175th Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 175th Wing (175 WG) is a composite fighter and tactical airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base at the Martin State Airport
in Middle River, Maryland
. It is unique among Air National Guard
units in that the 175 WG has three active USAF gaining commands: the Air Combat Command
for its fighter aircraft, the Air Mobility Command
for its airlift aircraft, and United States Air Forces in Europe
for its 235th Civil Engineer Flight.
The wing comprises two flying units, the 104th Fighter Squadron and the 135th Airlift Group, as well as support units including security forces, engineers, communications, logistics, aerial port and administrative support functions. Approximately 1,500 full-time and traditional part-time members of the Maryland Air National Guard
are assigned to the 175 WG.
Federal: In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings and to augment active military forces. In wartime, provides close air support and tactical airlift capability to meet the needs of combatant commanders worldwide.
State: Provides assistance to state authorities during natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emergencies at the call of the governor and provides combat and support forces for homeland defense.
. From 1962 until 1996, Maryland had two flying groups: the 135th Airlift Group
and the 175th Fighter Group. In 1996, the 175th was reorganized as a composite wing and 135th was inactivated, with its flying squadron reassigned to the new 175th Wing. At this time, support units previously assigned to the 135th were inactivated and their personnel transferred to equivalent units within the 175th. Subsequently, the 135th Airlift Group was reactivated and assigned to the 175th Wing as a subordinate group, with separate operations and maintenance units.
The 175th Wing has never been deployed in combat, although some of its subordinate units have been. The wing's only periods of federal active service were in 1968, when the 175th Tactical Fighter Group, its lineal ancestor, was mobilized on two separate occasions. The first federal call-up was in April 1968, when the 175th, along with the rest of the Maryland National Guard, was federalized during the Baltimore Riot
. The Maryland National Guard had already been on state active duty performing riot control duty, but was federalized to preserve unity of command when federal troops were sent into the city. The second mobilization took place from May to December 1968, when the 175th was called up in response to the USS Pueblo
crisis in Korea. The operations and maintenance elements, along with portions of the group headquarters, were stationed at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, where they trained active Air Force pilots in forward air controller duties. The unit did not deploy overseas.
Security Council Resolutions that created a "No Fly Zone" for Iraqi military aircraft over southern Iraq in the wake of Operation DESERT STORM. These included the 104th Fighter Squadron
, which conducted several retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq, and personnel and aircraft of the 135th Airlift Group, which were assigned to the 4410th Airlift Squadron (Provisional) while in theater.
The 175th Wing is fully integrated into the Air Force's Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (AEF) operational construct. Since 11 Sep 2001, the wing has deployed both A-10 and C-130 aircraft to Bagram Air Base
, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, A-10 aircraft and to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and C-130 aircraft to Al Udeid Air Base
, Qatar, in support of both missions.
The 175th Wing has played an active role in U.S. Air Force aircraft modernization programs. It was one of the first units to received the advanced C-130J tactical airlifter, and was the U.S. Air Force's first unit to fully convert to the new version of the C-130 in 1999. It played a major role in the operational testing, evaluation, and development of the aircraft. It was also the first U.S. Air Force unit to upgrade to the precision engagement A-10C, receiving its first A-10C in October 2006 and achieving initial operational capability (IOC) with the A-10C in September 2007. It was also the first unit to deploy the A-10C in combat when it deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in 2007.
Background: Approved by Air Force on 23 August 1996. This insignia superseded one previously approved by the Air Force for the 175th Fighter Group following that unit's redesignation as the 175th 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...
's 175th Wing (175 WG) is a composite fighter and tactical airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base at the Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport is a public use airport located nine nautical miles east of the central business district of Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States...
in Middle River, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It is unique among 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...
units in that the 175 WG has three active USAF gaining commands: 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 ....
for its fighter aircraft, 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....
for its airlift aircraft, and United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
for its 235th Civil Engineer Flight.
The wing comprises two flying units, the 104th Fighter Squadron and the 135th Airlift Group, as well as support units including security forces, engineers, communications, logistics, aerial port and administrative support functions. Approximately 1,500 full-time and traditional part-time members of the Maryland Air National Guard
Maryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
are assigned to the 175 WG.
Mission
The 175th Wing has both federal and state missions.Federal: In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings and to augment active military forces. In wartime, provides close air support and tactical airlift capability to meet the needs of combatant commanders worldwide.
State: Provides assistance to state authorities during natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emergencies at the call of the governor and provides combat and support forces for homeland defense.
History
The 175th Wing (175 WG) was organized in 1962 as the 175th Fighter Group. At the time of its organization, it was the second group-sized headquarters in the Maryland Air National GuardMaryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
. From 1962 until 1996, Maryland had two flying groups: the 135th Airlift Group
135th Airlift Group
The United States Air Force's 135th Airlift Group is an airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base on the north side of the Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland.-Mission:...
and the 175th Fighter Group. In 1996, the 175th was reorganized as a composite wing and 135th was inactivated, with its flying squadron reassigned to the new 175th Wing. At this time, support units previously assigned to the 135th were inactivated and their personnel transferred to equivalent units within the 175th. Subsequently, the 135th Airlift Group was reactivated and assigned to the 175th Wing as a subordinate group, with separate operations and maintenance units.
The 175th Wing has never been deployed in combat, although some of its subordinate units have been. The wing's only periods of federal active service were in 1968, when the 175th Tactical Fighter Group, its lineal ancestor, was mobilized on two separate occasions. The first federal call-up was in April 1968, when the 175th, along with the rest of the Maryland National Guard, was federalized during the Baltimore Riot
Baltimore riot of 1968
The Baltimore Riot of 1968 began two days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Rioting broke out in 125 cities across the United States, and spread to the city of Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, April 6. The Governor of Maryland, Spiro T...
. The Maryland National Guard had already been on state active duty performing riot control duty, but was federalized to preserve unity of command when federal troops were sent into the city. The second mobilization took place from May to December 1968, when the 175th was called up in response to the USS Pueblo
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President...
crisis in Korea. The operations and maintenance elements, along with portions of the group headquarters, were stationed at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, where they trained active Air Force pilots in forward air controller duties. The unit did not deploy overseas.
Recent Operations
Prior to 11 Sep 2001, the squadrons assigned to the wing made multiple deployments to Kuwait in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, enforcing the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolutions that created a "No Fly Zone" for Iraqi military aircraft over southern Iraq in the wake of Operation DESERT STORM. These included the 104th Fighter Squadron
104th Fighter Squadron
The 104th Fighter Squadron is an attack squadron equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 175th Wing.-Mission:...
, which conducted several retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq, and personnel and aircraft of the 135th Airlift Group, which were assigned to the 4410th Airlift Squadron (Provisional) while in theater.
The 175th Wing is fully integrated into the Air Force's Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (AEF) operational construct. Since 11 Sep 2001, the wing has deployed both A-10 and C-130 aircraft to Bagram Air Base
Bagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, A-10 aircraft and to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and C-130 aircraft to Al Udeid Air Base
Al Udeid Air Base
Al Udeid Air Base is a military base west of Doha, Qatar. It houses foreign coalition personnel and assets. It is host to a forward headquarters of United States Central Command, headquarters of United States Air Forces Central Command, and home to both No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF and the...
, Qatar, in support of both missions.
The 175th Wing has played an active role in U.S. Air Force aircraft modernization programs. It was one of the first units to received the advanced C-130J tactical airlifter, and was the U.S. Air Force's first unit to fully convert to the new version of the C-130 in 1999. It played a major role in the operational testing, evaluation, and development of the aircraft. It was also the first U.S. Air Force unit to upgrade to the precision engagement A-10C, receiving its first A-10C in October 2006 and achieving initial operational capability (IOC) with the A-10C in September 2007. It was also the first unit to deploy the A-10C in combat when it deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in 2007.
Heraldry
Symbolism: Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force Operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The crossbow symbolizes the fighter mission and the Pegasus denotes the airlift mission. The representation of the Maryland state flag reflects the consolidation of these two missions within the wing and also indicates the unit's home location.Background: Approved by Air Force on 23 August 1996. This insignia superseded one previously approved by the Air Force for the 175th Fighter Group following that unit's redesignation as the 175th Wing.
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 Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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 ....
(1992–Present) for fighter assets - 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 Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1999–Present) for airlift assets - 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...
/United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(1996–Present) for 235th Civil Engineer Flight - 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...
(1962–1992) for fighter assets - 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 Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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 ....
(1996–1999) for airlift assets (prior to 1996, airlift assets were not part of the 175th)
Subordinate units
- 135th Airlift Group135th Airlift GroupThe United States Air Force's 135th Airlift Group is an airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base on the north side of the Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland.-Mission:...
- 135th Airlift Squadron135th Airlift SquadronThe 135th Airlift Squadron is one of two flying units of the Maryland Air National Guard. It is based at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, Maryland. Its parent unit is the 135th Airlift Group...
(1996–Present) - 135th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 135th Maintenance Operations Flight
- 135th Maintenance Squadron
- 135th Operations Support Flight
- 135th Airlift Squadron
- 175th Operations Group
- 104th Fighter Squadron104th Fighter SquadronThe 104th Fighter Squadron is an attack squadron equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 175th Wing.-Mission:...
(1962–Present) - 175th Operations Support Flight
- 104th Fighter Squadron
- 175th Maintenance Group
- 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 175th Maintenance Operations Flight
- 175th Maintenance Squadron
- 175th Medical Group
- 175th Mission Support Group
- 175th Security Forces Squadron
- 175th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 175th Force Support Squadron
- 175th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 175th Communications Squadron
- 175th Student Flight
- 175th Network Warfare Squadron
- 235th Civil Engineer Flight
- 175th Comptroller Flight
Bases stationed
- Warfield Air National Guard Base (Martin State AirportMartin State AirportMartin State Airport is a public use airport located nine nautical miles east of the central business district of Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States...
), MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(1962–Present)
Aircraft operated
- 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...
(1962-1970) - A-37 DragonflyA-37 DragonflyThe Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is a United States light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer in the 1960s and 1970s...
(1970-1979) - 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...
(1996–2011) - A-10 Thunderbolt IIA-10 Thunderbolt IIThe 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,...
(1979–Present) - C-27 Spartan (2011-Present)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1999-2001
- 1998-1999
- 1996
- 1992-1994
- 2006-2007
- 2007-2009