Barnes Air National Guard Base
Encyclopedia
- See: Barnes Municipal AirportBarnes Municipal AirportBarnes 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...
for civil airport information
Barnes Air National Guard Base has hosted the Massachusetts Air National Guard
Massachusetts Air National Guard
The Massachusetts Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is, along with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, an element of the Massachusetts National Guard...
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...
(in various designations) since 1946.
History
Barnes Air National Guard Base is located on the northern side of WestfieldWestfield
-Places:Australia:*Westfield, Western AustraliaCanada:*Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick*Westfield, Nova ScotiaEngland*Westfield, East Sussex*Westfield, North Yorkshire*Westfield, Somerset*Westfield, Woking, SurreyNew Zealand:*Westfield, New Zealand...
in an area known as Hampden Plains. This flat area has been used by Massachusetts as a military training area going back to at least 1905. In the late Summer of 1917, this plain was used as a Troop Staging Area where various Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine Militia Units were reformed into the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th regiments to be shipped to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Air National Guard began it's history at Barnes Airport in October of 1946.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
young men from the Massachusetts State College received flight training at the airport before being shipped off to various war sites. Soon after, the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The 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...
was formed and its presence was soon established at Barnes. The Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The 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...
first began using P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic 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...
aircraft, but soon began using the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The 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...
after Runway 2/20 was extended from 5,000 to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m). Barnes received jet aircraft when the Air National Guard began to operate F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
aircraft.
Up until September 2007, the 131st Fighter Squadron
131st Fighter Squadron
The 131st Fighter Squadron flies the F-15C Eagle. It is a unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 104th Fighter Wing.-History:Patrols over the Pacific, September 1942-July 1943. Replacement training, July 1943-June 1944...
(131 FS), 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...
(104 FW) of the Massachusetts Air National Guard
Massachusetts Air National Guard
The Massachusetts Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is, along with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, an element of the Massachusetts National Guard...
at Westfield operated the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
. There were 25 A-10's based at Barnes until they were realigned through the DoD's Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
of 2005. As a result of BRAC, the 104th changed its mission from Close Air Support to Air Superiority and its A-10 aircraft were redistributed to other fighter units. The 104 FW has now received 15 F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
s from the former 102nd Fighter Wing, now 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis ANGB, with the 104 FW continuing to remain operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air 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 ....
(ACC).
As you come onto the base off Falcon Way, the first thing you will notice is the bright blue base sign located next to the Main Gate.
As you drive through the gate, look to the left and you will see an A-10 on a pedestal. This is a monument to all the men and women who have served in the 104th Fighter Wing. Located behind the A-10 is a granite wall with the names and dates of service of members with more than 20 years of service.
The new Dining Facility building also houses a Fitness Center. Past the Dining Hall on the right side is the Composite Building. This building houses the Medical Squadron, the Security Forces Squadron and the Communications Flight.
The next building on the left is the Avionics and Weapons Maintenance Building. This is where much of the "in-shop" work is performed on the Electronic Components and Weapons Systems of the A-10 are performed. Moving past this building, there is a small tan steel building. This is the Readiness Shop where personnel learn how to survive in a Chemical, Nuclear or Biological Attack.
The Fuels Area is now on the right. This is where the fuel is stored for the A-10s in large white tanks. The Operations Building is across the street, next to the Base Headquarters Building. The Headquarters building also houses the Recruiting Offices, on the ramp side. The Military Personnel Flight is located on the second floor. This is where records are maintained and stored, and where personnel would go for a new identification card among other things.
Directly in front on the Headquarters Building is the Ramp where the aircraft are parked. Off to the left, is the Base Hangar. Behind this building is the Corrosion Control Hangar where the painting of the aircraft takes place.
Across the runway and to the right of the Recruiting Office is the Munitions Maintenance Complex of several work and storage facilities. Back on the main road and across the street from the Headquarters Building, is the Supply Area. There is a brick Office and Receiving area and a long low building that houses Contracting, Transportation, and Clothing Issue. This is the oldest building on base and soon to come down. Behind this building the new Supply Complex was built.
On the right past the Supply Area is the new Vehicle Maintenance Facility where anything from cars to snow-plows can worked on. At the end of the road, take a left around the Airman's Club to approach the Fire Department and Civil Engineering Building. This is another of the newer buildings on base.