Delaware Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Delaware Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state
of Delaware
. It is, along with the Delaware Army National Guard
, an element of the Delaware National Guard
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
, as well as of the state.
Delaware's entire Air Guard was ordered to active duty, and though the 142nd Fighter Squadron remained at New Castle County Airport, its pilots were all rotated to the Far East and most saw combat against Russian-built jets in what came to be known as MiG Alley
over Korea.
, the Delaware Air Guard began a regular schedule of cargo flights to Vietnam in late 1965 and operated several each month, in addition to its regular flights to Europe and the Caribbean. The Air Guard carried 60% of the cargo it would be expected to carry if it were an active unit in Federal service.
Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Spruance (1916-2011), a founding member of the Delaware Air Guard, received the first Air Force Distinguished Service Medal given to a reserve officer for his work Vietnam. After a near fatal plane crash in 1961 Brig. Gen. Spruance selflessly devoted his time, knowledge and experience in an effort to improve flying and crash survival techniques. In 1968 he gave over 100 presentations to over 10,000 people, at 58 bases, in 60 days.
. The Air Guard merged with the 1670th Tactical Airlift Provisional, part of the largest composite U.S. Air Force Wing in the entire Persian Gulf area. The unit flew missions carrying personnel and fuel bladders critical to destroying the Iraqi Republican Guard
. They were also one of the first crews that flew into Kuwait International Airport
to begin rebuilding. In May, they moved a significant portion of the Shiite Muslim refugees to a camp in Saudi Arabia
. In January and February personnel from the 166th Civil Engineering Squadron were also tasked with the 100% enlargement of the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base
. Brig. Gen. (then Lieutenant Colonel) Ernest Talbert served in combat zones in Southwest Asia as a C-130 pilot in support of Operation Desert Storm. On 11 Nov. 2005 he became the first African-American general in the history of the Delaware National Guard. Upon his retirement as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard on 11 Jan. 2009, Brig. Gen. Talbert received the honorary rank of Major General. The Delaware Air National Guard units returned on 31 May 1991.
. Its units have deployed to the Afghan region several times since 2001. In November 2004 Lieut. Col. (then Major) Patrick Houtman received the Distinguished Flying Cross for taking evasive action at low altitude after a surface to air missile was launched against his C-130H aircraft. Lieut. Col. Houtman was the first Delaware National Guard member to receive this decoration. Lieut. Col. Gregory Carr and Master Sgt. Thomas Michaels of the 142nd Airlift Squadron were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for active participation in combat action, having been personally present and under direct enemy fire on 26 Sept. 2004. On that date they were carrying Afghan and US VIP’s on a classified mission when they were engaged by multiple sources of ground fire. In April 2008, Staff Sgt. Aaron Weber, Staff Sgt. Aaron Sweeney, and Staff Sgt. David Gazzara, received the Air Force Combat Action Medal for being engaged by enemy forces while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. These three Airmen are the first Delaware National Guard ground personnel to receive the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal.
As the deputy commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. (then Colonel) Carol Timmons received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during period of 3 May 2008 to 3 Sept. 2008. On 14 May 2011 she was promoted to brigadier general and became the first federally recognized female general officer in the history of the Delaware National Guard.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It is, along with the Delaware Army National Guard
Delaware Army National Guard
The Delaware National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard 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...
, an element of the Delaware National Guard
Delaware National Guard
The Delaware National Guard consists of the:*Delaware Army National Guard*Delaware Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History*...
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
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...
, as well as of the state.
Units
The Delaware ANG consists of the following units:- 142nd Airlift Squadron142nd Airlift SquadronThe 142d Airlift Squadron flies the C-130 Hercules. It is a unit of the Delaware Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 166th Airlift Wing.-Lineage:* Constituted 342d Fighter Squadron on 24 Sep 1942-Aircraft:*C-130H Hercules...
, 166th Airlift Wing166th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 166th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at the New Castle County Airport, Delaware.-History:On 7 April 1962 the Delaware Air National Guard, with the 142nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, enlarged to "group status" as the 166th Air Transport Group and the was... - 166th Operations Group
- 166th Medical Group
- 166th Mission Support Group
- 166th Maintenance Group
- 166th Network Warfare Squadron
Korea
During the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Delaware's entire Air Guard was ordered to active duty, and though the 142nd Fighter Squadron remained at New Castle County Airport, its pilots were all rotated to the Far East and most saw combat against Russian-built jets in what came to be known as MiG Alley
MiG Alley
"MIG Alley" is the name given by U.S. Air Force pilots to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. During the Korean War, it was the site of numerous dogfights between U.S. fighter jets and those of the Communist forces, particularly the Soviet...
over Korea.
Vietnam
In the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the Delaware Air Guard began a regular schedule of cargo flights to Vietnam in late 1965 and operated several each month, in addition to its regular flights to Europe and the Caribbean. The Air Guard carried 60% of the cargo it would be expected to carry if it were an active unit in Federal service.
Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Spruance (1916-2011), a founding member of the Delaware Air Guard, received the first Air Force Distinguished Service Medal given to a reserve officer for his work Vietnam. After a near fatal plane crash in 1961 Brig. Gen. Spruance selflessly devoted his time, knowledge and experience in an effort to improve flying and crash survival techniques. In 1968 he gave over 100 presentations to over 10,000 people, at 58 bases, in 60 days.
Persian Gulf
During the 1991 Gulf War, the Headquarters 166th Tactical Airlift Group, 166th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the 142nd Tactical Airlift Squadron were activated in January 1991 involving over 275 Air Guard members. Shortly thereafter, members of the 166th Tactical Clinic were also called upon, bringing the total Air Guard involvement to over 350. All eight C-130 Hercules aircraft were deployed with the Air Guard to the Persian GulfPersian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. The Air Guard merged with the 1670th Tactical Airlift Provisional, part of the largest composite U.S. Air Force Wing in the entire Persian Gulf area. The unit flew missions carrying personnel and fuel bladders critical to destroying the Iraqi Republican Guard
Iraqi Republican Guard
The Iraqi Republican Guard was a branch of the Iraqi military during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became the Republican Guard Corps, and then the Republican Guard Forces Command with its expansion into two corps....
. They were also one of the first crews that flew into Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport is located in Farwaniyah, Kuwait, south of Kuwait City. It serves as hub for Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of the Kuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air...
to begin rebuilding. In May, they moved a significant portion of the Shiite Muslim refugees to a camp in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. In January and February personnel from the 166th Civil Engineering Squadron were also tasked with the 100% enlargement of the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
. Brig. Gen. (then Lieutenant Colonel) Ernest Talbert served in combat zones in Southwest Asia as a C-130 pilot in support of Operation Desert Storm. On 11 Nov. 2005 he became the first African-American general in the history of the Delaware National Guard. Upon his retirement as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard on 11 Jan. 2009, Brig. Gen. Talbert received the honorary rank of Major General. The Delaware Air National Guard units returned on 31 May 1991.
Afghanistan
The Delaware Air National Guard was called upon again during the Afghanistan WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. Its units have deployed to the Afghan region several times since 2001. In November 2004 Lieut. Col. (then Major) Patrick Houtman received the Distinguished Flying Cross for taking evasive action at low altitude after a surface to air missile was launched against his C-130H aircraft. Lieut. Col. Houtman was the first Delaware National Guard member to receive this decoration. Lieut. Col. Gregory Carr and Master Sgt. Thomas Michaels of the 142nd Airlift Squadron were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for active participation in combat action, having been personally present and under direct enemy fire on 26 Sept. 2004. On that date they were carrying Afghan and US VIP’s on a classified mission when they were engaged by multiple sources of ground fire. In April 2008, Staff Sgt. Aaron Weber, Staff Sgt. Aaron Sweeney, and Staff Sgt. David Gazzara, received the Air Force Combat Action Medal for being engaged by enemy forces while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. These three Airmen are the first Delaware National Guard ground personnel to receive the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal.
As the deputy commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. (then Colonel) Carol Timmons received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during period of 3 May 2008 to 3 Sept. 2008. On 14 May 2011 she was promoted to brigadier general and became the first federally recognized female general officer in the history of the Delaware National Guard.