Operations Group The 144th Operations Group is home to the 194th Fighter Squadron and the 144th Operations Support Flight which directly support the Air Sovereignty Alert mission and daily flying training in the F-15 Eagle.The heritage of the 144th Fighter Group dates back to 1941 when the 372nd Fighter Group was formed to train fighter pilots for the air war over Europe. Training was done in the P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk, and the P-51 Mustang. There were three fighter training squadrons--the 407th FS, 408th FS, and the 409th FS. After the war, the 194th FS was created from the 409th FS and continued to fly the P-51. In 1953, the 194th was one of only two fighter squadrons to secretly test the Air National Guard's ability to conduct the alert air defense mission for the United States. After six months and great success, the 194th FS, along with dozens of other ANG fighter squadrons, officially began conducting the Air Sovereignty Alert mission ... a mission it carries on today.As important as it has been for the past five decades, the Air Sovereignty Alert mission continues to be the primary mission of the 144th Fighter Group providing highly trained pilots and support personnel in a safe and professional environment.