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THE RIP CHORD ONLINE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUMS ONLINE NEWSLETTER |
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11 SEPTEMBER 2015
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9-11
Hero "still serving" on display at McChord
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PHOTO BY ERNIE WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM |
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F-16A 82-0929 is now displayed it a
prominent display in front of the Western Air Defense Sector
HQ.
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With the
Nation reflecting on the events that occurred on September
11, 2001, we also pause to remember a first responder that
makes its home at McChord, F-16A 82-0929, one of the first
fighters scrambled to intercept the hijacked airliners. In
2006, the F-16 from the 119th Fighter Wing "Happy
Hooligans" of the North Dakota Air National Guard
completed its last flight before being retired for display
at McChord. The pilot that day, Lt Col Brad Derrig was
very familiar with the jet, it was he and two of his
fellow squadron mates (Lt. Col. Craig
Borgstrom, & Lt. Col Dean Eckmann) in their F-16 were
the first pilots scrambled with a mission to defend the
Nation's Capital during the terrorist attacks on September
11.
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McChord Air
Museum
volunteers played an important role in the acquisition and
preparation for display at WADS HQ, below you can find two
stories published over the years covering actions of Museum Volunteers in bringing this
historic aircraft to McChord. For the story of the
flight of the Happy Hooligans during the terrorist attacks of
9/11 please click the story link below.
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Story - North Dakota pilots recount patrolling DC skies on
9/11 |
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F-16A ADF Fact Sheet |
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31 DECEMBER 2006
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Foundation Member helps
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“land” a
F-16 for WADS
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Photo By ERNEST WHITE, II / McCHORD
AIR MUSEUM |
Lt Col. Brad Derrig "shuts down" F-16ADF 82-0929 for
the final time in one of the McChord AFB Alert Hangars after
completing a cross-country flight to Washington State. Col
Derrig flying in F-16A -0929, and two other “Happy Hooligan”
F-16 ADF’s scrambled from their unit’s alert detachment at
Langley AFB, VA to intercept hijacked airliners over New
York and Washington DC during Sept 11, 2001.
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While many were out returning gifts a day after
Christmas, a small crowd gathered by one of
McChord's alert hangers to see the last flight
of a aircraft that made its mark on history standing
alert during September 11, 2001.
The aircraft, F-16A S/N
82-0929, one of the 3 F-16 scrambled against hijacked
airliners on 9-11-01, poked through the rain clouds and
touched down for the last time after a cross country
flight from it's
base at Fargo, ND. The aircraft’s pilot Lt Col.
Brad Derrig, Commander of the 119th Operations Group,
North Dakota Air National Guard will always be linked by
this journey, but the two will also be remembered as one
of the U.S. initial defense against terror.
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What started out as another day standing alert
at Langley AFB for the pilots of the 119th FW
better known as the “Happy Hooligans”, quickly became
anything but routine. Shortly after terrorist
commandeered civil airliners from New York airports, the
units F-16's were ordered to “battle stations” and
quickly given the “scramble” order by the Northeast Air
Defense Sector (NEADS) to defend the airspace of the
United States. F-16ADF 82-0929 piloted by the then Maj.
Brad Derrig, and two other F-16’s flown by Capt. Dean
Eckmann Capt. Craig Borgstrom would later perform
history's first CAP over Washington DC and the
Pentagon.
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Since 2002 Foundation Board Member
Ernest White lead the effort to bring the "9-11 first
responders" to McChord for display. Over the years,
White authored numerous letters and place more than a
few phone calls to many individuals and organizations in
the USAF, Department of Defense and Congress in a effort
to gain a waver for S/N -929 because of its important
history. Since the early 90’s only F-16 considered to be
“non flyers” were the only aircraft available for
display.
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During the last months of 2006 what seemed to be a
futile effort to acquire -929 became a reality. Working
with the F-16 System Program Office or “SPO” White was
able to secure the F-16 before it’s scheduled flight to
the Davis-Monthan “Boneyard”, where it was to be used
for a source of spare parts for other F-16. "It was not
until I saw her taxi by until I realized that we really
did get her here" White said, "This is a day I though I
would never see!”
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Although the McChord Air
Museum was not on the Air Force’s waiting list for F-16,
the Western Air Defense Sector had been on since 1994.
The unit had planned on displaying the aircraft with the
other historic Fighter-Interceptor aircraft, but later
decided to honor the aircraft by displaying it in front
of the units headquarters. When asked about the location
change White responded “The best ending to this story is
that a very historic aircraft was saved for many
generations to admire”
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PHOTO BY Abner Guzman / USAF
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Foundation Board Member
Ernest White greets Col. Derrig after he leaves F-16 82-0929
for the last time. White began an effort to bring the
fighter to the Museum in 2002.
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16 OCTOBER 2007
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Members prep Falcon for its final
assignment
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Photo By CHUCK BOWEN / McCHORD
AIR MUSEUM |
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McChord Air Museum Foundation volunteers (L-R)
Jack Whitaker, Ken Roberts, Dick Jones, Harvey Wishoff, Alice
Jackson, Bert Brandt and Jerry McNeil pose next to F-16
82-0929 formally assigned to North Dakota National Guard.
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After months of work behind the scenes, F-16
82-0929 emerged from the McChord Alert Facility hundreds
of pounds lighter in preparation for display on the
grounds of the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) located
on the south end of the base. Over the last few weeks,
members from the 162nd Fighter Wing, out of Tucson AZ and
WADS, “de-milled” the aircraft, removing sensitive and
serviceable items (including the engine). Once complete,
the F-16 was moved from to the Museums restoration hangar
to undergo some “final touches” in preparation for a
complete repainting.
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Another member volunteered for the project was Museum
Member Ernest White,
in charge of documenting
and researching distinctive markings for
“Hooligan” F-16s
and basic markings worn by this and other
Fighting Falcons. Once complete, information will be
provided to painters from the 62 AW since most markings
will be lost after the aircraft is sanded and primed.
“Painting a F-16 is not something they’re not use
to” said White, “We want to give the painters
all of the tools to insure, from tip to tail, -929 is
historically accurate”.
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Plans are to mount the aircraft next to the F-4 display by
NORAD’s 50th
Anniversary in May of 2008.
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21 MAY 2008
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Western Air Defense Sector dedicates historic aircraft
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Photo
By
Randy Rubattino /usaf |
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The F-16 fighter's place in
air defense history is assured with this permanent display at
the Headquarters of the Western Air Defense Sector at McChord
AFB, WA
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The Western Air Defense
Sector (WADS) hosted a formal dedication ceremony on May 21,
2008 for a historic F-16A Fighting Falcon from the North
Dakota Air National Guard. The F-16 was set on permanent
display on February 11 of this year.
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The
aircraft, F-16A ADF (Air Defense Fighter) S/N 82-0929, was one
of the three F-16s scrambled against hijacked airliners on
Sept. 11, 2001. The aircraft and its pilot on that day - Lt.
Col. Brad Derrig, commander of the 119th Operations Group,
North Dakota ANG - will always be remembered as part of the
United States' first line of defense against terrorism.
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Colonel Derrig, who participated in the dedication
ceremony, piloted the historic jet on its final flight here
Dec. 26, 2006. After its arrival at McChord, the aircraft was
prepared for permanent display by volunteers from several
agencies and organizations - the McChord Air Museum, the 162nd
Fighter Wing from Tucson, Ariz., the 194th Operations Group,
the 62nd Airlift Wing and WADS.
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All groups who made
this project a success were presented a Letter of appreciation
and Commanders' Coin by Col Paul Gruver, Commander of WADS,
accepting for the Museum was Foundation Board Member Ernest
White who led the effort to bring the historic F-16 to
McChord.
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(Special thanks to WADS Public Affairs for their contributions
to this artice)
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Photo
By
Randy Rubattino /usaf |
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Joining Sector Commander Col. Paul Gruver, second
from left, in unveiling the F-16 plaque they are from left Mr.
Greg Heidloff of WADS; Senior Master Sgt. John Kennedy from
the 194th Operations Group; Master Sgt. Scott McCool of WADS;
Master Sgt. James Roark (partially hidden) from Arizona's
162nd Fighter Wing, and Mr. Ken Roberts, from the McChord Air
Museum.
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