The 132d Wing, located at the Des Moines International Airport, can trace its roots back to February, 1941 with the establishment of the 124th Observation Squadron. The unit at that time had 110 men, 27 officers (15 pilots), and 5 aircraft.

Over the last 74 years, the 132d Fighter Wing has participated in numerous actions including World War II, the Korean Conflict, and many of the support functions of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom.

The unit first entered the jet age in 1953 with the F-80. Several conversions followed with the unit flying the F-84, F-86, F-89, F-100, and the A-7 aircraft. The latest conversion to the F-16C aircraft occurred in 1992.

For over six decades, the 132d Wing has demonstrated its dedication to excellence and professionalism. The unit has received numerous awards, including eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and has participated in exercises and deployments worldwide.

The 132d Wing also played a key role in the recovery efforts during the 1993 and 2008 flooding in the Des Moines area, providing logistics and personnel support to the relief operations. With over 900 enlisted personnel and 100 officers, the 132d Wing is ready to meet the challenges of a changing world, well into the century.

The museum and education center honors the U.S. Army's first officer candidate class for African American men in 1917, and the establishment of the first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC's) in 1942. Click to learn more.

The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum's mission is to honor and depict the military experience of Iowa citizens in all wars, homeland defense and Iowa service. The museum's purpose is to collect, preserve and exhibit materials that illustrate the story of Iowa's military past from statehood to the present. The Iowa Gold Star Museum honors the heroic service of all Iowa veterans. As a state institution, we want to be recognized as the Premiere Veterans Museum for the state of Iowa. Click to learn more.

The Air National Guard as we know it today -- a separate reserve component of the United States Air Force -- was a product of the politics of postwar planning and interservice rivalry during World War II. The men who planned and maneuvered for an independent postwar Air Force during World War II didn't place much faith in the reserves, especially the state-dominated National Guard.
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