Minnesota Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Minnesota Air National Guard is the air force
militia
of the U.S. state
of Minnesota
. It is, along with the Minnesota Army National Guard
, an element of the Minnesota National Guard
.
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 state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law
when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control.
The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President
or Congress
.
, Minnesota National Guard, passing muster inspection on 17 January 1921. This unit was, however, assigned to the (Army) National Guard, as the Air National Guard was not formed in the U.S. before 1946. The 109th Observation Squadron was send to Europe, initially flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
, and later reconnaissance missions with the North American F-6 Mustang.
During the Korean War
Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
In the 1950s and early 1960 both units of the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
in Duluth and 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
in St. Paul were providing active air defense commitments with 24 hour alert status. Threats by the Soviet Union
to oust Western troops from West Berlin in 1961 prompted the Berlin Crisis
and a call-up of selected National Guard forces throughout the U.S. Included in this mobilization were members of the 133rd Air Transport Wing, who served in federal active service for 11 months while operating out of their home station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
During the Vietnam War
, although never officially mobilized, the Air Guard flew hundreds of supply and transport missions to Southeast Asia.
The Minnesota Air National Guard was also activated in the Global War On Terror since 11 September 2001. Immediately after the attack on New York City
and Washington, D.C.
, F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing were providing combat air patrols
over key locations. The 133rd Airlift wing also provided airlift in Afghanistan
.
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 Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. It is, along with the Minnesota Army National Guard
Minnesota Army National Guard
The Minnesota Army National Guard, along with the Minnesota Air National Guard, is an element of the Minnesota National Guard. 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...
, an element of the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
.
Mission
The Constitution of the United StatesUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control.
The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
or Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Units
The Minnesota Air National Guard has two primary units:- the 148th Fighter Wing148th Fighter WingThe 148th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Minnesota National Guard based at Duluth International Airport. It falls under 1st Air Force and Air Combat Command...
, based at Duluth International AirportDuluth International AirportDuluth International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Duluth, a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. It serves the Duluth-Superior area including Superior, Wisconsin...
; and - the 133d Airlift Wing133d Airlift WingThe 133d Airlift Wing is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard and Minnesota National Guard, part of the United States Air Force. It's located at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota. Operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command , the 133 AW flies the C-130 H3...
, based at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
History
The first National Guard flying unit in the nation was the 109th Observation Squadron109th Airlift Squadron
The 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
, Minnesota National Guard, passing muster inspection on 17 January 1921. This unit was, however, assigned to the (Army) National Guard, as the Air National Guard was not formed in the U.S. before 1946. The 109th Observation Squadron was send to Europe, initially flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, and later reconnaissance missions with the North American F-6 Mustang.
During the Korean War
Korean 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...
Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
In the 1950s and early 1960 both units of the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
179th Fighter Squadron
The 179th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 148th Fighter Wing.-Lineage:...
in Duluth and 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
109th Airlift Squadron
The 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
in St. Paul were providing active air defense commitments with 24 hour alert status. Threats by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to oust Western troops from West Berlin in 1961 prompted the Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
and a call-up of selected National Guard forces throughout the U.S. Included in this mobilization were members of the 133rd Air Transport Wing, who served in federal active service for 11 months while operating out of their home station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam 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...
, although never officially mobilized, the Air Guard flew hundreds of supply and transport missions to Southeast Asia.
The Minnesota Air National Guard was also activated in the Global War On Terror since 11 September 2001. Immediately after the attack on New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing were providing combat air patrols
Combat air patrol
Combat air patrol is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft.A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile...
over key locations. The 133rd Airlift wing also provided airlift in Afghanistan
War 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...
.