IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1697 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2010 Mr. Heinrich submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Honoring the New Mexico Air National Guard and recognizing the invaluable service of the 150th Fighter Wing.

Whereas the mission of the New Mexico Air National Guard is to provide unsurpassed aerospace combat capability and combat support forces to meet any contingency in the world; Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard was federally recognized on July 7, 1947, as the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron; Whereas the mission of the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron was changed from fighter-bomber to fighter-interceptor on February 12, 1951, and the squadron was redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on July 1, 1955; Whereas on February 1, 1951, the pilots of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were called to active duty for the Korean War; Whereas First Lieutenants Robert Lucas and Joseph Murray, Guardsmen of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, were killed while flying close-air-support missions during the Korean War; Whereas Captain Francis Williams and First Lieutenant Robert Sands, Guardsmen of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were each credited with three air-to-air kills against the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich 15 (MiG–15) fighters during the Korean War; Whereas the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron adopted the nickname Enchilada Air Force during the Korean War and used the flying call-sign Enchiladas in honor of the large enchilada dinners they would prepare for their associates; Whereas on July 1, 1960, the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was redesignated and federally recognized as the 150th Tactical Fighter Group; Whereas on January 26, 1968, the 150th Tactical Fighter Group was called to active duty as a result of the U.S.S. Pueblo Crisis and remained active for the Vietnam War, flying over 6,000 combat flights in the F–100 Super Sabre; Whereas 150th Tactical Fighter Group Guardsman Captain Michael Adams was killed-in-action and Guardsmen Major Bobby Neeld and First Lieutenant Mitchell Lane were reported missing-in-action during the Vietnam War; Whereas the 150th Tactical Fighter Group changed its nickname and call sign to Tacos during the Vietnam War in order to give air traffic controllers a name that was easier to pronounce; Whereas on December 3, 1990, members of the 150th Tactical Fighter Group’s Security Forces Squadron were called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm; Whereas on October 16, 1995, the 150th Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated and federally recognized as the 150th Fighter Wing; Whereas on April 12, 1997, the 150th Fighter Wing was called to active duty in support of Operation Southern Watch and deployed to Kuwait; Whereas on January 13, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing was called to active duty in support of Operation Northern Watch and deployed to Turkey; Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing flew Combat Air Patrols in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; Whereas in 2004, the 150th Fighter Wing helped fly the first F–16C’s into Balad Air Base, Iraq to establish fighter operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas in 2007, the 150th Fighter Wing maintained a 100 percent hit rate with no duds, fratricide, or collateral damage during its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas since September 11, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing has supported national security objectives during numerous Air Expeditionary Force and Expeditionary Combat Support deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Columbia, Oman, and Kuwait; Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard received numerous accolades for superior performance, including the Spaatz Trophy in 1956, Presidential Unit Citation in 1968, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in 1968 and 1969, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor in 1969, Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards in 1977, 1989 and 1996, the Winston P. Wilson Trophy in 1980, the top A–7 Team at Gunsmoke in 1989 and 1991, the Distinguished Flying Unit Award in 1991, and Outstanding Air National Guard Unit in 1991; Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard flew numerous aircraft throughout its history, including the A–26 Invader, F–51 Mustang, P–51 Mustang, T–6 Texan, F–80 Shooting Star, F–100 Super Sabre, A–7D Corsair II, and F–16C Fighting Falcon; and Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing will continue serving New Mexico and the United States by associating with the 58th Special Operations Wing in a Total Force Integration initiative training combat aviators in the HC–130P/N Combat King, MC–130P Combat Shadow, UH–1N Huey, and HH–60G Pave Hawk: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors the members of the New Mexico Air National Guard who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States; (2)recognizes the association between the 150th Fighter Wing and the 58th Special Operations Wing, which will help prepare mission-ready personnel in direct support of Air Expeditionary Forces worldwide; (3)commends the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton Schwartz, and the New Mexico National Guard commander, Major General Kenny C. Montoya, as their interaction and coordination were instrumental in establishing the association between the 150th Fighter Wing and the 58th Special Operations Wing; (4)commends the 150th Fighter Wing commander, Colonel Frederik Garvin Hartwig, and the members of the 150th Fighter Wing for their tremendous service to New Mexico and the United States; and (5)honors the New Mexico Air National Guard for providing over 63 years of exemplary service and continuing their protection of New Mexico and the United States.