On guard mile high: 140th wing, Colorado air national guard

摘要

Combat Aircraft joins the 140th Wing in Colorado to observe the Guardsmen operating in their home environment. COLORADO'S STATE CAPITAL Denver, elevation 5,280ft, lies exactly one mile above sea level, making it one of the highest major cities in the US. Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, home of the Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Wing, is in fact even higher, at an elevation of 5,662ft above sea level. This justifies the unofficial 'Mile High Militia' nickname used by the wing's 120th Fighter Squadron 'Cougars', flying the Block 30 F-16C/D. But the range of the 120th FS extends much further. The 'Cougars' have operated as far afield as Europe, the Middle East and Southwest Asia. The squadron is also active in many different roles: air-to-air and air-to-ground, including offensive counter-air (OCA), defensive counter-air (DCA), OCA interdiction, close air support (CAS) and combat search and rescue (CSAR). The wing's other flying unit, the 200th Airlift Squadron, equipped with the C-21A, also regularly leaves the cold Rocky Mountain environment to operate in different conditions.