1986 – 1988 F-15 Eagle Aircraft Conversion

The Hawaii Air National Guard diligently planned and executed the final steps for an aircraft conversion in fiscal year 1987. The F-15A Eagle aircraft will replace the F-4C Phantom jet fighters. This conversion will represent a quantum leap forward in the air defense of the State.

– 1986 Annual Report pp. 1

Within the past year, through the combined efforts of the Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard, Pacific Air Force, and the National Guard Bureau, the acquisition of the F-15A Eagle aircraft to replace the aging F-4C Phantom aircraft became a long awaited reality. aircraft in March 1987.

– 1986 Annual Report pp. 11

June 14, 1986 initiated the closing of a very historical chapter in the annals of the Hawaii Air National Guard. The return landings of eight F-4C aircraft from the air combat exercise Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nevada, marked the end of the last deployment in the Phantom. With the expected arrival of the F-15 Eagle next fiscal year and the final phase out of the F-4C, an era will come to an end. Although Hawaii Air National Guard’s Phantoms are close to being 23 years old and by most 1980 standards, out-dated, the aircraft can still perform well in the air combat arena when flown by experienced and well-trained aircrews as was proven by the recent deployment to Red Flag.

– 1986 Annual Report pp. 13

5 FEB 1986 The Air Force announced changes in the tactical force structure of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s F-4C (Phantom) fighter aircraft will be replaced by F-15 (Eagle) aircraft .

Learn more

On February 1986 the United States Air Force officially announced that the Hawaii Air National Guard will begin receiving the F-15A Eagle aircraft in March 1987.

– 1986 Annual Report pp. 11

HANG to receive F-15 Summer 1987

On February 5, 1985 the Air Force announced proposed changes in the tactical force structure of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 24 F-4C (Phantom) fighter aircraft will be replaced by 24 F-15 (Eagle) aircraft in the summer of 1987, which will greatly enhance Hawaii’s air defense system for the people of Hawaii. The F-15 is recognized as one of the finest fighter aircraft in the world today. Its superior acceleration, range, weapons and avionics will enable the Hawaii Air National Guard to intercept, identify and destroy, if necessary, potential hostile aircraft at a greater distance from our shores.

According to Major General Alexis T. Lum, State Adjutant General, “The aircraft represents a monumental leap for Hawaii’s air defense and will provide a greater level of protection for the State of Hawaii. Hawaii has a definite need for this expanded capability and the Hawaii Air National Guard has demonstrated its ability to put the F-15 to the best possible use for our State and Nation.”

Hawaii Air National Guard, 3rd Guard unit to receive F-15’s

The Hawaii Air National Guard becomes the third Guard unit in the nation to be programmed for the F-15s, following the 159^th Tactical Fighter Group, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the 116^th Tactical Fighter Wing, Dobbins AFB, Georgia. Hawaii’s early selection for force modernization can be attributed to the very strong support received from Pacific Air Forces and the National Guard Bureau and our Hawaii Air National Guard’s unique air defense mission and its outstanding accomplishments. Over the next decade, several other Air National Guard units will be programmed for the F-15 aircraft as part of the modernization of the reserve forces.

As part of the conversion from the F4C to F-15 aircraft, the Hawaii Air National Guard will be upgrading and expanding its facilities at Hickam AFB to accommodate the new aircraft at an estimated cost of $8.2 million. An additional $15.2 million of improvements,

$23.4 million in facilities upgrading & expansion improvements

unrelated to the conversion, will be made to accommodate other facility needs of the Hawaii Air National Guard at Hickam AFB.

The conversion of the F-4C to F-15 aircraft will result in a slight increase in full-time and military manning for the 154^th Composite Group, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Some on-board personnel will be affected by the conversion. They will be reassigned and trained for new duties since the F-15 is less labor intensive to maintain than the F-4C because of improved technology and requires only one pilot to perform its mission. The F4C currently requires both a pilot and a weapons system officer to perform its mission. However, no existing personnel will be laid off since the overall manpower authorization will be slightly increased, as previously mentioned.

This conversion from the F-4C to the F-15 will be the fifth aircraft conversion for the Hawaii Air National Guard over the past four decades. Brigadier General Edward V. Richardson, Hawaii Air National Guard Commander, stated, “Since 1956, we have provided 24-hour air defense for the State of Hawaii and our people. With strong support from the Pacific Air Forces, we have worked hard to continually upgrade our people’s training, our tactics and our equipment to deny any potential adversary an undue advantage. General Robert W. Bazley, Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, and the late General Jerome F. O’Malley deserve much of the credit for modernization of Hawaii’s air defense system. Their support and recognition of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s accomplishments contributed directly to our early conversion to the F-15. The F-15 is the world’s premier fighter aircraft and, combined with our outstanding aircrews and support personnel, I feel that the Hawaii Air National Guard will have the best air defense force for years to come. This conversion has added significance to all the men and women in the Hawaii Air National Guard as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in serving Hawaii’s people and our Nation.”

– 1986 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 12

F-15 TO REPLACE F-4

On February 5, 1986, the Air Force announced proposed changes in the tactical force structure of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 24 F-4C (Phantom) fighter aircraft will be replaced by 24 F-15 (Eagle) aircraft in the summer of 1987, which will greatly enhance Hawaii’s air defense system for the people of Hawaii. The F-15 is recognized as one of the finest fighter aircraft in the world today. Its superior acceleration, range, weapons and avionics will enable the Hawaii Air National Guard to intercept, identify and destroy, if necessary, potential hostile aircraft at a greater distance from our shores.

According to Major General Alexis T. Lum, State Adjutant General, “The aircraft represents a monumental leap for Hawaii’s air defense and will provide a greater level of protection for the State of Hawaii. Hawaii has a definite need for this expanded capability and the Hawaii Air National Guard has demonstrated its ability to put the F-15 to the best possible use for our State and “Nation.”

The Hawaii Air National Guard becomes the third Guard unit in the nation to be programmed for the F-15s. following the 159^th Tactical Fighter Group, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the 116^th Tactical Fighter Wing, Dobbins AFB, Georgia. Hawaii early selection for force modernization can be attributed to the very strong support received from Pacific Air Forces and the National Guard Bureau and our Hawaii Air National Guard’s unique air defense mission and its outstanding accomplishments. Over the next decade, several other Air National Guard units will be programmed for the F-15 aircraft as part of the modernization of the reserve forces.

As part of the conversion from the F-4C to F-15 aircraft, the Hawaii Air National Guard will be upgrading and expanding its facilities at Hickam AFB to accommodate the new aircraft at an estimated cost of $8.2 million. An additional $15 .2 million of improvements, unrelated to the conversion, will be made to accommodate other facility needs of the Hawaii Air National Guard at Hickam AFB.

The conversion of the F-4C to F-15 aircraft will result in a slight increase in full-time and military manning for the 154^th Composite Group, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Some on- board personnel will be affected by the conversion. They will be reassigned and trained for new duties since the F-15 is less labor intensive to maintain than the F-4C because of improved technology and requires only one pilot to perform its mission. The F-4C currently requires both a pilot and a weapons system officer to perform its mission. However, no existing personnel will be laid off since the overall manpower authorization will be slightly increased, as previously mentioned.

This conversion from the F-4C to the F-15 will be the fifth aircraft conversion for the Hawaii Air National Guard over the past four decades. Brigadier General Edward V. Richardson, Hawaii Air National Guard Commander, seated, “Since 1956, we have provided 24-hour air defense for the State of Hawaii and our people. With strong support from the Pacific Air Forces, we have worked hard to continually upgrade our people’s training, our tactics and our equipment to deny any potential adversary an undue advantage. General Robert W. Bazley, Commander ill Chief, Pacific Air Forces, and the late General Jerome F. O’Malley deserve much of the credit for modernization of Hawaii’s air defense system. Their support and recognition of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s accomplishments contributed directly to our early conversion to the F-15. The F-15 is the world’s premier fighter aircraft and, combined with our outstanding aircrews and support personnel, I feel that the Hawaii Air National guard will have the best air defense force for years to come. This conversion has added significance to all the men and women in the Hawaii Air National guard as we celebrate our 40^th anniversary in serving Hawaii’s people and our Nation.”

– 1986 March Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 1 & 8

CAM sq. news & views

… Well gang, another drill weekend has come and gone , mission accomplished til the next drill … Remember last issue when I mentioned attaining the goals set by MGen Conaway when he visited us? I guess you’ve already heard what is in store for the Hawaii Air Guard in the months ahead , and you’ve no doubt seen a few stickers around with the picture of the F-15 aircraft. Well folks, “THE EAGLES ARE COMING!” Along with the new aircraft comes a very demanding and hectic period of training and preparing called “CONVERSION”. There are many of us who went through several aircraft conversions and know what it will take for a conversion to be successful. It takes a good concerted effort on everyone’s part to make it all happen, so, LET THE EAGLES COME!, ….

– 1986 March Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 4

F-15 Eagles Update

By Lt. Col. Jerald K. Aoki and Capt.
Wayne P. Wakeman, HANG

The 154^th Composite Group’s (154^th COMPG) F-15 conversion committee is on schedule with their plan for coordinating and managing the upcoming changeover. Members of the committee chaired by Capt. Jerald Aoki and assisted by Capt. Wayne Wakeman, include personnel from operations, maintenance, support area Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard.

A Site Survey Team, made up of experts who have handled F-15 conversions for the active Air Force and two other Air Guard units, completed their study in December 1985. Interim measures that would allow a timely conversion, with as little change to the daily operation, were implemented. Portable facilities were built or acquired to support supply function and the engine machine shop and will eventually be replaced with permanent facilities.

Many experts from the many functional areas nation-wide made up the Site Activation Task Force (SATAF). They wrapped-up a week of conferences in April, which identified possible problems the 154^th COMPG may face if other alternatives to these problems were not considered.

The SATAF team’s four-part visit identifies (ID’s) possible problems; follows-up and I D’s any new items; 1D’s training equipment, resolves any last minute problems and finalizes any schedules; and, if needed, a fourth visit to clean-up any last minute items or problems.

Topics of the first SATAF were getting the actual aircraft tail numbers of the F-15’s coming from Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, and the supply ordering process.

Scheduling is proceeding for home and away schooling (as long as eight months), construction in the maintenance shops, and preparations to receive equipment and supplies.

Two F-15’s will arrive in March and April of 1987. There will be “hands on” maintenance trainers, with a Field Training Team joining them shortly to conduct retraining classes. In the months to follow, starting in July through the end of 1987, operational F15’s will be arriving. The aircrews will be attending F-15 pilot upgrade training beginning in March also, at either Tyndall AFB, Florida, or Luke AFB, Arizona.

After the majority of the pilots are fully qualified, an evaluation will be made to determine the combat capabilities.

The conversion will require additional effort from all functional areas. We can look forward to more academics, working in interim facilities, and using new equipment.

– 1986 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 3

Commanders Corner

Also arriving today are members of the Site Activation Task Force who will be working with our Composite Group staff to plan for our conversion requirements to the F-15 Eagle. You probably noted some trailers and a building along side of the Supply warehouse … we have already start ed our conversion thinking for FY87. The project manager for the Composite Group is Lt Colonel Aoki.

– 1986 April Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 2

F-15 CONVERSION UPDATE

BY Lt col. Jerald K. Aoki

The 154^th COMPG has fanned a conversion committee to plan, coordinate, and manage the forthcoming F-15 conversion. The committee is composed of the various function areas in the operations, maintenance and support areas as well as several members of the HQ HANG Staff. The conversion committee is chaired by Lt Col Jerald Aoki who is assisted by Capt. Wayne Wakeman.

During December 9-11, 1985 a site survey was conducted at the 154^th COMPG facility to plan the F-15 conversion. The site survey determined what was necessary to support the conversion at HAFB. Several interim measures are proposed and accepted that will allow a timely conversion. Several portable facilities were built or acquired to support supply function and the engine shop. These are interim measures that will eventually be replaced with permanent facilities.

The first Site Activation Task Force (SATF) visit will be held between April 7-11, 1986. Many experts from the many functional areas nation wide who are responsible for F-15 conversions will be attending the meeting. All the issues that pertain to a successful aircraft conversion will be aired and solutions proposed and agreed upon. Your support in hosting these visitors will be greatly appreciated.

After the SATF 1, we can expect some of our people to be attending formal schools to become qualified in the various F-15 systems. Also, we can anticipate various construction projects to begin in the maintenance shops. Additionally, equipment and supplies will be arriving to support the conversion requirements.

Sometime in March 1987, two F-15’s will arrive. Both aircraft will be used for maintenance training. The Field Training Team will arrive shortly after the aircraft and they will be holding classes to retrain our maintenance people on the new systems.

At the same time many of our aircrews will be attending F-15 pilot upgrade training at either Tyndall AFB FL or Luke AFB AZ . Each pilot will return and start flying the eagles in a home station training program. After the majority of the pilots are fully qualified in the F-15, we can expect an evaluation to determine our combat capability.

The conversion will require additional effort from all functional areas. We can all look forward to more academics, working in interim facilities, and using new equipment.

– 1986 April Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 2

F-15 CONVERSION PROCEED ON SCHEDULE

With the official announcement in February that the HANG was to receive F-15’s, everyone in the 154COMG have been busy as bees. A Site Survey Team made up of experts who have handled F-15 conversions for the active Air Force and two other Air Guard units, completed their study with their recommendations on how the Composite Group should handle its conversion with a little change as possible continue without to such disruption. This was the first milestone for the HANG coward the conversion

During the weeks of April 7-11 another milestone was completed as the Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) wrapped up a week of conferences identifying possible problems that the Composite Group may face if other alternatives to these problems are not considered A SATAF team usually makes three to four visits to a converting unit.

The first visit identifies items that may be come problems as mentioned above while the second visit is for any following up that is needed from the first SATAF visit as well as to identify anymore new items that may have evolved from previous areas of concern

The third visit is to identify the training equipment that will be needed for the unit, to resolve any last minute problems and to finalize any schedules. Usually the fourth visit is not needed however it’s used “clean up” any last minute items or problems

Topics during first SATAF ranged anywhere from getting the actual aircraft tail numbers and where they’ll be coming from to the supply ordering process for F-15’s that we’ll be getting is coming all the way from Tyndall AFB, Florida. Our first maintenance “hands on” training F-15’s will be arriving in March and April of 1987, while our first operational F-15s will arrive sometime in July and every month after that until the end of the 1987 year when we ‘ll have our full compliment of Eagle jets. So the Eagles will be here before we know it’

As with any new equipment there is a need for training in that equipment. Schools have been identified and the process of acquiring school dates and money for this training were addressed during the SATAF meetings. Some school courses are as long as eight months and this definitely will cause some hardships. However everyone seems to be taking things in stride and with a positive attitude

Well the team has come and gone and the process continues to wait for no one. I would like to mention our Civil Engineering Squadron : You guys are the greatest and your pride speaks for itself Your efforts to support this conversion has not gone unnoticed. The Composite Group appreciates your efforts and especially to SMSt Rodney Correa who found a way to get the boys to come out during the week to erect those temporary buildings next to the supply building. I’d like to mention all your names but I can’t … you know who you are so thanks. I think I can speak not only for myself but for Col. John Lee and Lt. Col. Jerry Aoki, the Conversion Chairman, thank you, the support people that take our job to fly jets is a direct result of your dedication to the unit

– 1986 May Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 1 & 5

F-15 CONVERSION

by Capt. Wayne Wakeman

Well time is marching on and some of you may have already noticed some temporary structures being built and the good .. ole .. sea containers around the area. These are positive signs that the conversion is going on as planned. These will obviously be temporary quarters for either personnel or equipment while new facilities are being built or present ones are being modified.

The F-4 simulator is no longer in existence. It was dismantled back in June and is somewhere being used as parts. What a way to go! Anyway, the simulator folks are not out of existence, in fact they are the trailblazers for the rest of us in the Composite Group. They have the distinct honor of being the first ones to be identified as “F-15 helpers.” They have already started their first of 2 phases of training. Three of the four full-timers started four months of electronic training here locally. September will begin their 2^nd phase at Lowry AFB, Colorado, which has a completion around the end of December. Yes. that is a total of eight months of training that will qualify the as technicians in the Precision measuring Equipment Lab Type IV (DEML). I won’t explain what this entails now cause it would take too long! Maybe someday.

So what’s become of the “old” simulator space? Well, the folks from the printing “shack” finally have an area with room and space for their equipment and personnel. As you’ve probably guessed by now – thats what the simulator space is being used for.

Anyway, I hope to be briefing all at you during the August UTA CMT period. I’ll try to bring everyone up to date on what’s been going on and any other changes. Other than that the conversion is progressing smoothly with its minor problems but nothing we can’t handle. So until next month … check six!

– 1986 July Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 1 & 10

Commanders Corner

In preparation for our conversion from F-4s to F-15s many of our key officers and NCOs have been visiting F-15 units to learn what the HANG can adapt rather than “re-inventing the wheel”. Our HANG representatives have learned a lot from the New Orleans and Georgia ANG units and from the USAF F-15 bases at Elemendorf, McChord, Tyndall and Luke AFBs. It is always invigorating to note how some of our personnel are “extra” perceptive of the subtle differences in how things are done … especially in the maintenance areas by other units, On October 5, we will again meet with Air Force, ANG and critical planning is expected. While we expect the F-15 Eagle in ’87, we must continue to maintain our high, standards in flying in the F-4 … the lessons learned is transferable to the F- 15.

– 1986 September Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 2

F-15 CONVERSION

By Capt Wayne Wakeman

Well the F-15 conversion is progressing as planned since the last briefing I gave at the GMT. There have been many of us taking TDY trips to other F-15 bases both active duty and Guard. Hopefully we are gathering valuable information and consolidating these ideas to become one of the best organized F-15 unit around. On the aircrew side of the picture, we’re all excited to start flight training but at the same time sad to see our WSOs leave the fold. Most will remain with us in other non-flying jobs like radar controllers, intelligence officers, maintenance officer, etc, and others will be transferring to mainland units to keep flying. It will be hard for those staying to see us flying while “pushing paper” or “flying a desk” as they say but as our squadron commander put it, “The WSOs have done such a good job in helping to build this unit into one of the best F-4 squadrons that they worked themselves out of a job! Without them we wouldn’t be getting the F-15.” My Aloha goes out to all of them and I’m sure the rest of the pilots will share the same.

Three weeks ago I visited the 43^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. I got to fly the Eagle jet twice. After this momentous occasion I’ll agree that this airplane is a pilot’s dream. As for maintenance when you get to know the BITS (built in test system) it will be easy to identify the problem. As an example we were out on an air combat mission and we or I should say the aircraft developed an emergency. After we landed and taxied into the parking slot, the crewchief plugged into the aircraft and asked the pilot to watch for certain indications in the cockpit while he performed the BITS check. The questions and answers were completed between the two and the crew chief knew exactly what and where the problem was. Within the hour the problem was fixed and the bird turned for the next go. As far as scrambles were concerned … the crewchiefs responsibility was only to take down the ladder, arm the missiles and pull the chocks. The limiting factor for the scramble time was getting the INS (inertial navigational system) aligned.

Our next Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) Conference will be held just after the October drill during the week of Oct. 6-10. This should solve what ever problems we’ve had from the first meeting back in April and identify any new one since then. Anyway the F-15 is quite an airplane and should be here before we know it.

– 1986 September Kūkāʻilimoku pp. 6

F-15’s update

The Hawaii Air National Guard’s F-15 Eagle conversion is proceeding on schedule.

Many personnel are visiting other F-15 bases, both active duty and Guard, gathering valuable information and consolidating these ideas to become one of the best organized F-15 units.

Displaced personal like the weapons systems Officers (WSOs) are leaving for schools to train for new positions (maintenance, personnel, radar controllers, intelligence) or transferring to mainland units to keep flying. The officers may have had their wings clipped but the good job they have done has enabled HANG to upgrade to the F-15’s.

The F-15’s bring advance technology, including the Built in Test System (BITS). which enables the crewchief the easily identify a maintenance problem. The BITS is plugged into the aircraft and a system check is run. The pilot and crew chief confer on the data and the “problem” is fixed.

The conversion has affected the number of warm bodies around to accomplish the day to day mission, but those left behind picked up the slack to continue operations “as usual”.

– 1986 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 4