To celebrate the 75th anniversary of its creation, the Air National Guard of South Dakota (USA) painted one of its F-16C Fighting Falcon fighters with a commemorative scheme that rescues details and facts of its history. Among them is its founder, Brigadier General Joe Foss, a World War II ace who shot down 26 planes and was instrumental in founding the South Dakota ANG in 1946.
The painting in shades of white and light blue is intended to emulate the Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter flown by Foss during his actions in the Pacific, as well as the colors of the state flag. The South Dakota-born aviator flew with the Marines during the conflict and is credited with shooting down 26 Japanese aircraft, including A6M Zeke/Zero fighters and G4M Betty bombers.
In May 1943, Foss received the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest military award. The serviceman was posted to the South Dakota National Guard in 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, leaving the Marines. Foss was one of the most important people in the official formation of the Guard's air arm, becoming the commander of the ANG's 175th Fighter Squadron (175th FS), a unit that today pays homage to its founder with a specially painted F-16 fighter.
The painting details the history of the squadron and Air Guard, especially Foss. At the top of the supersonic jet's tail, a red band bears the inscriptions 175th Fighter Squadron and 114th Fighter Group. The three red stripes, painted just below, represent the same ones used on the P-51/F-51 Mustang fighters, the first plane employed by the unit.
The stars under the left and right wings include the surnames of all Ward . The number 53 on the rear stabilizers represents the registration of the F4F used by Foss in the War. The Coyote character painted on the drift represents the Ace's trademark. It was also the patch used by the 114th FW between 1970 and 1991.
On the front landing gear door, the painting of Mount Rushmore – where the faces of four Presidents of the United States are carved – recognizes the distinctive state landmark. The inscription "S DAK AIR GUARD" was applied to the fighter's underwing tanks and uses the same font used on the F-89 Scorpion and F-102 Delta Dagger fighters, employed by the Guard between 1960 and 1970.
Initially, the Sioux Falls-based unit was given the P-51D Mustang and a tight budget to start training new pilots. Over the years, the 175th Squadron continued to fly fighter aircraft such as the F-94 Starfire, the F-89 Scorpion, the F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-100 Super Saber, the A-7 Corsair and finally the F-16 that it employs to this day.
In addition to being an Ace and Medal of Honor recipient, Foss also became South Dakota's youngest governor at age 39 in 1955. He also served as commissioner of the American Football League, was past president of the National Rifle Association and he also hosted the ABC television show “The American Sportsman”. The aviator died at the age of 87 on January 1, 2003 due to complications from a stroke suffered 3 months earlier.
Check out more images of the special paint job.
