187th commander: Alabama’s Red Tail unit is a family
The 187th Fighter Wing is preparing to receive the F-35. (Tech. Sgt. William Blankenship / 187th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)
Col. Brian Vaughn, commander of the Alabama National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing, said the Red Tails are a family and such bonds are needed to be successful in future conflict.
The wing is based in Montgomery and includes the famed 100th Fighter Squadron, historically revered as one of the Tuskegee Airmen squadrons from World War II.
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The squadron is currently made up of F-16C+ Fighting Falcons. The squadron and wing will transition to a fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the near future, being one of the leading Air National Guard units equipped with the F-35A Lightning II aircraft.
Vaughn took command of the 187th in 2022 and is responsible for 1,400 personnel that make up four geographically separated units, including a squadron of F-16 fighter jets that will transition to F-35s in 2023, a combat communications group, an RC-26 reconnaissance aircraft squadron and an eagle vision unit.
Here are his thoughts about the legacy and the ongoing strength of the Red Tail family, in this video:
Alabama’s 187th Fighter Wing Red Tails are a family from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
