History Rhode Island Air National Guard

1 history

1.1 world war i
1.2 world war ii
1.3 cold war
1.4 gulf war 1991
1.5 humanitarian relief operations
1.6 brac 2005
1.7 war on terror

history
world war i

the rhode island air national guard traces lineage 1915, when group of rhode island residents purchased 2 curtiss model f flying boats, 1 of assigned state national guard. border conflict in mexico , america s entry first world war prevented use, , in 1919 national guard aircraft, obsolete, sold surplus.

world war ii

in 1939, war raging on both european , asian continents, president franklin d. roosevelt increased measures prepare u.s. armed forces american involvement. state of rhode island allocated 1 of 2 new observation squadrons authorized congress year. 152nd observation squadron organized , less 1 year later federalized extended active duty. after american entry world war ii, 152nd observation squadron took primary mission of anti-submarine patrols along northeastern shipping lanes. in september 1944 unit, designated 37th photographic reconnaissance squadron, transferred overseas. assigned 15th air force, squadron pilots flew photo reconnaissance missions in northern italy, southern germany , balkans until end of war in europe in june 1945.

cold war

f-51d mustang assigned rhode island ang 152d fighter squadron, 1954

in 1946 unit reassigned state of rhode island , designated 152nd fighter squadron based @ t. f. green airport, warwick, rhode island. in september 1948 152nd received federal recognition , assigned continental air command program tasked air national guard units defense of u.s. airspace. flying republic p-47 thunderbolt , later north american p-51 mustang unit trained mission. usaf, in effort upgrade jet fighter force, required air national guard aerospace defense command units upgrade jet-powered aircraft republic f-84 thunderjet. requirement proved downfall of 152nd. rhode island airport commission , national guard authorities found in conflict on use of t.f. green municipal airport in warwick tactical jet operations. unable resolve these differences air force removed jets state; however, quick negotiations , national guard bureau s desire have flying unit located in every state brought new mission , numeric designation carried day, 143d.

the 143rd air resupply squadron received federal recognition in november 1955. national guard flying program once again alive , in state of rhode island. unit assigned grumman sa-16a albatross seaplane , short time retained douglas c-47 skytrain. there several minor mission designation changes, , c-47 replaced curtiss c-46 commando.

in 1963 first major mission change 143rd since days of fighters occurred. situations around world produced need specialized units insert small group of trained combat troops on land or sea anywhere @ moments notice. 143rd tasked 1 of representatives of national guard in air force s air commando group structure. c-46 commando replaced helio u-10a/d courier. during three-year period starting in 1965, u-10s belonging 143rd , other air national guard units transferred usaf use in vietnam, during u-10 replaced u-6 beaver.

in 1968 u-10s returned tour of duty in vietnam, , @ time unit redesignated 143rd special operations group. grumman sa-16a/hu-16a albatross, flown 143rd pilots since 1955, replaced in 1968 updated version of albatross, hu-16e. twice cargo capability , range, hu-16e opened new avenues of opportunity demonstrated in 1970. flight , ground crews of 143rd assisted scientists , engineers of naval underwater systems center, conducting studies of undersea acoustics, @ lake tanganyika in africa during april , again in august @ hudson bay, canada.

the unit work in special operations field 7 more years, during hu-16 aircraft retired in 1972 , replaced fairchild c-119g/l flying boxcar, aircraft 143rd fly 3 years. in 1975 part of general program upgrade countries air national guard units 143rd redesignated tactical airlift group , assigned lockheed c-130a hercules aircraft.

always pressed room @ tf green airport new c-130s, twice size of unit had flown, created quite concern 143rd tag commanders, flight crews , crew chiefs , maintenance folks of 143rd consolidated aircraft maintenance squadron. relief arrive in 1977 part of united states navy s 1974 closure of naval air station quonset point part of post-vietnam defense cutback , returning land , facilities state of rhode island. first time since 1915, when guard pilots flew curtiss f old national guard training camp @ quonset, rhode island air national guard flying unit have home call own - coincidentally site occupied 143rd airlift group in approximately same location facilities used in 1915. in 1980, after 3 years of negotiations , construction 143rd tag moved new home @ quonset air national guard base. new facilities provided room desperately needed grow , expand c-130 program. on next 7 years men , women of 143rd trained aging model c-130s. rhode island herks found in parts of united states, europe, africa, , south america , caribbean. rh air guard has consistently participated in deployments such as: volant oak, volant pine, red flag, dragon hammer, volant rodeo competition , humanitarian efforts such operation toy lift provided toys children of grenada after u.s. intervention there in 1983.

gulf war 1991

in 1989, after years of getting job done c-130as, 143rd tag selected conversion c-130e model hercules . hard work , determination during conversion paid off in summer of 1990 when volunteers answered call provide support during operation desert shield. 143rd tag among first of national guard units ot provide flight crews , maintenance personnel needed usaf when additional trained manpower needed. first volunteers, in september 1990, flew out of rhein-main air base, germany , provided backfill support active duty personnel transferred turkey , saudi arabia in response iraqi invasion of kuwait. second group of volunteers departed in january 1991 , stationed @ raf mildenhall in united kingdom. again, flying backfill operation, crew had distinction of being in theater of operation when operation desert shield turned operation desert storm, gulf war. second group of volunteers returned home in february after completing one-month rotation @ mildenhall ready return civilian life , jobs. however, 1 week after return these civilian soldiers again asked answer call duty, time president of united states. not since world war ii had members of rhode island air national guard flying squadron been called federal service. in second world war unit provided support in united states doing jobs vacated active duty personnel transferred gulf; in april unit got action again returning raf mildenhall. defeat of iraqi forces , end of gulf war, members returned home in june 1991 , released active duty.

humanitarian relief operations

143rd airlift group c-130j-30 @ 2016 farnborough airshow

in 1992 unit redesignated 143rd airlift group in response air force wide restructuring , assigned air combat command. 143rd airlift group continues support state, federal , united nations activities throughout world. volunteers 143rd have participated in may united nations sponsored relief missions during last 3 years; somalia in 1992 , in late 1992 , of 1993 operation provide promise, rhode island air guardsmen , women flew daylight airland missions sarajevo airport , night airdrops on remote areas of bosnia-herzegovina.

in 1998 usaf formed expeditionary air force (eaf); smaller sized fighting units able rapidly respond regional conflicts. rh ang has participated in 5 aef operations, supporting operation joint forge in balkans, operation southern watch in southwest asia , operation coronet oak in south america.

a program of base infrastructure modernization , construction began in 2001 acquisition of adjacent land bringing quonset 42,800 qm (103.6 acres). eight-year, $65 million base modernization , construction program included installation of new fiber-optic, communication , electrical power infrastructure support future base wide construction; completion of new life support building; complete reconstruction of motor pool roof; construction of new aircraft maintenance , hangar facility accommodate conversion c-130j-30. in december 2001, 143d received first c-130j-30. rhode island ang became first in air force receive stretch version of j model. c-130j-30 can carry more cargo or personnel farther, faster, , more economically c-130e proving increased airlift capability. fleet 143d completed arrival of eighth c-130j @ quonset on 15 june 2007.

brac 2005

in brac 2005 recommendations, united states department of defense realign warfield angb, maryland. dod recommended distribute 8 c-130j aircraft of 175th wing 146th airlift wing, channel islands angs, california (four aircraft), , 143d airlift wing (four aircraft). result of recommendation, 143rd airlift wing retire 2 c-130e aircraft. recommendation move c-130js california ang , rhode island ang, both of operated c-130j, avoiding conversion training costs. in recommendation, dod recommended realign arkansas air national guard realigning 1 c-130j aircraft 143rd airlift wing.

war on terror

after september 11 attacks 2001, ri ang responded call again, deploying unit members ground zero, bases homeland security , implemented 24-hour operations @ quonset state airport. since september 11 143rd aw has supported war on terror not becoming bridge , theater providing airlift in support of war effort. ri ang provided 1st ever c-130j aircraft in combat role usaf in december 2004 , continued support war effort both c-130e , c-130j until retiring c-130e in 2005. ri ang provided troop support within southwest asia , many other areas of world. location of quonset being eastern c-130 base has provided 143rd aw unique opportunity become bridge between europe , continental united states in support of operation enduring freedom/operation iraqi freedom. quonset state airport ideally located support c-130s, both departing , returning overseas missions.