The 159FIS/TFS 125FIG has a long history going back to the forties in UK till VE-day flying P-47 and P-51. Inactivated in the fall of 1945, the unit was allotted to the National Guard and the 159FS was federally recognized on Febr 9 1947. It first flew the F-51D from the Thomas Cole Municipal Airport in Jacksonville. During its second year the unit became one of the first Air Guard units equipped with jets (Shooting Stars) and became 159FS (Jet) on Aug 1 1948. It was called to active duty in the Korea conflict. Together with two George AFB units it formed the 116th FBG at Misawa Japan flying F-84E. The 159FIS returned to Florida in July 1952 and was again equipped with Mustangs. It received only four F86’A but the F80C was again chosen as its mission aircraft.
The unit reached the Group status on July 1 1956: 159FIS/125FIG in the Air Defence role. From August 1956 the powerful F-86D’s were introduced and from 1959 the F-86L.
The F102 entered service from July 1960. Many ex 32 FIS F102’s were transferred to this unit (for instance 61013 see photo, which left Soesterberg July 3 1969) and was replaced by the F106A in the end of 1974. In April 1987 the 125th converted to F-16A/B, the aircraft were modified to F16ADF and became the first unit to assume NORAD Air Defence Alert.
In 1992 the 125 FIG gaining command changed from TAC to the newly created Air Combat Command (ACC), the designation was changed into 125FG. However the bulk of ANG units flying operational flying missions were redesignated as wings: 125th FW.
June 1995 the 125FW converted to F-15A/B and in 2006 the F-15C/D until today