189th Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 189th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
. It is a part of the Arkansas National Guard
and currently runs the Air National Guard Basic Academic School, providing flight engineer
and loadmaster
entry-level training for all branches of the service.
Air National Guard Enlisted Aircrew Academic School, which provides entry-level training for C-130 loadmaster
s before they are sent to the 314th Airlift Wing
for mission qualification training . The school also provides entry-level flight engineer training .
The squadron was activated again in October 1950 to fly combat missions during the Korean War. As part of the 136th Fighter Group, the squadron flew missions out of Itazuke Air Base, Japan, and Taegu, Korea. The squadron was inactivated in 1952 and redesignated the 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was then relocated to Little Rock Air Force Base
, Arkansas, and reorganized as the 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, absorbing elements of the 123rd Air Base Group.
The Group was the first Air National Guard unit to be equipped with the RF-101 Voodoo
in 1965. Soon after, the Group was activated to respond to the Pueblo Crisis in January 1968. In July, the 154th deployed to Itazuke, Japan, but was inactivated that December. Upon inactivation, the group returned to Little Rock AFB and assumed the RF-101 Replacement Training Unit mission from the active air force .
On 1 January 1976, the unit converted to KC-135 and was redesignated the 189th Air Refueling Group. It was then assigned to the Strategic Air Command
, one of the first Air National Guard units to be assigned as such. The unit maintained a 24-hour alert and supported worldwide tanker task forces by performing in-flight refueling of all types of aircraft.
The unit received its first C-130 on 1 July 1986 and began training C-130 aircrews. By 1 October, the unit had fully converted to the C-130, and was redesignated the 189th Tactical Airlift Group. Student training began on 25 September. The unit was redesignated the 189th Airlift Group on 16 April 1992, and then the 189th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995. Since 1998, the wing has been the exclusive provider for instructor training . The school instructs courses for all crew positions on board the C-130, and has taught students from all branches of the military.
Members of the 189th flew in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle
. These operations did not affect the wing's training mission.
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...
's 189th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. It is a part of the Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...
and currently runs the Air National Guard Basic Academic School, providing flight engineer
Flight engineer
Flight engineers work in three types of aircraft: fixed-wing , rotary wing , and space flight .As airplanes became even larger requiring more engines and complex systems to operate, the workload on the two pilots became excessive during certain critical parts of the flight regime, notably takeoffs...
and loadmaster
Loadmaster
A Loadmaster is an aircrew member on military transport aircraft. Loadmasters serve in the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy of many nations...
entry-level training for all branches of the service.
Mission
The 189th provides aircrew training for the C-130 for all branches of the military and for 23 foreign countries . The unit operates the C-130 Tactical Airlift Instructor School, where aircrew instructors are trained to they can return to their units and keep members combat ready . The wing also operates theAir National Guard Enlisted Aircrew Academic School, which provides entry-level training for C-130 loadmaster
Loadmaster
A Loadmaster is an aircrew member on military transport aircraft. Loadmasters serve in the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy of many nations...
s before they are sent to the 314th Airlift Wing
314th Airlift Wing
The 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
for mission qualification training . The school also provides entry-level flight engineer training .
History
The 189th is a direct descendant of the 154th Observation Squadron constituted in October 1925 at Little Rock Municipal Airport, Arkansas. The squadron was activated in 1940, participating in various World War II battles in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and England. The squadron was inactivated following the war, and redesignated the 154th Fighter Squadron.The squadron was activated again in October 1950 to fly combat missions during the Korean War. As part of the 136th Fighter Group, the squadron flew missions out of Itazuke Air Base, Japan, and Taegu, Korea. The squadron was inactivated in 1952 and redesignated the 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was then relocated to Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.-Overview:...
, Arkansas, and reorganized as the 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, absorbing elements of the 123rd Air Base Group.
The Group was the first Air National Guard unit to be equipped with the RF-101 Voodoo
F-101 Voodoo
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
in 1965. Soon after, the Group was activated to respond to the Pueblo Crisis in January 1968. In July, the 154th deployed to Itazuke, Japan, but was inactivated that December. Upon inactivation, the group returned to Little Rock AFB and assumed the RF-101 Replacement Training Unit mission from the active air force .
On 1 January 1976, the unit converted to KC-135 and was redesignated the 189th Air Refueling Group. It was then assigned to the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, one of the first Air National Guard units to be assigned as such. The unit maintained a 24-hour alert and supported worldwide tanker task forces by performing in-flight refueling of all types of aircraft.
The unit received its first C-130 on 1 July 1986 and began training C-130 aircrews. By 1 October, the unit had fully converted to the C-130, and was redesignated the 189th Tactical Airlift Group. Student training began on 25 September. The unit was redesignated the 189th Airlift Group on 16 April 1992, and then the 189th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995. Since 1998, the wing has been the exclusive provider for instructor training . The school instructs courses for all crew positions on board the C-130, and has taught students from all branches of the military.
Members of the 189th flew in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
. These operations did not affect the wing's training mission.
Lineage
- Constituted 24 October 1925 as the 154th Observation Squadron.
- Activated in 1940.
- Redesignated 154th Fighter Squadron and inactivated in 1945.
- Activated October 1950.
- Inactivated September 1962.
- Reorganized as 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in October 1962.
- Activated January 1968.
- Inactivated December 1968.
- Redesignated 189th Air Refueling Group on 1 January 1976 and Activated.
- Redesignated 189th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 October 1986.
- Redesignated 189th Airlift Group on 16 April 1992.
- Redesignated 189th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995.
Major 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 Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(1992–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...
/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...
(1986–1992) - 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...
/Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(1976–1986) - 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...
(1962–1976) - 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 Defense Command (1950–1962)
Previous designations
- 189th Airlift Wing (1995–present)
- 189th Airlift Group (1992–1995)
- 189th Tactical Airlift Group (1986–1992)
- 189th Air Refueling Group (1976–1986)
- 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1962–1976)
Subordinate units
- 189th Operations Group
- 154th Training Squadron154th Training SquadronThe 154th Training Squadron flies the C-130H2 as part of the Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing. The 154th Training Squadron is one of the most highly decorated Air National Guard units in the nation...
- 189th Maintenance Squadron
- 189th Aircraft Generation Squadron
- 154th Training Squadron
- 189th Logistics Group
- 189th Logistics Squadron
- 189th Support Group
- 189th Security Forces Squadron
- 189th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 189th Medical Group
- 189th Medical Squadron
Aircraft operated
- C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
(1986–present) - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
(1976–1986) - RF-101 Voodoo (1965–1976)
External links
- http://www.arguard.org/189/index.htm
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/189aw.htm
- http://www.littlerock.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5373
- http://www.goang.com/office/default.aspx?office=302f78bd-46cf-4696-87f3-4714d1c8295e