Montana Air National Guard

Last updated
Montana Air National Guard
Active27 June 1947 - present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
AllegianceFlag of Montana.svg  Montana
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
Type state militia, military reserve force
Role"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Part of Montana National Guard
Montana Department of Military Affairs
United States National Guard Bureau
Garrison/HQMontana Air National Guard Headquarters, 2800 Airport 2nd Street, Great Falls, Montana, 59404
Commanders
Civilian leadershipPresident Joe Biden
(Commander-in-Chief)
Frank Kendall III
(Secretary of the Air Force)
Governor Greg Gianforte
(Governor of the State of Montana)
State military leadership Brigadier General Buel J. Dickson
Insignia
Emblem of the Montana Air National Guard/120th Airlift Wing 120 AW Patch 190423-Z-MF976-002.png
Aircraft flown
Transport C-130H Hercules

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.

Contents

As state militia units, the units in the Montana Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Montana through the office of the Montana Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Montana Air National Guard is headquartered in Great Falls, and its commander is currently Brigadier General Buel J. Dickson.

Overview

Under the "Total Force" concept, Montana Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Montana 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, they 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 obligations, Montana ANG elements are subject to activation by the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety.[ citation needed ] 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 Montana Air National Guard consists of the following major unit:

Established 26 June 1947 (as: 186th Fighter Squadron); operates: C-130H Hercules
Stationed at: Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Great Falls
Gained by: Air Mobility Command

Support Unit Functions and Capabilities:

The mission of the 219th RHS (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron) is to organize, train and equip its 120 personnel for its role as a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, self-sustaining heavy construction and repair unit capable of supporting airpower worldwide and especially in remote and austere operating environments. [1]

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. [2]

Three North American F-51D Mustangs of the 186th Fighter Squadron in formation, 1948 186th Fighter Squadron - North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-72844.jpg
Three North American F-51D Mustangs of the 186th Fighter Squadron in formation, 1948

Lt. Col. Willard Sperry, a decorated combat pilot, began building the Montana Air National Guard at Gore Field, Great Falls. On 27 June 1947, the 186th Fighter Squadron was activated and federally recognized. Within two weeks, six F-51D Mustangs arrived. Its mission was the air defense of the state. [3] 18 September 1947, however, is considered the Montana 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]

On 1 July 1955 the 186th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 120th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was allotted by the National Guard Bureau, extended federal recognition and activated.

Today the Montana ANG performs an airlift mission, equipped with C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft.

After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Montana 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, Montana 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.

Notable members of the Montana Air National Guard include the likes of champion bowler MSgt Thoroughman, ex-crew chief and Red Dick winner Ed Moyer, and "The Man" Monte Howse.

Related Research Articles

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

The Texas Air National Guard (TX ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Texas, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Texas Army National Guard an element of the Texas National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau. No element of the Texas Air National Guard is under United States Air Force command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Texas through the office of the Texas Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Texas Air National Guard is headquartered at Camp Mabry, Austin, and its chief of staff is Brigadier General Matthew Barker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Air National Guard</span> Unit of the United States Air National Guard for the State of Alabama

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

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

The Colorado Air National Guard (CO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Colorado, United States of America. It is, along with the Colorado Army National Guard is an element of the Colorado National Guard and reserve of the U.S. Air Force. The units of the Colorado Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force or United States Space Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Colorado through the office of the Colorado Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Colorado Air National Guard is headquartered in Centennial, and its commanders are currently Major General Laura Clellan as The Adjutant General (TAG) of Colorado and Brigadier General D. Michah Fesler as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air (ATAG-Air) and Commander, Colorado Air National Guard (COANG/CC).

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

The Georgia Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Georgia, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force, and along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard.

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

The Missouri Air National Guard (MO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Missouri, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Missouri Army National Guard an element of the Missouri National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Air National Guard</span> Unit of the US Air National Guard for the State of Kentucky

The Kentucky Air National Guard (KY ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Kentucky Army National Guard, an element of the Kentucky National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.

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

The West Virginia Air National Guard (WV ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of West Virginia, United States of America. It is, along with the West Virginia Army National Guard, an element of the West Virginia National Guard and United States National Guard Bureau, and is a reserve of the United States Air Force.

<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 in the United States of America. It is an element of the New York National Guard as part of the larger Air National Guard, a reservist force under the command of the United States Air Force.

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

The Tennessee Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Tennessee, United States of America. It is, along with the Tennessee Army National Guard an element of the Tennessee National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau and a reserve of the United States Air Force.

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

The Arkansas Air National Guard, commonly known as the Arkansas Air Guard, is the aerial militia of the State of Arkansas, United States of America. It is, along with the Arkansas Army National Guard, an element of the Arkansas National Guard, and a reserve of the United States Air Force. As state militia units, the units in the Arkansas Air National Guard are not typically in the normal United States Air Force chain of command unless federalized. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Arkansas through the office of the Arkansas Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Arkansas Air National Guard is headquartered at North Little Rock, and its commander is currently Brigadier General William M. Leahy.

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

The Nevada Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Nevada, United States of America. Along with the Nevada Army National Guard, it is an element of the Nevada National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force. The units of the Nevada Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Nevada through the office of the Nevada Adjutant General unless it is federalized by order of the President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th Wing</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana Air National Guard</span> Unit of the US Air National Guard for the State of Indiana

The Indiana Air National Guard (IN ANG) is the aerial militia of the state of Indiana, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Indiana Army National Guard, an element of the Indiana National Guard.

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

The Wyoming Air National Guard (WY ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Wyoming, United States of America. It is, along with the Wyoming Army National Guard, an element of the Wyoming National Guard, National Guard and United States National Guard Bureau. It's also a reserve of the United States Air Force.

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

The Mississippi Air National Guard, commonly known as the Mississippi Air Guard, is the aerial militia of the State of Mississippi, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Mississippi Army National Guard, an element of the Mississippi National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.

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

The North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG) is the aerial militia of the State of North Carolina, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the North Carolina Army National Guard an element of the North Carolina National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

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

The North Dakota Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of North Dakota, United States. It's a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the North Dakota Army National Guard is an element of the North Dakota National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 140th Operations Group is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard, stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the group is gained by Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">186th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 186th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana. The 186th is equipped with the C-130H Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">120th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 120th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Montana Air National Guard, stationed at Great Falls Air National Guard Base at Great Falls International Airport, Montana. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

References

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

  1. ↑ globalsecurity.org 219th RED HORSE Squadron
  2. 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
  3. ↑ "History of the 120th Fighter Wing". Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
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.