The 159th Fighter Wing flys F-15 aircraft with a primary mission of air sovereignty. On June 25, 1999, members of the 159th Fighter Wing, New Orleans ANG, while on deployment to Reykjavik, Iceland, flying F-15A aircraft, intercepted two Russian TU-95 “Bear-H” aircraft. They use Warning Area airspace over the Gulf of Mexico for most of their training. Supersonic flight, necessary for realistic training, is conducted away from the shoreline in a manner that does not disturb the public. The term “Coonass” is a term that was used for and by Cajun folks to described themselves. Not all Cajuns appreciated this term, but it stuck to the Louisana Air National Guard. Although the Louisiana state legislature condemned the word’s use in 1981, the Louisiana Air National Guard’s acclaimed 159th Tactical Fighter Group referred to itself as the “Coonass Militia” until 1992. This is the “dark” blue version of the squadron patch and does not have velcro attached.
