The 120th Fighter Squadron was the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit, receiving this distinction on 30 June 1946.

Also the 120th Fighter squadron has deployed five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, most recently to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in 2010.

[3] On 30 January 1918, the squadron was ordered for overseas duty and moved to the Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, Long Island.

On 16 February, the squadron, was ordered to report to the Port of Entry, Hoboken, New Jersey for boarding on the former Cunard Liner RMS Carmania for transport.

After processing, the squadron was ordered to report to the 2d Air Instructional Center (2d AIC), Tours Aerodrome, in central France.

[3] The squadron remained at 2d AIC until after the Armistice with Germany in November 1918, then returned to the United States via Bordeaux, France, in April 1918, arriving at Mitchel Field, New York on 6 May 1919.

[3] On 27 June 1923 the 120th Aero Observation Squadron, 45th Division, Aviation was mustered into service as part of the Colorado Army National Guard.

Initially composed of eight officers and 50 enlisted members, the unit flew Curtiss JN-4Es (better known as Jennies) – an aircraft which proved to be unsuitable for flying at Denver elevations.

The brand new airfield was named in honor of 2nd Lt. Francis B. Lowry who was shot down and killed near Crepion, France in 1918 while on a photographic mission.

It was organized at Buckley Field (A sub-base of Lowry AFB), Colorado and was extended federal recognition on 30 June 1946 by the National Guard Bureau.

In 1947, shortly after World War II, the 120th TFS organized an aerial demonstration team called the "Minute Men."

Upon return to Colorado state control, the 120th was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with F-80C Shooting Star jets.

The 140th also performed interdiction, visual and armed reconnaissance, strike assessment photography, escort, close and direct air support, and rapid reaction alert.

The LTV A-7D Corsair II replaced the F-100 in April 1974 and the aircraft was flown to victory as the "World Champions" in the inaugural "Gunsmoke" competition held at Nellis Air Force Base in 1981.

Today the 120th FS is a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA), OCA Interdiction, Close Air Support (CAS), and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions.

With the addition of the LITENING II and SNIPER targeting pod and the latest software upgrades, the 120th pilots are able to employ precision guided GPS and Laser-guided weapons with deadly accuracy.

In February 2003, the 120th FS mobilized and deployed to a still classified location just outside of Iraq's borders, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While deployed with sixteen aircraft and over 30 pilots, the 120th flew over 500 combat sorties, 2500 hours and dropped over 350 precision guided weapons while successfully preventing the launch of any Theatre Ballistic Missiles in their area of responsibility.