Photos: 162nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard at TIA
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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The Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd fighter wing at Tucson International Airport through the years.
The unit had its origins in 1956 after the Korean War. They flew F-86A Sabres, made famous in air-to-air battles with Russian-made Mig fighters.
The 162nd Wing lists these fighter jets in wing history:
1956-1957: F-86A Sabre
1957-1958: F-84F Thunderstreak
1958-1966: F-100A Super Sabre
1966-1969: F-102A Delta Dagger
1969-1976: F-100CD Super Sabre
1975-1987: A-7D Corsair II
1985-Present: F-16 Fighting Falcon
Arizona Air National Guard
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Arizona Air Guard Capt. Jerry Wilper of the 162nd Fighter Group flying his A7 Corsair fighter jet while flanked by wingmen during a flight near Tucson in November, 1983. Bruce Chambers / Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport
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A pilot exits an F-84F Thunderstreak of the Arizona Air National Guard during the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Tucson International Airport
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Maj. Philip Colman streaks along the runway at 700 mph in an F-84F Thunderstreak as Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Tucson International Airport
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Spectators watch Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Tucson International Airport
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Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Arizona Air Guard
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Unit members of the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard on base with an F-100 fighter. (year unknown)
Arizona Air National Guard
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Arizona Air National Guard F-100 fighters airborne over Southern Arizona in June, 1965. Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Arizona Air National Guard
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An Arizona Air National Guard F-100 fighter takes off from Tucson International Airport in June, 1965. Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Arizona Air National Guard
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In one of the most impressive ceremonies in the 90-year history of Arizona's national guard, 2,000 guardsmen and 2,000 regulars passed in review at Ft. Huachuca on Governor's day Saturday while the air guard flew by in echelons in 1954. Tucson Citizen
Arizona Air National Guard
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Unit members of the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard on base with an F-100 aircraft. (year unknown) Courtesy 162nd Fighter Wing
Arizona Air National Guard
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With the afterburner flaming, Staff Sgt. David Pazak operates the controls for the F-16's Pratt & Whitney F100-220E jet engine that is undergoing an acceptance test at the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at Tucson International Airport in 2008. Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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The afterburner of the 16-ft. long, 3,218-pound Pratt &Whitney F100-220E engine for an F-16 fighter sends flames down an exhaust tube from its test stand in one of two Hush Houses operated by the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at Tucson International Airport in 2008. Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Controls in the test cell, a small control room inside a Hush House, are used for testing of jet engines at the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at Tucson International Airport in 2008. Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Senior Airman Chris Heising inspects an F-16c during the fighter jets 300-hour maintenance at the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at Tucson International Airport Thursday in 2008. Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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The Arizona Air National Guard complex at Tucson International Airport photographed in 2003. Aaron Latham / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Arizona Air National Guard F-16 fighter jets sit under awnings at Tucson International Airport in 2003. Aaron Latham / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Staff Sgt Evan Ortiz, left, and pilot Col. Jeff Butler stand near an F-16 at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing's Alert Detachment area at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base before flying air cover for the 2015 Super Bowl in Phoenix. A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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An Arizona Air National Guard F16 takes off as it passes the $42 million control tower which is under construction at Tucson International Airport in 2015. A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Nevaeh Hight, 2, left, hugs her sister Patricia Pacheco , a member with the Arizona Air National Guard, hug during a welcome home party at the Tucson Air National Guard base in 2008 after deployment to Iraq. Jill Torrance / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Monique De Jesus hugs her husband Jose De Jesus of the Arizona Air National Guard, during a welcome home party at the Tucson Air National Guard in Tucson after deployment to Badhdad in 2008. Jill Torrance / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Crew chief Staff Sgt. Josh Cruce talks with the pilot of an F-16 before a training flight at the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard in Tucson, in 2007. Greg Bryan / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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Air National Guard members look on during the Hometown Heroes Salute at the Arizona Air National guard on November 6, 2010 in Tucson. Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard
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F-16 fighters from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing over Memorial Day ceremonies held at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in 2010. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Air National Guard F-16
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An Iraqi F-16 jet, right, taxis after landing as an Arizona Air National Guard pilot lands in the background at the Tucson International Airport on July 13, 2017.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
The fighter crashed about 8 p.m. in grassland some five miles away from the Douglas airport.
