Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
Encyclopedia
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force
base, located at Niagara Falls International Airport
, New York. It is located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York
.
's 914th Airlift Wing
. The 328th Airlift Squadron
operates Lockheed C-130 Hercules
aircraft from the airfield. The New York Air National Guard
's 107th Airlift Wing (107 AW), shares the 914th AW's C-130 aircraft.
The AFRC units are under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 22d Air Force, headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base
, Georgia. Both wings are operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command
(AMC).
In addition, the United States Army Reserve
, and the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) encompassing all five branches of the U.S. are located on the station.
During World War II
Bell built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra
fighter aircraft at the airport, employing over 28,000 workers at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the experimental Bell X-1
plane used by famed pilot Chuck Yeager
to break the sound barrier in 1947.
The United States Army Air Forces
assumed jurisdiction of the airport during the war, with the 3522d Army Air Force Base Unit managing the airport and coordinating use of the airfield with Bell Aircraft. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150 (N/S), 4000x150 (NE/SW), 4200x300 (E/W), 4000x150 (NW/SE), including many taxiways and other improvements to handle large numbers of aircraft. Air Technical Service Command also operated an Aircraft modification center at the airport where new aircraft were given various updates prior to their deployment to operational bases and overseas combat theaters.
The installation was redesignated as a U.S. Naval Air Station in 1946, when further expansion and construction took place. Civilian aviation operations and jurisdiction of the airport was returned later that year, and a joint-use agreement was made with the United States Air Force
for Air Force Reserve and New York Air National Guard
use of a portion of the airport.
, and assigned the Continental Air Command
(ConAC) reserve 90th Reconnaissance Wing on 26 December 1946. The 26th Reconnaissance Group was activated on 23 October 1947, along with the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron
. Reservists were trained in global strategic reconnaissance, however it is undetermined if any aircraft were assigned. The units were deactivated on 27 June 1949 due to budget reductions.
The New York Air National Guard
107th Fighter Group was extended Federal Recognition on 8 December 1948. The unit was a re-designation of the World War II 339th Fighter Group
which was deactivated in October 1945 after service with Ninth Air Force
in the European Theater of Operations
. The 107th was initially equipped with P-47 Thunderbolt
s and was operationally gained by Tactical Air Command
, with some personnel being deployed to Far East Air Forces.
Air Defense Command (ADC) assumed jurisdiction of Niagara Falls and the Federalized 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The ANG squadron was placed under the 4708th Air Defense Wing
, which was stationed at Selfridge AFB, Michigan. In February of 1952, the Air Force branch of the base was re-established with the activation of the 76th Air Base Squadron, whose primary mission was to perform host support duties on the base. The mission of Niagara Falls Air Force base became the air defense of the northern Great Lakes
region, which it maintained until 1994. The 136th FIS was returned to state control, and ADC activated the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 December 1952 to replace the 136th. The 47th FIS initially used the F-47s of the 135th FIS.
With Niagara Falls remaining under ADC control, it activated the 518th Air Defense Group
at the base on 16 February 1953, being placed under the 4708th ADW. The 518th was re-designated as the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955 as a result of "Project Arrow", a program in which notable World War II combat units were reactivated by re-designation of current ADC units. The 47th FIS was upgraded to F-86F Sabre jets in February 1953, and to the purposely-designed F-86D in September. The ADC intercepts remained until 1 July 1960 when both the 15th FG and the 47th FIS were reassigned.
Niagara Falls ARS was transferred frequently within Air Defense Command. the 15th Fighter Group was transferred to the ADC 4711th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1955; again being transferred to the 4708th Air Defense Wing
on 1 March 1956; to the 30th Air Division on 8 July 1956; to the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
on 1 September 1958.
Upon their return from Korea, the 107th converted to F-51 Mustangs and was reassigned to Air Defense Command as a Fighter-Interceptor Wing, assuming an Air Defense mission. In January 1954, the 107th received its first jet aircraft, the F-94 Starfire. It was replaced, in turn, by the F-86 Saberjet in October, 1957, and the F-100C Super Sabre in August, 1960. In October, 1961, the 107th was again called to active duty, serving for eleven months during the Berlin Crisis.
The 47th FIS came under SAGE
Direction Center DC-03 control in August 1958, with its aircraft being modified to the F-86L configuration. The F-86L was capable of being automatically directed to targets by the SAGE computers, relying on the information fed by the Radar stations. In June 1959 the Sabers were replaced by the F-102 Delta Dagger
.
The Air Force Reserve 445th Fighter-Bomber Group was moved to Niagara Falls on 15 June 1955 from Buffalo Airport. The group was equipped with F-84 Thunderjet
s. The unit remained until 16 November 1957 when it was moved to Memphis Municipal Airport
, Tennessee.
The interceptor mission of ADC was fully turned over to the New York ANG at Niagara Falls in 1959. Also that year construction of the Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site
was begin, 5 miles east-northeast of the airport. It was used for the CIM-10 Bomarc surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles which were deployed in early 1960.
The missile site was under the control of the 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC), activated on 1 June 1960. The 15th Fighter Group was inactivated on 1 July, with the 35th ADMS being logistically and administratively supported by the ADC 4621st Air Base Group. The BOMARCs remained active throughout the 1960s, until their useful life ended in the late 1960s. They were inactivated in 1969, with the 35th ADMS being shut down on 31 December. The 4621st ABG was inactivated on 31 March 1970, the last active-duty ADC organization at Niagara Falls
On February 11, 1963, the active forces 512th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-119 Flying Boxcar
s, was redesignated the 914th Troop Carrier Group. Concurrently, it was assigned to the Air Force Reserve and located at Niagara Falls.
The 107th responded to their third activation in 17 years in January of 1968 to support national policy during the Pueblo Crisis. Six months later, approximately 400 members were deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base
, Republic of Viet Nam, performing combat duty for almost a year, being attached to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing. Additionally, numerous members were deployed to the Republic of Korea and various stateside locations in the same time frame.
1971 brought significant change to the Niagara Air Base. The 914th assumed command of the installation from active duty units, changing the status to an Air Reserve Base. The 914th also underwent a major conversion from the C-119 to C-130A Hercules aircraft. At the same time, the 107th underwent conversion to the F-101B/F Voodoo. Both units have continued to receive frontline aircraft. The 914th received C-130E aircraft in 1986, and was the first to convert to the Air Force's more advanced C-130, the H-3, in late 1992. The 107th received F-4C Phantoms, followed soon after by F-4Ds, and in 1990 by ADF-16 Fighting Falcons.
In October 1990, the 914th Airlift Group was called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm/Shield. More than 300 members spent seven months in the United Arab Emirates
flying resupply and other mission support sorties. Members of the 107th were also activated and filled numerous positions.
Both the 914 AW and 107 AW number in excess of 1,100 military personnel each (over 2,200 total) consisting of full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technicians (ART), as well as "traditional" part-time Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
personnel.
The New York Army National Guard
also maintains an Army Aviation Support Facility at the station in support of operational Army flying units, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing.
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...
base, located at Niagara Falls International Airport
Niagara Falls International Airport
-Traffic figures:Niagara Falls International received 56,943 passengers in 2008. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 660 passenger boardings in calendar year 2005 and 1,409 unscheduled enplanements in 2006....
, New York. It is located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
.
Overview
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is a joint-use facility with Niagara Falls International Airport. It is home to the Air Force Reserve CommandAir Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
's 914th Airlift Wing
914th Airlift Wing
The 914th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. The 914th Airlift Wing trains and equips reservists to perform the combat mission of aerial re-supply.-History:...
. The 328th Airlift Squadron
328th Airlift Squadron
The 328th Airlift Squadron is part of the 914th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls International Airport, New York. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
operates Lockheed C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The 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...
aircraft from the airfield. The New York Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
's 107th Airlift Wing (107 AW), shares the 914th AW's C-130 aircraft.
The AFRC units are under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 22d Air Force, headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Dobbins Air Reserve Base or Dobbins ARB is a United States air reserve base located in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb about northwest of Atlanta. It was named in honor of Captain Charles M. Dobbins, a World War II C-47 pilot who died near Sicily...
, Georgia. Both wings are operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC).
In addition, the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, and the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) encompassing all five branches of the U.S. are located on the station.
World War II
Niagara Falls International Airport was opened in 1928 as a city-owned municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways. The military history of the base and its varied units dates back to 1943, when initial structures for the Bell Aircraft Corporation aircraft manufacturing plant were erected next to the airport.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...
Bell built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra
P-63 Kingcobra
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies...
fighter aircraft at the airport, employing over 28,000 workers at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the experimental Bell X-1
Bell X-1
The Bell X-1, originally designated XS-1, was a joint NACA-U.S. Army/US Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived in 1944 and designed and built over 1945, it eventually reached nearly 1,000 mph in 1948...
plane used by famed pilot Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
to break the sound barrier in 1947.
The United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
assumed jurisdiction of the airport during the war, with the 3522d Army Air Force Base Unit managing the airport and coordinating use of the airfield with Bell Aircraft. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150 (N/S), 4000x150 (NE/SW), 4200x300 (E/W), 4000x150 (NW/SE), including many taxiways and other improvements to handle large numbers of aircraft. Air Technical Service Command also operated an Aircraft modification center at the airport where new aircraft were given various updates prior to their deployment to operational bases and overseas combat theaters.
The installation was redesignated as a U.S. Naval Air Station in 1946, when further expansion and construction took place. Civilian aviation operations and jurisdiction of the airport was returned later that year, and a joint-use agreement was made with 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...
for Air Force Reserve and New York Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
use of a portion of the airport.
Postwar era
The Air Force placed the station under First Air ForceFirst Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, and assigned the Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
(ConAC) reserve 90th Reconnaissance Wing on 26 December 1946. The 26th Reconnaissance Group was activated on 23 October 1947, along with the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron
4th Space Operations Squadron
The United States Air Force's 4th Space Operations Squadron is a satellite operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado...
. Reservists were trained in global strategic reconnaissance, however it is undetermined if any aircraft were assigned. The units were deactivated on 27 June 1949 due to budget reductions.
The New York Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
107th Fighter Group was extended Federal Recognition on 8 December 1948. The unit was a re-designation of the World War II 339th Fighter Group
339th Fighter Group
The 339th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 66th Fighter Wing, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 18 October 1945....
which was deactivated in October 1945 after service with Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
. The 107th was initially equipped with 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...
s and was operationally gained by Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical 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...
Air Defense
In March, 1951 the 107th was called to active duty due to 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...
, with some personnel being deployed to Far East Air Forces.
Air Defense Command (ADC) assumed jurisdiction of Niagara Falls and the Federalized 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The ANG squadron was placed under the 4708th Air Defense Wing
4708th Air Defense Wing
The 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
, which was stationed at Selfridge AFB, Michigan. In February of 1952, the Air Force branch of the base was re-established with the activation of the 76th Air Base Squadron, whose primary mission was to perform host support duties on the base. The mission of Niagara Falls Air Force base became the air defense of the northern Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region, which it maintained until 1994. The 136th FIS was returned to state control, and ADC activated the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 December 1952 to replace the 136th. The 47th FIS initially used the F-47s of the 135th FIS.
With Niagara Falls remaining under ADC control, it activated the 518th Air Defense Group
518th Air Defense Group
The 518th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York...
at the base on 16 February 1953, being placed under the 4708th ADW. The 518th was re-designated as the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955 as a result of "Project Arrow", a program in which notable World War II combat units were reactivated by re-designation of current ADC units. The 47th FIS was upgraded to F-86F Sabre jets in February 1953, and to the purposely-designed F-86D in September. The ADC intercepts remained until 1 July 1960 when both the 15th FG and the 47th FIS were reassigned.
Niagara Falls ARS was transferred frequently within Air Defense Command. the 15th Fighter Group was transferred to the ADC 4711th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1955; again being transferred to the 4708th Air Defense Wing
4708th Air Defense Wing
The 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
on 1 March 1956; to the 30th Air Division on 8 July 1956; to the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Syracuse Air Defense Sector
The Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
on 1 September 1958.
Upon their return from Korea, the 107th converted to F-51 Mustangs and was reassigned to Air Defense Command as a Fighter-Interceptor Wing, assuming an Air Defense mission. In January 1954, the 107th received its first jet aircraft, the F-94 Starfire. It was replaced, in turn, by the F-86 Saberjet in October, 1957, and the F-100C Super Sabre in August, 1960. In October, 1961, the 107th was again called to active duty, serving for eleven months during the Berlin Crisis.
The 47th FIS came under SAGE
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
Direction Center DC-03 control in August 1958, with its aircraft being modified to the F-86L configuration. The F-86L was capable of being automatically directed to targets by the SAGE computers, relying on the information fed by the Radar stations. In June 1959 the Sabers were replaced by the F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The 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...
.
The Air Force Reserve 445th Fighter-Bomber Group was moved to Niagara Falls on 15 June 1955 from Buffalo Airport. The group was equipped with F-84 Thunderjet
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
s. The unit remained until 16 November 1957 when it was moved to Memphis Municipal Airport
Memphis Municipal Airport
Memphis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public use airport located one nautical mile northeast of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Hall County, Texas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, Tennessee.
The interceptor mission of ADC was fully turned over to the New York ANG at Niagara Falls in 1959. Also that year construction of the Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site
Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site
Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site is a closed United States Air Force CIM-10 Bomarc missile site. It was located adjacent to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York. It was closed in 1969.-History:...
was begin, 5 miles east-northeast of the airport. It was used for the CIM-10 Bomarc surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles which were deployed in early 1960.
The missile site was under the control of the 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC), activated on 1 June 1960. The 15th Fighter Group was inactivated on 1 July, with the 35th ADMS being logistically and administratively supported by the ADC 4621st Air Base Group. The BOMARCs remained active throughout the 1960s, until their useful life ended in the late 1960s. They were inactivated in 1969, with the 35th ADMS being shut down on 31 December. The 4621st ABG was inactivated on 31 March 1970, the last active-duty ADC organization at Niagara Falls
On February 11, 1963, the active forces 512th Troop Carrier Group, equipped with C-119 Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
s, was redesignated the 914th Troop Carrier Group. Concurrently, it was assigned to the Air Force Reserve and located at Niagara Falls.
The 107th responded to their third activation in 17 years in January of 1968 to support national policy during the Pueblo Crisis. Six months later, approximately 400 members were deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base
Tuy Hoa Air Base
Tuy Hoa Air Base is a former air force base in Vietnam, being closed in 1970. It was built by the United States between 1965-1966 and was used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War in the II Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. It was seized by the Vietnam People's Army in April...
, Republic of Viet Nam, performing combat duty for almost a year, being attached to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing. Additionally, numerous members were deployed to the Republic of Korea and various stateside locations in the same time frame.
1971 brought significant change to the Niagara Air Base. The 914th assumed command of the installation from active duty units, changing the status to an Air Reserve Base. The 914th also underwent a major conversion from the C-119 to C-130A Hercules aircraft. At the same time, the 107th underwent conversion to the F-101B/F Voodoo. Both units have continued to receive frontline aircraft. The 914th received C-130E aircraft in 1986, and was the first to convert to the Air Force's more advanced C-130, the H-3, in late 1992. The 107th received F-4C Phantoms, followed soon after by F-4Ds, and in 1990 by ADF-16 Fighting Falcons.
In October 1990, the 914th Airlift Group was called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm/Shield. More than 300 members spent seven months in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
flying resupply and other mission support sorties. Members of the 107th were also activated and filled numerous positions.
Air Mobility Command
In 1992 the Pentagon changed the Air Guard's mission from flying fighter jets to flying tankers. That modification in mission brought with it a host of construction needs for the Niagara Air Reserve Station. The 107th's mission transitioned to aerial refueling in 1994. Following recommendations out of the Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC), the wing's mission was changed again to aerial transport in 2008. To reduce costs, the Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft are shared with the 914th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, also stationed at Niagara Falls.Both the 914 AW and 107 AW number in excess of 1,100 military personnel each (over 2,200 total) consisting of full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technicians (ART), as well as "traditional" part-time Air Force Reserve and 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...
personnel.
The New York Army National Guard
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army 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...
also maintains an Army Aviation Support Facility at the station in support of operational Army flying units, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing.
Major units assigned
- 90th Reconnaissance Wing, 1946–1949
- 26th Reconnaissance Group, 1946–1949
- 518th Air Defense Group, 1953
- Re-designated 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 1955–1960
- 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1952–1960
- 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron, 1960–1969
- 445th Fighter-Bomber Group, 1955–1957
- 914th Troop Carrier Group, 1963–Present
- 107th Group (later Wing) (various designations), 1948–Present
- 277th Quartermaster Company (USAR), 2011-Present
Aircraft assigned
- F-47 Thunderbolt, 1948–1952
- F-51 Mustang, 1952–1954
- 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...
, 1953–1960 - 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:...
, 1954–1957 - 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...
, 1959–1960 - F-100 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...
, 1960–1970
- C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, 1963–1971 - F-101 VoodooF-101 VoodooThe McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
, 1971–1982 - 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,...
, 1982–1990 - F-16 Fighting FalconF-16 Fighting FalconThe General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
, 1990–1994 - 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...
, 1994–2008 - 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...
, 1971–Present
See also
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...
- New York World War II Army AirfieldsNew York World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in New York for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
External links
- Niagara Falls Joint Air Reserve Station at Niagara Military Affairs Council website
- Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Official Air Force Reserves website