The 147th Fighter Interceptor took over Ellington Field when the Air Force deactivated at Ellington Air Force Base on 1 April 1976, under the jurisdiction of the Transition Caretaker Force (TCF) for its transition to the State of Texas Air National Guard. The 147 FIG operated Ellington Field for 8 years until it was taken over by the City of Houston on 1 July 1984. The Air National Guard, however, retained ownership of 214 acres which continues to house the 147th FIG and the Texas Army National Guard, and retains access to the Ellington Field flightline through a joint use agreement with the city.

On 4 May 1976 the 147th Combat Crew Training School graduated its last student, and in October 1978 the 147th won the United States Air Force Air-to-Air Weapons Meet – William Tell. The 147th would take the meet again in 1980.

The 147th converted to F-4Cs in 1982 and converted to F-4Ds starting in November 1986. Nearly two years later, in October 1988, the 147th won the F-4 Maintenance Award at William Tell.

In September 1989 the 147th converted to the F-16A, and by June 1992 the jets were being converted to F-16 air defense fighters. In October 1995 the unit was redesignated the 147th Fighter Wing (FW) and by September 1996 the 147 FW was converting from F-16As to F-16Cs jets. This conversion was completed by February 1997.

In October 1998 the 147th Fighter Wing converted to a General-Purpose role, an air-to-ground mission while also retaining its Alert mission. Throughout all the past and present changes, the 147th Fighter Wing remains an essential part of the First Air Force Team and one of the finest units in the Air National Guard.

The mission of the 147th FW is to conduct worldwide combat operations with the F-16C aircraft. The unit performs home station Air Sovereignty Alert and F-16 General Purpose role. It also trains to mobilize and deploy in accordance with the USAF war and mobilization plans, and tasked theater plans.

The 147th Fighter Wing is responsible for the command, direction, planning, and management of subordinate squadrons in fulfillment of the Wing's mission.

The 111th Fighter Squadron began as the 111th Aero Squadron on 14 August 1917 at Kelly Field, TX. The unit, composed of teamsters and laborers, was on special duty at Kelly and was known as the "Post Headquarters Squadron." The squadron deactivated 19 August 1919 but was called to service again on 29 June 1923 in the old Houston Light Guard Armory, as the 111th Observation Squadron, 36th Division, Texas Air National Guard.

The squadron had no airplanes, so the hot summer of 1923 was devoted to close-order drill and classroom sessions. That was remedied, however, in September of that year when the 111th became airborne in the Curtiss JN-6H.

In September 1927 the Curtiss JN-6Hs were retired and the squadron gained PT-1s and several other trainers until June 1928 when new O-2 observation aircraft arrived. These planes were replaced with new O-38 Douglas operation planes in January 1931.

By 1938 the squadron was flying both O-43As and O-47s.

With the onset of World War II, the unit was called into federal service 25 November 1940 and trained with the 36th Division until it was sent to the Mexican border after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The border patrol was short, and on 14 February 1942 the squadron left Texas for Augusta, GA, and became part of the 68th Observation Group.

By November 1942 the squadron was in Europe. During 23 months of continuous combat flying, from June 1943 through May 1945, the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron flew 3,840 reconnaissance missions. While keeping Army Headquarters informed of enemy movements, the 111th destroyed 44 enemy aircraft, damaged 29 others and claimed 12 probable kills. The squadron received eight Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for its World War II accomplishments. The squadron also served during the Korean War, flying mostly close-air support and interdiction missions and destroying two MiG-15 fighter jets.

Between 1952 and 1959 the squadron flew many aircraft, to include the F-80, F-86D and F-86L. In August 1960 the unit became one of the first to transition to the F-102A all-weather fighter interceptor and began a 24-hour alert to guard the Texas Gulf coast. By January 1970 the wing was starting a new mission: training all F-102 pilots in the United States for the Air National Guard.

On 6 May 1971 the unit received F-101F fighter interceptors and became the training center for all Air Guard interceptors. In August 1974, after 14 years of service, the unit's F-102s were retired, but the unit maintained a full fleet of F-101s.

The squadron converted to F-4Cs in 1982 and converted to F-4Ds starting in November 1986.

In September 1989 the 111th converted to the F-16A, and by June 1992 the jets were being converted to F-16 air defense fighters, later converting to F-16Cs beginning in September 1996; a transition completed by February 1997.