On the January 3, 1977, origin of the LOBO or wolf call sign for the 175th Tactical Fighter Group, South Dakota Air National Guard. F-16 Fighting Falcon above.
by Duke Doering
Information on the call sign as recalled by retired Colonel Brian C. “Boo” Bade, Commander of the 114th Tactical Fighter Group from 1987 through 1993, “As I recall, we used the call sign Lobo briefly during the early 70’s, but during the middle and late 70’s the Air Force required all flying units to adhere to a rotating call sign in a cumbersome attempt to confuse the Russian bear. (One of my favorites for our tough old F-100s was “Lady”….”Lady 11 Flight, contact tower on 257.8″…”Roger…Ladies, go channel 4”.) When the rotating requirement was dropped, we had an opportunity to select a permanent tactical call sign for the unit. The parameters were that it be no more than two or three syllables, clear and easy to understand. “Lobo” was an easy choice, especially since the prairie wolf was just a bigger, meaner brother to the coyote traditionally associated with the South Dakota National Guard.”
Bade also mentioned, “As an aside, you may have heard that the original coyote as portrayed on our squadron patch was not a huge favorite among pilots in the fighter squadron. Thus the coyote morphed into its ‘Wiley’ persona in the early 70’s under the inspiration of Bob Ellingson. Once we had a permanent call sign and a name by which the entire unit quickly became known, it was time to update our squadron patch. I called on a friend, Carl Grupp, an artist on the faculty of the art department at Augustana College, to explain our need (and our want of resources). He took up the challenge with gusto and good humor, as he does most things in life. The result was a Lobo patch we were proud to wear and which soon became a favorite of collectors worldwide. Carl got our profuse thanks and a check for $50 from the squadron fund.”
Retired Lt. Col. D. C. Clauson remembers, “In the early 70’s for a short time our Call sign was Fox. That obviously, for a number or reasons, was not acceptable. Having just returned from F-100 school at TIA, I suggested to Les Young that a change to LOBO would be better”.
