Iowa Air National Guard

Last updated

Iowa Air National Guard
Iowa Air National Guard - Emblem.png
Shield of the Iowa Air National Guard
Active23 August 1946 - present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
Flag of Iowa.svg  Iowa
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Part of US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg Air National Guard
Iowa National Guard
Garrison/HQIowa Air National Guard, 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston, Iowa, 50131
Commanders
Civilian leadershipPresident Joe Biden
(Commander-in-Chief)
Frank Kendall III
(Secretary of the Air Force)
Governor Kim Reynolds
(Governor of the State of Iowa)
State military leadership Major General Benjamin Corell (Adjutant General)
Brigadier General Shawn Ford (Assistant Adjutant, Air)
Aircraft flown
Fighter MQ-9 Reaper
Tanker KC-135R Stratotanker

The Iowa Air National Guard (IA ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Iowa, United States of America. It is, along with the Iowa Army National Guard, an element of the Iowa National Guard.

Contents

As state militia units, the units in the Iowa Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Iowa through the office of the Iowa Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Iowa Air National Guard is headquartered at Camp Dodge, Johnston, and its commander is currently Brigadier General Shawn Ford. [1]

Overview

Under the "Total Force" concept, Iowa Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Iowa ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Iowa 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 Iowa 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.

Components

The Iowa Air National Guard consists of the following major units:

Established 25 February 1941 (as: 124th Observation Squadron); operates: MQ-9 Reaper
Stationed at: Des Moines Air National Guard Base
Gained by: Air Combat Command
The 132d Wing's operational mission is to deploy worldwide and execute directed tactical fighter sorties to destroy enemy forces, supplies, equipment, communications systems and installations with conventional weapons. [2]
Established 23 August 1946 (as: 174th Fighter Squadron); operates: KC-135R Stratotanker
Stationed at: Sioux City Air National Guard Base, Sergeant Bluff
Gained by: Air Mobility Command
The mission of the 185 ARW is to provide mid-air refueling and mobility sustainment in direct support of the global mission of the Air Force. [3]

Support Unit Functions and Capabilities:

Stationed at Fort Dodge, the 133d provides an effective and sustainable war fighting Command and Control (C2) capability through the professional test and evaluation of the Control and Reporting Center to include the development of future system upgrades and modernization.

History

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. [4]

A Republic F-84E Thunderjet of the 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Des Moines Municipal Airport, 1956 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Republic F-84E-25-RE Thunderjet 51-508.jpg
A Republic F-84E Thunderjet of the 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Des Moines Municipal Airport, 1956

The Iowa Air National Guard origins date to the formation of the 132d Fighter Group at Des Moines Municipal Airport, Des Moines, receiving federal recognition on 23 August 1946. It was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and its mission was the air defense of the state. In addition, the 174th Fighter Squadron was formed at Sioux Gateway Airport, Sioux City, receiving federal recognition on 23 August 1946. 18 September 1947, however, is considered the Iowa 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. [4]

On 1 October 1962 the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron was expanded to a Group level, and the 185th Tactical Fighter Group received federal recognition and was activated.[ citation needed ]

Today, the 132d Fighter Wing deploys worldwide and executes directed tactical fighter sorties to destroy enemy forces, supplies, equipment, communications systems and installations with conventional weapons. The 185th Air Refueling Wing provides mid-air refueling and mobility sustainment in direct support of the global mission of the Air Force.[ citation needed ]

After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Iowa 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, Iowa 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.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">114th Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 114th Fighter Wing is a unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard, stationed at Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station, Sioux Falls Regional Airport, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The New York Air National Guard (NY ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of New York, United States of America. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">174th Attack Wing</span> Unit of the New York Air National Guard

The 174th Attack Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York. The 174th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">101st Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 101st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Maine Air National Guard, stationed at Bangor Air National Guard Base, Bangor, Maine. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the 101 ARW is operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Oklahoma Air National Guard (OK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Oklahoma, United States of America. It is, along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, an element of the Oklahoma National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">137th Special Operations Wing</span> Oklahoma Air National Guard unit

The 137th Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by Air Force Special Operations Command. During World War II, its predecessor, the 404th Fighter Group, flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, provided close air support to troops following the Operation Overlord, the Normandy landing until the close of the war. The wing is entitled to the honors won by the group by temporary bestowal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">157th Air Refueling Wing</span> Unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard

The 157th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">180th Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">185th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 185th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard, stationed at Colonel Bud Day Field, Sioux City, Iowa. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The New Hampshire Air National Guard (NH ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is, along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Maine Air National Guard (ME ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Maine, United States of America. It is, along with the Maine Army National Guard, an element of the Maine National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dakota Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The South Dakota Air National Guard (SD ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of South Dakota, United States of America. It is, along with the South Dakota Army National Guard, an element of the South Dakota National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">173d Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 173d Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard 155th Air Refueling Wing. It is assigned to Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska and is equipped with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">174th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 174th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard 185th Air Refueling Wing. It is assigned to Sioux City Air National Guard Base, Iowa and is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">175th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 175th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard 's 114th Operations Group stationed at Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The 175th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">124th Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">138th Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 138th Attack Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing located at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. The 138th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">71st Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 71st Fighter Wing is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri. It was withdrawn from the Missouri Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux City Air National Guard Base</span> Iowa Air National Guard base in Sioux City

Sioux City Air National Guard Base is an Iowa Air National Guard base, located at Sioux Gateway Airport It is located 7.2 miles (11.6 km) south-southeast of Sioux City, Iowa. On 25 May 2002, the airport was named "Colonel Bud Day Field" in honor of United States Air Force Colonel George Everette "Bud" Day, a Sioux City, Iowa native and is the only person ever awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">132nd Wing</span> Military unit

The 132nd Wing, sometimes written 132d Wing, is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard and located at Des Moines Air National Guard Base, Iowa. The 132nd's World War II predecessor unit, the 365th Fighter Group was a IX Fighter Command unit, serving in the European Theater of Operations. The 365th, known as the "Hell Hawks", was one of the most successful P-47 Thunderbolt fighter groups of the Ninth Air Force when it came to air combat. The 365th was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations; Order of the Day, Belgium Army; Belgium Fourragère, and the Belgium Croix de Guerre. The 365th Fighter Group flew its last mission on 8 May 1945. After having operated manned fighter aircraft for all of its prior history, the wing was equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle in 2013.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ↑ "Hockessin native promoted to brigadier general". Hockessin Community News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ↑ 132d Fighter Wing website
  3. ↑ 185th Air Refueling Wing website
  4. 1 2 Rosenfeld, Susan and Gross, Charles J (2007), Air National Guard at 60: A History. Air National Guard history program AFD-080527-040 Archived 2012-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.