The 119th Wing is composed of the following units: On 1 July 1955, the North Dakota Air National Guard 178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 119th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was established by the National Guard Bureau.

The "Happy Hooligan" pilots were upgraded by ADC to the F-89 Scorpion in 1958, being one of the last units to fly the aircraft in 1966 when it received the supersonic F-102A Delta Dagger interceptor in 1966.

The following is a condensed recount of the 1970 Willy Tell event from retired NDANG weapons system officer (WSO) Lt. Col. Art Jacobson: "The unit was new in the F-101 ‘Voodoo’ aircraft, beginning the conversion from the F-102 ‘Delta Dagger’ less than a year earlier, and faced many obstacles for the historic victory.

Every morning crews boarded the NDANG C-54 for the flight to Sioux Falls, and after a long day of flying, the return trip.

It made for very long days and real headaches for tools and parts for the maintenance guys.

In 1986, the 119th Fighter Group became the first core unit to assume the USAF Zulu alert mission at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany.

The Hooligans earned first place at the October 1994 William Tell competition, a worldwide weapons meet which tests pilots and ground crews from the U.S. Air Force's top units in realistic, air-to-air combat situations.

In 1994 the NDANG won the prestigious Hughes Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding air-to-air unit in the U.S. Air Force.

A permanent alert detachment was established at Kingsley Field, Oregon, beginning 1 October 1989.

The detachment, staffed by 18 members, was relocated to March Air Force Base, California, in July 1994 when the Oregon ANG took over full operation of Kingsley.

The reduction in F-16 numbers and the need to align common versions of the F-16 at the same bases argued for ending flying activities at the 119th Wing.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency