Idaho Air National Guard | |
---|---|
Active | May 24, 1946 – present |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Idaho |
Branch | Air National Guard |
Type | state militia, military reserve force |
Role | "To meet state and federal mission responsibilities." |
Part of | Idaho National Guard United States National Guard Bureau National Guard |
Garrison/HQ | Joint Force Headquarters, 3882 W. Ellsworth Street, Bldg 440, Boise, Idaho, 83705 |
Commanders | |
Civilian leadership | President Joe Biden (Commander-in-Chief) Frank Kendall III (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Brad Little (Governor of the State of Idaho) |
State military leadership | Brigadier General Michael A. Nolan |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | A-10 Thunderbolt II |
The Idaho Air National Guard (ID ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Idaho, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard.
As state militia units, the units in the Idaho Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Idaho though the office of the Idaho Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Idaho Air National Guard is headquartered in Boise, and its commander is currently [update] Brigadier General Timothy J. Donnellan.
Under the "Total Force" concept, Idaho Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Idaho ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally awarded to Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Idaho Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.
Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units, the elements of the Idaho ANG are subject to being activated by order of the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.
The Idaho Air National Guard consists of the following major unit:
Support Unit Functions and Capabilities:
On 24 May 1946, the United States Army Air Forces, in response to dramatic postwar military budget cuts imposed by President Harry S. Truman, allocated inactive unit designations to the National Guard Bureau for the formation of an Air Force National Guard. These unit designations were allotted and transferred to various State National Guard bureaus to provide them unit designations to re-establish them as Air National Guard units. [2]
The Idaho Air National Guard was formed in large part by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Lanphier. Serving in the Pacific Theater Fifth Air Force during World War II, he was one of the P-38 Lightning pilots credited with shooting down Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto on 18 April 1943. He stood up the 190th Fighter Squadron receiving federal recognition on 13 October 1946. Most of Idaho's early airmen were also World War II veterans. The 190th was formed with 23 officers and 44 enlisted airmen at a small building in downtown Boise. They had nothing, no buildings, no money or equipment. Receiving F-51D Mustangs, the squadron moved to Gowen Field in 1947 and has been there ever since. [3]
18 September 1947, however, is considered the Idaho Air National Guard's official birth concurrent with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the United States military under the National Security Act. [2] The initial mission of the Idaho ANG was the air defense of the state. On 1 July 1955 the 190th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 124th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was allotted by the National Guard Bureau, extended federal recognition and activated.
Today, the Idaho ANG performs a worldwide ground-air support mission, along with a forward air controller training mission and support for active-duty USAF training missions.
After the September 11 attacks, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Idaho has been activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel were engaged in Operation Noble Eagle air defense overflights of major United States cities. Also, Idaho ANG units have been deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, as well as other locations as directed.
As part of the invasion of Iraq and supporting the British portion of that operation called Operation Telic, on March 28, 2003 two 124th Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 190th Fighter Squadron flew a mission to destroy artillery and rocket launchers from Iraq's 6th Armor Division, dug in 25 miles (40 km) north of Basra. During the mission, the two A-10 aircraft mistakenly attacked a patrol of four armored vehicles from D Squadron of the British Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry that were supporting the 16 Air Assault Brigade in Operation Telic. As a result of the attack by the 190th A-10 aircraft, British Lance-Corporal of Horse Matty Hull was killed and five of his colleagues were injured, four seriously. [4] [5]
The Idaho Military Department consists of the Idaho Army National Guard, the Idaho Air National Guard, the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, and formerly the Idaho State Guard. Its headquarters are located in Boise. The main goal of the Idaho Military Department is to efficiently prepare emergency-ready staff to protect and serve the citizens of Idaho from any potential threats.
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PA ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard an element of the Pennsylvania National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The 190th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard 124th Fighter Wing located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho. The 190th is equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The 190th Fighter Squadron is known as the "Skull Bangers". The squadron is planned to transition to the F-16 Fighting Falcon starting in spring 2027.
The 111th Attack Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, headquartered at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. It provides protection of life, property, and the preservation of peace and order when tasked to do so by state or federal authorities. The Wing also provides operational and support units, as well as qualified personnel, to support wartime tasking and contingency commitments of any nature.
The 124th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard, stationed at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho. It operates the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The Iowa Air National Guard (IA ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Iowa, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Iowa Army National Guard, an element of the Iowa National Guard.
The 140th Wing is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard, stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 169th Fighter Wing is a unit of the South Carolina Air National Guard, stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Columbia, South Carolina. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 180th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 190th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard, stationed at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.
The New Hampshire Air National Guard (NH ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The Maine Air National Guard (ME ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Maine, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Maine Army National Guard, an element of the Maine National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The Vermont Air National Guard (VT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Vermont, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Vermont Army National Guard an element of the Vermont National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau. The 158th Fighter Wing is its sole unit. It is under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Vermont through the office of the Vermont Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Vermont Air National Guard is headquartered at Burlington Air National Guard Base. As of 2019, the Vermont Air National Guard is the first Air National Guard unit to be assigned the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.
The Hawaii Air National Guard (HI ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Hawaii, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Hawaii Army National Guard, an element of the Hawaii National Guard.
The Kansas Air National Guard (KS ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Kansas, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard.
The Montana Air National Guard (MT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Montana, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force. Along with the Montana Army National Guard it is an element of the Montana National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The Virginia Air National Guard (VA ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Virginia Army National Guard an element of the Virginia National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The 189th Airlift Squadron is an inactive unit of the Idaho Air National Guard. It was last assigned to the 124th Wing located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho. Following the BRAC 2005 the unit was inactivated on 18 October 2009.
The 117th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing located at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. The 117th is equipped with the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.
The 124th Attack Squadron is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard 132d Wing. It is assigned to Des Moines International Airport, Iowa and was formerly equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The unit is reequipping with the MQ-9 Reaper.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency