The 103rd Airlift Wing (103 AW) is a unit of the

Connecticut Air National Guard The Connecticut Air National Guard (CT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Connecticut, United States of America. It is, along with the Connecticut Army National Guard, an element of the Connecticut National Guard. As state militia units ...

, stationed at Bradley Air National Guard Base at

Bradley International Airport Bradley International Airport is a public international airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States. Owned and operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority, it is the second-largest airport in New England. The airport is about half ...

, Windsor Locks, Connecticut. If activated to federal service with the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...

, the 103 AW is operationally-gained by the

Air Mobility Command Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri. Air Mobility Command was established on 1 June 1992, and was formed from elemen ...

(AMC). The 103 AW was first activated in 1943 as the 324th Fighter Group of the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, the 324th served in combat with

Ninth Air Force The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...

and

Twelfth Air Force The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The command is the air component to ...

, primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and Middle East Theater. It received two

Distinguished Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...

s for engagements in the Mediterranean and the

French Croix de Guerre with Palm The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first aw ...

for supporting French forces during the campaigns for Italy and France from 1944 to 1945. In 1946 the 324th Fighter Group was redesignated as the 103rd Fighter Group and allotted to the

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

. The 118th Airlift Squadron, assigned to the wing's 103rd Operations Group, was first established during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

as the 118th Aero Squadron on 31 August 1917. It was reformed on 1 November 1923, as the 118th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the

United States Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...

formed before

Overview

The "Flying Yankees" of the 103rd Airlift Wing are the eleventh oldest

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

unit in the United States, including a squadron that has served over 90 years in military aviation. They currently fly the

C-130H Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally desig ...

, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed Aircraft, now

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...

. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. Its mission is providing theater cargo and passenger airlift.

Units

The 103rd Airlift Wing consists of the following major units: * 103rd Operations Group : 118th Airlift Squadron * 103rd Maintenance Group * 103rd Mission Support Group * 103rd Medical Group * 103rd Air Operations Group

History

World War II

The wing was constituted as the 324th Fighter Group in 1942 and activated on 6 July at

Mitchel Field Mitchell may refer to: People *Mitchell (surname) *Mitchell (given name) Places Australia * Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate * Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst * Mitchell, Northern Territory ...

, New York. Its original squadrons were the 314th,Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 382 315th,Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 383–384 and 316th Fighter Squadrons.Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 385 The group moved immediately to

Baltimore Municipal Airport Baltimore Municipal Airport ("Harbor Field") is a former airport and United States Air Force airfield about 6 miles southeast of Baltimore, Maryland on an artificial peninsula. Construction began in 1929 with a seaplane base and was completed ...

, where it trained with

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time an ...

fighters until October, while its squadrons trained at Baltimore and bases in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The group moved to the Middle East between October and December 1942 for operations with

along with its 314th and 316th squadrons, while the 315th remained behind until January 1943. The group trained for several weeks with P-40 aircraft. While group

headquarters Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

remained in Egypt, the squadrons of the group began operating with other organizations against the enemy in Tunisia. Reunited in June 1943, the 324th group engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

until July 1943. It received a

(DUC) for action against the enemy from March 1943 to the invasion of Sicily. The unit trained from July to October 1943 for operations with the

. It resumed combat on 30 October 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges, motor transport, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop concentrations, and rail facilities in Italy until August 1944. During the assault on

Anzio Anzio (, also , ) is a town and '' comune'' on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome. Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Isl ...

in January 1944, it patrolled the beaches and protected convoys. It aided the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving another DUC during the

Battle of Monte Cassino The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome and the Battle for Cassino, was a series of four assaults made by the Allies against German forces in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. The ultimate objective was ...

for action from 12 to 14 May when the group bombed an enemy position on Monastery Hill, attacked troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold to force the surrender of an enemy garrison. The 324th continued to give close support to ground forces until the fall of Rome in June 1944. The group converted to

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bomber ...

s in July and supported the assault on southern France in August by dive-bombing gun positions, bridges, and

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, Marine radar, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor v ...

facilities, and by patrolling the combat zone. The unit attacked such targets as motor transport, rolling stock, rail lines, troops, bridges, gun emplacements, and supply depots after the invasion, giving tactical support to Allied forces advancing through France. The unit aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead in January and February 1945, and supported Seventh Army's drive through the Siegfried defenses in March. It received the

for supporting French forces during the campaigns for Italy and France in 1944 and 1945. The 324th Fighter Group returned to the United States between October and November 1945 and was inactivated in November 1945.

Connecticut Air National Guard

The wartime 324th Fighter Group was redesignated as the 103rd Fighter Group, and was allotted to the

, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut in July 1946 and was extended federal recognition on 7 August 1946. At the time, the group's mission was the air defense of the State of Connecticut. It was assigned the 118th Fighter Squadron and equipped with Republic P-47D (later F-47D) Thunderbolts. In September 1947, with the establishment of an independent

, the 324th Fighter Group became part of the newly established

. The 103rd Fighter Wing was formed in the fall of 1950 when the

converted to the wing base organization system. In addition to the 103rd Fighter Group, the

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...

included the 103rd Air Base Group,Cornett & Johnson, p. 75 the 103rd Maintenance & Supply Group, and the 103rd Medical Group.

Korean War activation

With the surprise invasion of

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

on 25 June 1950, and the regular military's lack of readiness, most of the

was federalized and placed on active duty alongside the Regular Air Force. The 103rd was federalized on 2 March 1951 and the group and wing were subsequently redesignated as fighter-interceptor units.Cornett & Johnson, p. 74Cornett & Johnson, p. 52 The 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing (103 FIW) was assigned to the

Eastern Air Defense Force The Eastern Air Defense Force (EADF) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960. History EADF was ...

of the

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inac ...

(ADC) and moved to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York on 1 June 1951, flying air defense missions with their F-47N Thunderbolts.Cornett & Johnson, p. 122 However, ADC was experiencing difficulty under the wing base organizational structure in deploying its fighter squadrons to best advantage.Grant, p. 33 It therefore reorganized its wings on a regional basis and dispersed support units to the locations of the fighter squadrons. On 6 February 1952, the 103 FIW and its assigned groups were inactivated and most of its operational squadrons assigned to the

4709th Air Defense Wing The 4709th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where it was discontinued in 1956. It was ...

McGuire AFB McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the ju ...

, New Jersey. During its period of federalization, the 118th FIS transferred many of its pilots and ground support personnel to Regular Air Force units.

Cold War

118th Fighter-Bomber Squadron - F-84D Thunderjet formation 1954

The 103rd was reactivated on 1 November 1952 with the end of the units federalization period and redesignated as the 103rd Fighter-Bomber Wing, operationally-gained by the

Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 Ju ...

(TAC). However,

air defense Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...

remained as a secondary mission. Upon the 118th's return, the F-47s were sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for storage and the squadron was re-equipped with very long range

F-51H Mustang Over twenty variants of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter were produced from 1940, when it first flew, to after World War II, some of which were employed also in the Korean War and in several other conflicts. Allison-engined Mustangs N ...

s by TAC with an assigned mission of close air support (CAS). In January 1953, the 103rd received several

F-84D Thunderjet The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thu ...

s for maintenance instruction and the squadron was fully equipped with the Thunderjet during the summer of 1953. In the spring of 1955, the F-84Gs were transferred to the Georgia Air National Guard's 128th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and the 118th converted to the F-94B Starfire. However, the F-94Bs only remained with the 118th for about a year when they were replaced by the

F-86H Sabre The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Sov ...

tactical fighter in 1957. At this time the wing, now designated the 103rd Air Defense Wing was inactivated. 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron - F-100D Formation

118th Tactical Fighter Squadron - F-100D Formation

The Sabres were then replaced by

F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet engine, jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century S ...

s during the summer of 1960 and the Wing becoming ADC-gained. The F-100As gave way to

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft designed and manufactured by Convair. Built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s, it entered service in 1956. Its main purpo ...

s in January 1966, standing a 24-hour air defense alert. then in 1971 the group transferred back to Tactical Air Command, becoming an

F-100D Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of US ...

Group. From 1971 to 1979, the 103rd flew the F-100 Super Sabre and its mission was

close air support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movemen ...

and it began a NATO commitment, deploying frequently in the 1970s to bases in West Germany to reinforce

United States Air Forces in Europe United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

(USAFE). In 1979, the unit was assigned new

A-10 Thunderbolt II The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 1976, it is named for the Republic ...

s as part of the "Total Force" concept which equipped Air National Guard units with front-line USAF aircraft. The USAFE commitment continued, deploying the "Warthog" to bases in West Germany and Italy. In 1990 the 103rd was programmed to receive the specialized Block 10 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, also referred to as the F/A-16 due to its close air support configuration. The

1990 Gulf Crisis The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...

, however, delayed this transition. During

Operation Desert Storm Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Ma ...

, the F/A-16 was battle tested and it was discovered that the close air support F-16 project proved to be a failure. Subsequently, the conversion of the wing was cancelled in 1993, and the 118th squadron remained an A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support squadron.

Air Combat Command

In March 1992, with the end of the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...

, the unit was redesignated as the 103rd Fighter Group. In June, Tactical Air Command was inactivated as part of the Air Force reorganization after the end of the Cold War. It was replaced by Air Combat Command (ACC). In 1995, in accordance with the Air Force "One Base-One Wing" directive, the 103rd adopted the Air Force Objective Organization plan and was changed in status back to a wing, with the 118th Fighter Squadron being assigned to the new 103rd Operations Group. In what is believed to be the 103rd Fighter Wing's first "rainbow deployment" – where unit aircraft and personnel deploy and operate with aircraft and personnel from other units – members of the unit departed for Aviano Air Base Italy starting 15 November 1993 for participation in Operation DENY FLIGHT alongside A-10s and personnel from the Maryland and Michigan Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve based at Barksdale AFB Louisiana. The 60-day deployment allowed active duty personnel supporting the operation to return to their home station during the holiday period, and marks the first time Connecticut A-10s are used in a contingency operation where they could see combat. Operation DENY FLIGHT aircraft enforced the no-fly zone over Bosnia and provided close air support to UN troops, conducting approved air strikes under a UN command arrangement. Aircraft and personnel returned from this critical mission by 15 January 1994. In late 1995 forces associated with DENY FLIGHT were transferred to Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR—as part of the overall NATO operation JOINT ENDEAVOR—to provide support to NATO's Implementation Force (IFOR) and close air support for UN forces in Croatia in accordance with the Dayton Peace Accord. Connecticut Guardsmen were called to support this joint NATO and UN operation in the Balkans in late August 1996. Six aircraft and the first of what would be 350 unit personnel departed for Aviano Air Base in Italy where they would operate from 25 August through 1 November as part of Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR. A milestone for this deployment was the wing being the first Night Vision Imaging System capable A-10 unit to deploy to a contingency operation. In mid-1996, the Air Force, in response to budget cuts, and changing world situations, began experimenting with Air Expeditionary organizations. The Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) concept was developed that would mix Active-Duty, Reserve and Air National Guard elements into a combined force. Instead of entire permanent units deploying as "Provisional" as in the 1991 Gulf War, Expeditionary units are composed of "aviation packages" from several wings, including active-duty Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard, would be married together to carry out the assigned deployment rotation. Other deployments of the 118th EFS were made to augment combat operations during Operations Deny Flight/Southern Watch to Al Jaber Air Base Kuwait in April 1999 and again in September 2001. The Connecticut Air National Guard was mobilized by Presidential Order in February 2003 along with units of the Massachusetts Air National Guard for deployment to Southwest Asia for what was to become Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. There the unit, operating as part of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group flew over 892 combat missions over western Iraq from March through April 2003.

Airlift mission

118th Airlift Squadron C-21A Learjet - 2

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Bradley International Airport Air Guard Station by distributing the 103rd's A-10s to the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Municipal Airport Air Guard Station, MA (nine aircraft) and retirement (six aircraft). The wing's expeditionary combat support (ECS) elements would remain in place at Bradley and Bradley would retain capability to support a Homeland Defense mission. By combining the two units into one squadron the Air Force would retain the trained A-10 pilots and maintenance technicians in the area and create an optimum-sized and more effective squadron. In April 2008, the 103rd became an Airlift Wing. Its new missions now include; a bridge mission flying C-21A Learjets supporting JOSAC VIP airlift, counter drug operations in the U.S., Central America, South America and the Caribbean, A Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) for TF-34 engines used on A-10 attack aircraft and an Air Operations Center (AOC) responsible for Command and Control operations during wartime. Sometime between FY 2012 and 2014, the 103rd was programmed to receive the new Joint Cargo Aircraft, the

C-27 Spartan The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in ...

. However, the Air Force has recently announced the end of the C-27 Spartan program, eliminating the aircraft from Air National Guards units. Instead, in September 2013 the unit received eight C-130H Hercules aircraft, the first aircraft of this type to serve the 103rd Airlift Wing.

Lineage

103rd Airlift Wing * Constituted as the 324th Fighter Group on 24 June 1942 : Activated on 6 July 1942 : Inactivated on 7 November 1945 * Redesignated 103rd Fighter Group and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. : Activated on 1 July 1946 : Extended federal recognition on 7 August 1946 : Federalized and ordered to active service on 2 March 1951 : Redesignated: 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Group on 2 March 1951 : Inactivated on 6 February 1952 : Returned to Connecticut state control on 1 November 1952 * Activated on 1 November 1952 * Redesignated 103rd Fighter-Bomber Group 1 January 1953 : Redesignated 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 July 1955 : Redesignated 103rd Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 1 July 1955 : Redesignated 103rd Tactical Fighter Group on 30 November 1957 : Redesignated 103rd Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 1 September 1960 : Redesignated 103rd Tactical Fighter Group on 12 June 1971 : Redesignated 103rd Fighter Group on 15 March 1992 * Redesignated 103rd Fighter Wing on 11 October 1995 : Redesignated 103rd Airlift Wing on 1 April 2008 103rd Air Defense Wing * Constituted as the 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 31 October 1950 and allotted to the Air National Guard : Activated on 1 November 1950 and extended federal recognition * Federalized and ordered to active service on 2 March 1951 * Redesignated 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 2 March 1951 : Inactivated on 6 February 1952 : Returned to Connecticut state control on 1 November 1952 * Activated on 1 November 1952 * Redesignated: 103rd Fighter-Bomber Wing 1 January 1953 : Redesignated: 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 July 1955 : Redesignated: 103rd Air Defense Wing on 1 July 1955 : Inactivated on 1 July 1957

Assignments

103rd Airlift Wing *

I Fighter Command I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II. It was initially established in June 1941 as the 1st In ...

: 6 July 1942 (attached to

Philadelphia Fighter Wing The Philadelphia Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the I Fighter Command, stationed at Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania, where it was inactivated on 3 April 1946. History The wing was a ...

, 6 July 1942 – 8 October 1942) * Ninth Air Force: December 1942 (attached to

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

Middle East Command) * 64th Fighter Wing: July 1943 (remained attached to

Middle East Command) * XII Air Support Command (later XII Tactical Air Command): 25 October 1943 * Army Service Forces,

New York Port of Embarkation The New York Port of Embarkation (NYPOE) was a United States Army command responsible for the movement of troops and supplies from the United States to overseas commands. The command had facilities in New York and New Jersey, roughly covering the ...

, 20 October 1945 – 7 November 1945 *

: 7 August 1946 : Gained by: Air Defense Command – 1 July 1948, Continental Air Command −1 December 1950, Air Defense Command * 103rd Fighter Wing: 1 November 1950 * Air Defense Command: 2 March 1951 * 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 23 March 1951 – 6 February 1952 * 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing (later 103rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 103rd Air Defense Wing), 1 November 1952 *

: 1 July 1957 * 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing: 1 November 1957 : Gained by:

* 101st Air Defense Wing: 1 September 1960 : Gained by:

Boston Air Defense Sector The Boston Air Defense Sector (BADS) is an inactive United States Air Force Air Defense Command (ADC) organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division at Hancock Field, New York. History BADS was established in 1956 at Ste ...

, 1 September 1960 : Gained by: 35th Air Division,

, 1 April 1966 : Gained by: 35th Air Division,

Aerospace Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly ina ...

, 19 January 1968 : Gained by: 21st Air Division,

, 1 January 1970 * 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing: 12 June 1971 : Gained by:

, 12 June 1971 * 127th Tactical Fighter Wing: c. June 1972 * 174th Tactical Fighter Wing: 1979 * 128th Fighter Wing: 15 March 1992 : Gained by:

Air Combat Command Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...

, 1 June 1992 * Connecticut Air National Guard: 1994 : Gained by:

, 1 April 2008–Present 103rd Air Defense Wing *

: 1 November 1950 : Gained by Air Defense Command *

: 2 March 1951 – 6 February 1952 * Connecticut Air National Guard: 1 November 1952 – 1 July 1957

Components

103rd Airlift Wing * 103rd Logistics Group (later Maintenance Group): 11 October 1995 – Present * 103rd Medical Group: 11 October 1995 – Present * 103rd Operations Group: 11 October 1995 – Present * 103rd Support Group (later Mission Support Group): 11 October 1995 – Present * 118th Fighter (later Fighter-Interceptor, Fighter Bomber, Tactical Fighter, Fighter, Airlift) Squadron: 7 August 1946 – 6 February 1952; 1 November 1952 – 11 October 1995 *

152nd Fighter Squadron The 152nd Fighter Squadron (152 FS) is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona, United States. The 152nd is equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. History Origins In 1956, ...

: 15 September 1948 – 10 February 1951: 1 March 1953 – 19 November 1955 * 314th Fighter Squadron: 6 July 1942 – 7 November 1945 * 315th Fighter Squadron: 6 July 1942 – 7 November 1945 *

316th Fighter Squadron The 316th Fighter Squadron (316 FS) is an active United States Air Force unit. It was reactivated in 2015 as an Air Combat Command unit of Ninth Air Force (9 AF), flying alongside the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing at ...

: 6 July 1942 – 7 November 1945 103rd Air Defense Wing * 103rd Air Base Group, 1 November 1950 – 2 March 1951; 23 March 1951 – 6 February 1952; 1 November 1952 – 15 April 1956 * 103rd Fighter Group (later Fighter-Interceptor Group, Fighter-Bomber Group, Fighter Group (Air Defense)) 1 November 1950 – 2 March 1951; 23 March 1951 – 6 February 1952; 1 November 1952 – 1 July 1957 * 103rd Medical Group, 1 November 1950 – 2 March 1951; 23 March 1951 – 6 February 1952; 1 November 1952 – 15 April 1956 * 103rd Maintenance & Supply Group, 1 November 1950 – 2 March 1951; 23 March 1951 – 6 February 1952; 1 November 1952 – 15 April 1956

Stations

103rd Airlift Wing *

, New York 6 July 1942 *

, MD 6 July – 8 October 1942 *

RAF El Amiriya RAF El Amiriya is a former Royal Air Force military airfield in Egypt, located approximately 16 km south-southwest of Alexandria; 180 km northwest of Cairo El Amiriya was a pre–World War II airfield, first used in 1917. During ...

Egypt December 1942 *

RAF Kabrit The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

, Egypt 2 February 1943 *

Kairouan Airfield Kairouan Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 11 km south-southeast of Kairouan, 126 km south of Tunis. It was a major Troop Carrier unit base of the United States Army Air Force Twel ...

, Tunisia 2 June 1943 * El Haouaria Airfield, Tunisia c. 18 June 1943 * Menzel Heurr Airfield, Tunisia 3 October 1943 *

Cercola Airfield Cercola Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 2 km north of Cercola in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania. It was an all-weather temporary field built by the United St ...

, Italy 25 October 1943 * Pignataro Maggiore Airfield, Italy, 6 May 1944 * Le Banca Airfield, Italy 6 June 1944 * Montalto Di Castro Airfield, Italy 14 June 1944 * Ghisonaccia Airfield, Corsica, 19 July 1944 * Le Luc Airfield, France 25 August 1944 * Istres Airfield (Y-17),Station numbers in Johnson France 2 September 1944 * Amberieu Airfield (Y-5), France 6 September 1944 * Dôle-Tavaux Airfield (Y-7), France 20 September 1944 * Luneville Airfield (Y-2), France 4 January 1945 * AAF Station Stuttgart/Echterdingen (R-50), Germany 8 May 1945 *

Camp Shanks Camp Shanks was a United States Army installation in the Orangetown, New York area. Named after Major General David C. Shanks, it was situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River. The camp was the largest U.S. Army embarka ...

, New York 20 October 1945 – 7 November 1945 * Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 7 August 1946 *

, 1 January 1947 * Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, 1 June 1951 – 6 February 1952 * Bradley Field (later Bradley Air National Guard Base), Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 1 November 1952 – Present 103rd Air Defense Wing *

Brainard Field Brainard may refer to: * 99928 Brainard, asteroid within Sol system Places * Brainard, California: ** Modern Brainard, California ** Early name of Bracut, California * Hartford–Brainard Airport (in Hartford, Connecticut area), for small airc ...

, Hartford, Connecticut, 1 November 1950 * Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, 1 June 1951 – 6 February 1952 * Brainard Field, Hartford, Connecticut, 1 November 1952 – 1 July 1957

Aircraft

P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

, 1942–1944 *

P-47 Thunderbolt The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bomb ...

, 1944–1945 *

F-47N Thunderbolt The P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Republic Aviation from 1941 to 1945. Early designs XP-47 (AP-10) In response to a USAAC requirement for a new fighter aircraft, Republic Aviation engineer Alexander Kartveli p ...

, 1946–1952 *

, 1952–1953 *

, 1953–1956 * F-94B Starfire, 1956–1957 *

, 1957–1960 *

, 1960–1966 * F/TF-102A Delta Dagger, 1966–1971 * F-100D/F Super Sabre, 1971–1979 * A-10A Thunderbolt II, 1979–2008 * C-21A Learjet, 2007–2013 *

C-27J Spartan The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in ...

, Proposed 2012–2014 service entry before the USAF canceled the project *

, 2013–present

Awards and Campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes ; Citations

Bibliography

* * Grant, C.L., (1961
The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
* * *
AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II
Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976

External links

103rd Airlift Wing official website
{{Authority control Wings of the United States Air National Guard Hartford County, Connecticut 0103 Military units and formations in Connecticut Military units and formations established in 2008 2008 establishments in the United States Connecticut National Guard