104th Fighter Wing's Legacy Expands from Fighter Jets to Space Missions
The 104th Fighter Wing, based at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts, has a storied history of contributing to both aviation and space exploration. Notably, John 'Jack' Swigert, a former pilot with the 131st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, became famous as the Command Module Pilot for NASA's Apollo 13 mission. Swigert's calm handling of the mission's crisis, marked by the famous phrase 'Houston, we’ve had a problem,' exemplified the Wing's legacy of excellence. Another notable figure, Lt. Col. Byron K. Lichtenberg, served as a NASA payload specialist while still a member of the 104th Tactical Fighter Group. Lichtenberg participated in two space shuttle missions, contributing to significant scientific research while maintaining ties to the 104th community.