The former McChord based 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was the first three time winner of the Hughes Trophy, a remarkable feat considering there were more than 175 fighter interceptor squadrons eligible to compete for the award during the 50’s and 60’s. The 317th's 1956 Hughes Trophy pictured above is currently on display at the National Museum of the Air Force.

Recognized as the highest award given for the air defense the trophy became known as the highest Air Force award for air defense fighter achievement, the Hughes Achievement Award has been given to the Air Force’s top Fighter-Interceptor Squadron since 1953. Popularly known by many as the Hughes Trophy, the awards once sponsored by the Hughes Aircraft Company, is now sponsored by the Raytheon Company after the company purchased Hughes Electronics in 1997. 

 The first 11 trophies were designed by Julien Focan. Focan was born in Belgium on Christmas Day in 1906, immigrated to the U.S. in 1930. After Pearl Harbor, Focan joined the war effort with the Manhattan Project fabricating complicated triggering mechanisms for the first atomic bomb.  

 In 1945, he began making bowls for the Dodge Trophy Company using a technique where the artist hammers the metal into shape without using a mold. His expertise was quickly recognized and he was commissioned to design the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl trophies. His metalwork talent also reached Hollywood, designing the Ramses’ golden chariot in the movie “The Ten Commandments.”  

Commissioned in 1952, Focan design and fabricated 11 Hughes Achievement Award trophies. In 1963, the Air Force reclaimed the first trophy from the deactivated 58th FIS to award pass on to the current winner of the trophy, the trophy is then passed on to the next winner.

Criteria for the award is a squadron engaging in active air defense operations, with an outstanding Intercept Training success rate, aircraft ready rate, and flying safety rate. Initially, only Fighter Interceptor Squadrons could compete for the Trophy, but in 1970 Headquarters, of the United States Air Force opened the competition to any squadron performing the air defense mission as their primary function.

Setting very high standards in the Air Defense Mission, 25th Air Division, NWADS and WADS units have been a regular nominee for the Trophy wining it six times. The first unit to win the award three times was the 317th FIS, taking its first award at McChord in 1956. This is a particularly monumental achievement considering the 317th competed against just shy of 100 squadrons eligible for the trophy. Not to be outdone, the 317ths former sister squadron, the 318th FIS itself nominated for the award numerous times,  won the Hughes trophy twice, once in the F-106 Delta Dart (1975) and another time in the F-15 Eagle (1984).

In 1994, North Dakotas 119th Fighter Wing became the first unit assigned to the Western Air Defense Sector to win the Raytheon Achievement Award. The unit, affectionately known as the "Happy Hooligans" became the first F-16, and (at the time) the second Air National Guard unit to win the prestigious Hughes Trophy. The 1994 award was the units second, wining another in 1974.

The patches above were produced for the 318th FIS to commemorate the squadrons two Hughes Trophy wins in 1975 & 1984.

In 1994, North Dakota ANG's 119th Fighter Wing/178th Fighter Squadron, was the first F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron to win the coveted trophy (pictured above on the wing of one of the squadrons F-16's). The Happy Hooligans transitioned out of the F-16 and the fighter mission in 2006.