103d Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The 103d Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force
unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard
, located at Bradley ANGB, Connecticut
.
in Massachusetts, the 103 FW provided the firepower of the A-10 for close-air support as well as combat search and rescue missions, while maintaining an expeditionary combat support capability. In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended consolidating the wing with the 104th Fighter Wing
at Barnes Municipal Airport
in Massachusetts, and establish an aircraft maintenance depot at Bradley ANG Base, with no flying mission. When the BRAC recommendations were announced, Connecticut sued the Defense Department, arguing that the closure of the guard unit without the governor's approval would violate states' rights
set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Before the lawsuit could make it to trial, Connecticut and DoD officials reached a compromise where the A-10s would be transferred out, and the 103 FW would transition to flying C-21 learjets, and by 2014 would again transition to the C-27J Spartan
s. As of June 2007, the unit has been reconstituted as the 103d Airlift Wing, according to official advertisements for job vacancies at the wing.
The wing's new mission will be to provide cargo and passenger airlift, medevac, and distinguished visitor support.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard
Connecticut Air National Guard
The Connecticut Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is, along with the Connecticut Army National Guard, an element of the Connecticut National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state...
, located at Bradley ANGB, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Mission
Before the completion of the BRAC realignment with the 104th Fighter Wing104th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 104th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Barnes Airport, Massachusetts.-Mission:To maintain highly trained, well equipped, and motivated military forces in order to provide combat ready F-15C Eagles aircraft and support elements in response...
in Massachusetts, the 103 FW provided the firepower of the A-10 for close-air support as well as combat search and rescue missions, while maintaining an expeditionary combat support capability. In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended consolidating the wing with the 104th Fighter Wing
104th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 104th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Barnes Airport, Massachusetts.-Mission:To maintain highly trained, well equipped, and motivated military forces in order to provide combat ready F-15C Eagles aircraft and support elements in response...
at Barnes Municipal Airport
Barnes Municipal Airport
Barnes Municipal Airport , also known as Westfield-Barnes Airport, is a tower-controlled joint civil-military public airport located three miles north of the central business district of Westfield, a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. This airport is owned by City of Westfield...
in Massachusetts, and establish an aircraft maintenance depot at Bradley ANG Base, with no flying mission. When the BRAC recommendations were announced, Connecticut sued the Defense Department, arguing that the closure of the guard unit without the governor's approval would violate states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Before the lawsuit could make it to trial, Connecticut and DoD officials reached a compromise where the A-10s would be transferred out, and the 103 FW would transition to flying C-21 learjets, and by 2014 would again transition to the C-27J Spartan
Alenia C-27J
The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's G.222 , with the engines and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules...
s. As of June 2007, the unit has been reconstituted as the 103d Airlift Wing, according to official advertisements for job vacancies at the wing.
The wing's new mission will be to provide cargo and passenger airlift, medevac, and distinguished visitor support.
Major Command/Gaining Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(2008–present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(1 June 1992-2008) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1971-1 June 1992)
Previous designations
- 103d Airlift Wing (2007–present)
- 103d Fighter Wing (1979–2007)
- 103d Fighter Group (April 1971-1979)
- 103d Fighter Interceptor Group (1952-April 1971)
Squadrons assigned
- 103d Air Control Squadron
- 118th Airlift Squadron118th Airlift SquadronThe 118th Airlift Squadron flies the C-21A Learjet. It is a unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 103rd Airlift Wing.-History:...
(2007–present) - 118th Fighter Squadron (1952–2007)
Aircraft Operated
- C-27J Spartan (2014)
- C-21A Learjet (2007–2014)
- A-10A Thunderbolt II (1979–2007)
- C-12 HuronC-12 HuronThe C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...
(???-???) - F-100D Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
(1971–1979) - F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
(1965–1971) - F-100A Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
(1959–1965) - F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
(1958–1959) - F-94B Starfire (1956–1958)
- F-84D Thunderjet (1954–1956)
- F-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(1952–1954) - P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
(1947–1952) - C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
(1947–1950) - B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
(1947–1950) - T-6 TexanT-6 TexanThe North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
(1947–1950) - L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1947–1950) - L-19 Bird Dog (1947–1950)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1992-1994
- (200x?)