Oregon Air National Guard

Last updated

Oregon Air National Guard
Oregon Air National Guard logo.svg
Oregon Air National Guard logo [1]
Active18 April 1941– present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
Type state militia, military reserve force
Role"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."[ citation needed ]
Part of Oregon Military Department
United States National Guard Bureau
Garrison/HQOregon Military Department, 1776 Militia Way SE, Salem, Oregon
Motto(s)"When we are needed, we are there."[ citation needed ]
Commanders
Civilian leadershipPresident Joe Biden
(Commander-in-Chief)
Frank Kendall III
(Secretary of the Air Force)
Governor Tina Kotek
(Governor of Oregon)
State Adjutant General Major General Michael E. Stencel, USAF
Commander, Air Component Brig. General Donna M. Prigmore, USAF
State Command Chief CCM Mark McDaniel, USAF
Insignia
Headquarters Oregon Air Guard emblem [2] HQ Oregon Air National Guard emblem.svg
Aircraft flown
Fighter F-15C/D Eagle

Boeing F-15EX Eagle II

Lockheed Martin F-35

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

Contents

As state militia units, the units in the Oregon Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Oregon though the office of the Oregon Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Oregon Air National Guard is headquartered at the Oregon Military Department buildings in Salem.

Overview

Under the "Total Force" concept, Oregon Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Oregon 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 Oregon 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 its federal obligations, the Oregon ANG may be activated by order of 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 Oregon Air National Guard consists of the following major units:

Established 18 April 1941 (as: 123rd Observation Squadron); operates: F-15C/D Eagle (Boeing F-15EX Eagle II planned for 2025)
Stationed at: Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland
Gained by: Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operations Command
The 142nd Wing consists of over 1,000 officers and airmen, the "Redhawks" guard the Pacific Northwest airspace and coastal waters from northern California to the Canada–US border with F-15 Eagles on 24-hour Air Sovereignty alert. Both operational and training missions take 142d Wing units around the globe in support of drug interdiction, Air Expeditionary Force missions, and contingency operations.
The 142nd Wing is also home to the 125th Special Tactics Squadron, which conducts a wide array of special forces operations both domestically, and internationally. According to the 125th STS mission statement, the squadron is "poised for full spectrum rapid response to all crises and contingencies at home or abroad". Additionally, the 125th STS is one of only two Special Tactics Units in the Air National Guard. The inclusion of the 125th STS under the Wing led to the organization re-designating itself as the 142nd Wing in order to better articulate the varied capabilities of the organization. [3]
Established 1 January 1983 (as: 8123rd Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron); operates: F-15C/D Eagle but the wing plans operate the F-35A training in the future for needs of Indo-Pacific Command
Stationed at: Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon
Gained by: Air Education and Training Command
Originally an interceptor pilot training squadron, today the wing is an advanced training organization responsible for all USAF Reserve and Air National Guard Personnel F-15C/D pilot and Maintenance specialization training. [4]

History

An F-15C Eagle of the 123rd Fighter Squadron at Portland ANGB. 142d Fighter Wing - F-15 Eagle.jpg
An F-15C Eagle of the 123rd Fighter Squadron at Portland ANGB.

The Oregon Air National Guard origins date to 30 July 1940 with the establishment of the 123rd Observation Squadron and is oldest unit of the Oregon Air National Guard. It is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II. The unit consisted of two officers, 108 enlisted men and two aircraft, a North American BC-1A (like the AT-6) and a Douglas O-46A. The squadron flew observation missions primarily along the Pacific Coast and occasionally made mail flights. The 123rd Observation Squadron was ordered into active service on 15 September 1941 as part of the buildup of the Army Air Corps prior to the United States entry into World War II.

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. [5]

The modern Oregon ANG received federal recognition on 30 August 1946 as the 142nd Fighter Group at Portland Municipal Airport, Portland. Its 123rd Fighter Squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and its mission was the air defense of the state. 18 September 1947, however, is considered the Oregon 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 [5]

An F-15 of the 173rd Fighter Wing with the Oregon Air National Guard 75th Anniversary commemorative paint job at the Oregon International Air Show, 2016 SGF16 - Airshow 2016 0043SWM.jpg
An F-15 of the 173rd Fighter Wing with the Oregon Air National Guard 75th Anniversary commemorative paint job at the Oregon International Air Show, 2016

Today the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland and the 173rd Fighter Wing at Klamath Falls both fly the F-15 Eagle with a homeland defense mission. After the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Oregon were activated. 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. Oregon ANG units were deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as well as other locations as directed.

In April 2016, the Oregon Air National Guard celebrated its 75th anniversary with a commemorative paint job on one of the 173rd Fighter Wing's F-15's, as seen below.

See also

Related Research Articles

<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">142nd Wing</span> Military unit

The 142nd Wing is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard and the United States Air Force, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon.

<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 U.S. state of Kentucky. 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">California Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The California Air National Guard (CA ANG) is one of three components of the California National Guard, a reserve of the United States Air Force, and part of the National Guard of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">173rd Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 173rd Fighter Wing is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard, stationed at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon. The 173d Fighter Wing is responsible for training combat pilots and support personnel on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle for the active duty Air Force and the Air National Guard. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Air Defense Sector</span> Military unit

The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Military Department</span> U.S. state of Oregon government agency

The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsible for planning, establishing, and enforcing rules and procedures governing the administration, supply, and training of the Oregon National Guard, when not in the active service of the United States. The Department also maintains all state-owned or leased military facilities, including posts, camps, military reservations, and rifle ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">125th Fighter Wing</span> Florida Air National Guard unit

The 125th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Florida Air National Guard, stationed at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the 125 FW is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">144th Fighter Wing</span> Unit of the California Air National Guard

The 144th Fighter Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. As part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command.

<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 a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard an element of the Oklahoma National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">159th Fighter Wing</span> Louisiana Air National Guard unit

The 159th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Louisiana Air National Guard, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana. If activated to federal service, it is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

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

The Florida Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of Florida. It is a reserve component of the United States Air Force and along with the Florida Army National Guard, an element of the Florida National Guard. It is also an element of the Air National Guard (ANG) at the national level, falling in with the Army National Guard (ARNG) as part of the greater United States National Guard under the National Guard Bureau (NGB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">101st Intelligence Squadron</span> United States air force unit

The United States Air Force's 101st Intelligence Squadron, Massachusetts Air National Guard, is an intelligence unit assigned to the 102nd Intelligence Wing and located at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. From its creation in 1921 to its mission change in 2008, the 101st was the mainstay of aerospace defence for the Northeastern United States. The 101st was deployed during the Berlin Crisis to France and was also deployed to Panama during Operation Coronet Nighthawk. It also participated in Operation Northern Watch. During the September 11 attacks, the 101st was the first Air Force unit to send aircraft toward New York City, but they arrived too late to help stop the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">159th Fighter Squadron</span> Florida Air National Guard unit

The 159th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing located at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base at Jacksonville International Airport, Florida. The 159th is currently equipped with the F-15C and F-15D Eagle and is slated to transition to the F-35A Lightning II in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">125th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 125th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard 138th Fighter Wing located at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. The 125th is equipped with the Block 42 F-16C Fighting Falcon.

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

The 114th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 173d Fighter Wing located at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon. The 114th is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">550th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 550th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with 56th Operations Group, at Kingsley Field, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Air National Guard Base</span> United States Air Force base

Portland Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Portland International Airport, in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123d Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.

References

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

  1. ↑ "Oregon Air National Guard Job Opportunities". www.oregon.gov. Archived from the original on 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Approved emblem for: Headquarters Oregon Air National Guard". National Archives Catalog. 5 January 1989. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. ↑ 142d Fighter Wing
  4. ↑ 173d Fighter Wing
  5. 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 16 October 2012 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.