coronet Nighthawk was the name of the Air Combat Command mission that transitioned from the active duty component to the Air National Guard in 1990. It was a counterdrug operation which employed fighter aircraft to patrol the skies of Panama to detect aircraft suspected of being involved in illegal