Idaho Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force
militia
of the U.S. state
of Idaho
. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard
, an element of the Idaho National Guard
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
, as well as its state mission.
was formed from the 405th Fighter Bomber Squadron that saw much action in Europe in WWII. It was given the Presidential Unit Citation in 1945 and later deactivated. In 1946 the 405th was activated and redesignated the 190th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, Idaho Air National Guard. Colonel Thomas George Lanphier, Jr.
, credited with the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto's plane in the South Pacific, was one of the founding members.
lers in support of front line Army maneuver units to coordinate and control close air support missions of the Air Force and joint forces in support of the ground battle
and related services in support of the 124th Wing and all aerospace power in peace and war
The Intelligence Flight is responsible for intelligence support of the wing commander, staff, and operations personnel, providing important information on current orders of battle, potential threat systems and world situation hot spots. In addition, "Intel" conducts academic training for aircrews in preparation and practice for worldwide deployment
flies A-10 Thunderbolt II
tank buster infantry support aircraft. Two British Scimitar
armoured reconnaissance vehicles were attacked
by an A-10 from the 190th FS (ANG) in the Iraq War
of 2003, killing L/CplH Matty Hull and wounding five comrades. The A-10's gun camera footage of this attack was recently leaked to UK media.
recommended to deactivate the 111th Fighter Wing
(ANG) and relocate some of its assigned A-10 aircraft to the 124th Wing (ANG). This recommendation was part of a larger recommendation that would close Naval Air Station Willow Grove
, Pennsylvania
. DoD also recommended to realign Idaho ANG by distributing the four C-130H aircraft of the 124th Wing to the 153rd Airlift Wing (ANG), Cheyenne, Wyoming
.
The new larger unit at Cheyenne would create a larger, more effective C-130 squadron size, and with its proximity to F. E. Warren Air Force Base, would allow it to host an active/ANG associate unit. Boise would become a more valuable A-10 base because of its proximity to air-to-ground ranges with scoreable strafing and bombing, threat emitters, and integrated air combat training.
was awarded the George Cross
, Britain's highest award for gallantry displayed other than that displayed in the face of enemy fire, for his bravery in pulling his injured comrades from their burning vehicles. Trooper Finney also attempted to rescue L/Cpl Hull but was forced back by the force and heat of the continuing explosions surrounding the Scimitar
vehicles which were being attacked. As well as the death of L/Cpl Hull five other members of the patrol were also injured. An inquest into the death of L/Cpl Hull found a series of errors in the decisions made by the US pilots prior to the attack, including an assertion by Forward Air Controllers that the pilots were acting independently and hastily, not waiting for clearance to fire and attacking the convoy of vehicles a second time whilst still doubting its identity.
See also Article on the incident
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
of the U.S. state
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 Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard
Idaho Army National Guard
The Idaho Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
, an element of the Idaho National Guard
Idaho National Guard
The Idaho National Guard consists of the:*Idaho Army National Guard*Idaho Air National Guard-External links:*...
. 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 its state mission.
History
The 124th Wing124th Wing
The United States Air Force's 124th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command . The 124 FW is located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, in Boise, Idaho.-Mission:...
was formed from the 405th Fighter Bomber Squadron that saw much action in Europe in WWII. It was given the Presidential Unit Citation in 1945 and later deactivated. In 1946 the 405th was activated and redesignated the 190th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, Idaho Air National Guard. Colonel Thomas George Lanphier, Jr.
Thomas George Lanphier, Jr.
Thomas George Lanphier, Jr. was a colonel and fighter pilot during World War II who was first solely, then partially credited with shooting down the plane carrying Admiral Yamamoto, the commander in chief of the Japanese Imperial Navy.-Biography:He was born on November 27, 1915 in Panama City,...
, credited with the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto's plane in the South Pacific, was one of the founding members.
Idaho Air National Guard Units
The Idaho Air National Guard is composed of 3,000 Airmen and officers assigned to support the 124th Fighter Wing and various Joint (Army and Air Force) units throughout Idaho.Idaho Air National Guard Headquarters
The Idaho Air National Guard Headquarters is at Gowen Field, located at Boise Air TerminalBoise Airport
Boise Airport , also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is a joint civil-military, commercial and general aviation airport located three nautical miles south of downtown Boise in Ada County, Idaho, USA...
124th Air Support Operations Squadron
The 124th Air Support Operations Squadron mission is to provide forward air controlForward air control
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to Close Air Support aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller . For NATO forces the qualifications and experience required to be...
lers in support of front line Army maneuver units to coordinate and control close air support missions of the Air Force and joint forces in support of the ground battle
124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
The 124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is responsible for the delivery of safe, reliable aircraft to the 190th Fighter Squadron and the 189th Airlift Squadron124th Civil Engineer Squadron
The 124th Civil Engineer Squadron is prepared to deploy within 28 hours, to provide engineering forces to support regional conflict missions, and to provide support for pre-attack, post-attack and passive defense measures. Engineering personnel include craftsmen, engineering officers and firefighters. CES will provide initial bed down support at a bare base, forward operations or follow-on sustainment for contingencies. In order to operate, participation in exercises are important; CES firefighters and command personnel participated in local Mass Casualties Exercise with a number of local civilian first responders124th Communications Flight
The mission of the 124th Communications Flight is to provide 24-hour secure and non-secure telecommunications, data processing, and computer support to home station customers and tenants. The unit's multimedia section also provides visual information support in the form of still and video imaging to home-station customers and deployed flying units. The communications flight provides deployed flying units with secure long-haul radio support. Finally, they provide command, control, communications, and computer planning for the 124th Wing and subordinate units.124th Maintenance Squadron
The 124th Maintenance Squadron and 124th Maintenance Operations Flight provides support to the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sortie production and depth to sustain maintenance effectiveness. While aircraft generation focuses primarily on on-equipment maintenance, the maintenance squadron deals mostly with off-equipment and specialized component repair124th Logistics Readiness Squadron
The 124th Logistics Squadron supplies the wing with fully trained personnel to ensure spare parts, equipment, fuel, vehicles, transportation, and contract services are delivered to the right people at the right place and on time to meet the wartime taskings and peacetime needs of the nation and the state of Idaho124th Medical Group
The 124th Medical Group peacetime mission is to safely and effectively train health care personnel, promote health and well-being, and ensure that wing members are capable of performing worldwide duty. The unit provides medical support for an Air Reserve Component operational mission with a population of more than 1000 members. That support includes physical exams, immunizations, bioenvironmental/military public health, triage, trauma care, and stabilization for movement to a medical treatment facility. The medical squadron provides clinical nursing services, administrators, lab and x-ray services, a pharmacy, and physical therapy and dental services. As a community service, they annually perform physical exams on children as part of the Head Start program124th Services Flight
The mission of the 124th Services Flight is to provide skilled personnel and operate quality facilities to sustain food service, lodging, Mortuary AffairsMortuary Affairs
right|thumbnail|A soldier from a graves registration unit attempts identification of a skull during [[World War II]]Mortuary Affairs is a service within the United States Army Quartermaster Corps tasked with the retrieval, identification, transportation, and burial of deceased American and...
and related services in support of the 124th Wing and all aerospace power in peace and war
124th Mission Support Flight
The 124th Mission Support Flight provides personnel and educational support for all undertakings - both routine and extraordinary - of the 124th Wing. Personnel in the MSF maintain and process documentation for many wing members, from recruiting and retention to education, awards, and training. The MSF offers administration of the family support program and assistance with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program124th Operations Support Flight
The 124th Operations Support Flight supports both the 190th Fighter Squadron and the 189th Airlift Squadron to maintain combat-ready status in the A-10 and C-130 aircraft. The unit is capable of worldwide deployment in order to execute the missions of air interdiction, combat search and rescue, close air support, and tactical airlift. The weapons and tactics shop ensures that critical weapons resources are provided to both flying squadrons to meet their high operations tempo during both peacetime training and wartime tasking.The Intelligence Flight is responsible for intelligence support of the wing commander, staff, and operations personnel, providing important information on current orders of battle, potential threat systems and world situation hot spots. In addition, "Intel" conducts academic training for aircrews in preparation and practice for worldwide deployment
124th Security Forces Squadron
The mission of the 124th Security Forces Squadron is to train for installation and weapons systems security vital to the protection of all the resources located at Gowen Field. Once deployed, the SFS provides weapon systems security for alert non-nuclear aircraft and air base ground defense at main operating bases or collocated operating bases124th Wing Staff
The 124th Wing Staff is the Wing Commanders direct staff. Their functions include; Legal, Financial, Safety, Public Affairs, Religious Support, Family Support, Command Post, Wing Planning, Equal Opportunity, Administrative and Executive Support. Their mission is to provide/assist in the command and support actions necessary to maintain two combat ready flying units, one air support operations squadron and a geographically separated unit(GSU), and other support organizations190th Fighter Squadron
The 190th Fighter Squadron190th Fighter Squadron
The 190th Fighter Squadron flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 124th Fighter Wing. The squadron was deployed to the Middle-East in 2003 to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
flies 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,...
tank buster infantry support aircraft. Two British Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle used by the British Army. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion but mounts a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps, Armoured Regiments in the Reconnaissance role...
armoured reconnaissance vehicles were attacked
190th Fighter Squadron, Blues and Royals friendly fire incident
The 190th Fighter Squadron, Blues and Royals friendly fire incident was a friendly fire incident involving two United States Air Force Air National Guard 190th Fighter Squadron attack aircraft, and vehicles from the United Kingdom's D Squadron, The Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, and...
by an A-10 from the 190th FS (ANG) in the Iraq War
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
of 2003, killing L/CplH Matty Hull and wounding five comrades. The A-10's gun camera footage of this attack was recently leaked to UK media.
266th Range Squadron
The mission of the 266th Range Squadron is to provide tactical aircrews from both the active duty Air Force - from the 366th Air Expeditionary Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho - and the Idaho Air National Guard - from the 124th Wing, Gowen Field, with the most realistic electronic combat training threat environment available. The 266th RANS is tasked to develop, maintain, and operate a simulated hostile electronic threat environment for aircrews to trainFuture
In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
recommended to deactivate the 111th Fighter Wing
111th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 111th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.-Mission:To maintain highly trained, well-equipped, and motivated military forces in order to provide combat-ready OA-10/A-10 aircraft and support elements in response to...
(ANG) and relocate some of its assigned A-10 aircraft to the 124th Wing (ANG). This recommendation was part of a larger recommendation that would close Naval Air Station Willow Grove
Naval Air Station Willow Grove
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove was a Naval Air Station owned by the U.S. Navy and located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States four miles northwest of the central business district of Willow Grove, which is north of...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. DoD also recommended to realign Idaho ANG by distributing the four C-130H aircraft of the 124th Wing to the 153rd Airlift Wing (ANG), Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
.
The new larger unit at Cheyenne would create a larger, more effective C-130 squadron size, and with its proximity to F. E. Warren Air Force Base, would allow it to host an active/ANG associate unit. Boise would become a more valuable A-10 base because of its proximity to air-to-ground ranges with scoreable strafing and bombing, threat emitters, and integrated air combat training.
Controversy
In 2003 an A-10 Warthog of the Idaho Air National Guard attacked vehicles of the British Army in Iraq. The attack killed one soldier Lance Corporal of horse Matty Hull and wounded several others. Trooper Christopher FinneyChristopher Finney
Lance-Corporal of Horse Christopher Finney GC is a British soldier of the Blues and Royals awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Finney grew up in Marple, near Stockport, before moving to Dorset and then joining the British Army in September 2000...
was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, Britain's highest award for gallantry displayed other than that displayed in the face of enemy fire, for his bravery in pulling his injured comrades from their burning vehicles. Trooper Finney also attempted to rescue L/Cpl Hull but was forced back by the force and heat of the continuing explosions surrounding the Scimitar
Scimitar
A scimitar is a backsword or sabre with a curved blade, originating in Southwest Asia .The Arabic term saif translates to "sword" in general, but is normally taken to refer to the scimitar type of curved backsword in particular.The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout the Muslim...
vehicles which were being attacked. As well as the death of L/Cpl Hull five other members of the patrol were also injured. An inquest into the death of L/Cpl Hull found a series of errors in the decisions made by the US pilots prior to the attack, including an assertion by Forward Air Controllers that the pilots were acting independently and hastily, not waiting for clearance to fire and attacking the convoy of vehicles a second time whilst still doubting its identity.
See also Article on the incident
Aircraft assigned
Aircraft assigned to the unit through its operations include:- P-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...
- 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...
- A-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
- 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...
- Aeronca L-16Aeronca L-16|-See also:-References:* Eden, Paul and Moeng, Soph, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1....
- 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...
- 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...
- T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
- F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe 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:...
- F-89 ScorpionF-89 ScorpionThe Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...
- models A, B and L - 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...
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
- C-131 SamaritanC-131 SamaritanThe Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...
- F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
- A-10 Warthog
- 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...
External links
- Idaho Air National Guard official website
- 124th history at GlobalSecurity.org