North Dakota National Guard : News Releases

November 21, 2009

06:21:01

Press Release 07-016 The Happy Hooligans' F-16 Fighter Jet Legacy Continues

by 1st Lt. Ripperger

Posted on 12/21/2006

The Happy Hooligans' F-16 Fighter Jet Legacy Continues

FARGO, N.D. - Not all of the 119th Fighter Wing (Happy Hooligans), N.D. Air National Guard F-16 "Fighting Falcon" jets are destined for the aviation "bone-yard".

On Sept. 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Brad Derrig became a part of history as one of the first responders to the terrorist attacks, flying over the nation's capital in an F-16 fighter jet. His aircraft on that fateful day, better known to the Happy Hooligan airmen as tail number ‘82-929', was one of three F-16s from the N.D. Air National Guard that scrambled from their alert detachment located at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

It seems fitting now, that Derrig will fly fighter ‘82-0929' one last time to its final resting place; a museum that will honor the contributions of those who defended the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Fighter ‘82-929' will make its final flight on Dec. 26 to the McChord Air Force Base Museum, Tacoma, Wash., where it will be displayed as part of a Sept. 11, 2001 exhibit.

Since being built in 1982, the Happy Hooligans have flown this particular aircraft for 3,920 sorties (individual aircraft flights) resulting in a total of 5,781 flight hours.

The F-16 aircraft that was flown by Maj. Dean Eckmann on Sep. 11, 2001 (tail number ‘82-0926') will be a static display at the Heritage Park located at the N.D. Air National Guard Base (Hector IAP). The third F-16 fighter aircraft is being used by another Air National Guard unit for training.

The last of the F-16 Fighting Falcons from N.D. will be retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. by the end of Jan. 2007.
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