New Hampshire Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The New Hampshire Air National Guard is the air force
militia
of the U.S. state
of New Hampshire
. It is, along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard
, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
, as well as its state mission.
and the 133rd Air Refueling Squadron
flying the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is based at Pease Air National Guard Base
.
The 64th Air Refueling Squadron
is a part of the 22nd Operations Group, McConnell Air Force Base
, but is operationally assigned to the 157th Air Refueling Wing. The partnership was formed as part of the Active Associate concept where Active Duty Airmen are assigned to an Air National Guard unit.
, the New Hampshire Air National Guard was acitvated in 1946. Its first mission was as a Fighter Squadron based at Grenier Field, at the present-day Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
. During the Korean War
, NH Air Guard was activated to train USAF pilots. Some of the airmen were reassigned to other bases around the world and a few flew combat missions in Korea. In 1960, the mission of the NH Air National Guard changed to air transport in time for their participation in the Berlin Crisis of 1961
. This is also when they received their present 157th designation.
In the mid-1960's, the 157th moved to Pease Air Force Base
, from which they also began flying logistical support to U.S. troops in Vietnam
. In 1974, the NH Air National Guard received its current mission as in-flight refuelers.
Within hours of the September 11 attacks in 2001, the NH Air Guard began refueling the fighter jets that patrolled the airspace over major U.S. cities. The 157th was later deployed overseas in support of the War on terror
.
The NH National Guard responded to Operation Iraqi Freedom in what was the largest call up of New Hampshire troops since World War II. Over half of New Hampshire's soldiers and airmen served overseas, conducting various security and infantry missions, providing medical care, building schools, and fostering international relations. The 157th refueled planes further forward in the conflict than at any other time in their history.
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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. It is, along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard
New Hampshire Army National Guard
New Hampshire Army National Guard was created in 1680 by New Hampshire governor John Cutt.- History :* During World War II the New Hampshire Army National Guardsmen fought in the European and Pacific theaters....
, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard
New Hampshire National Guard
The New Hampshire National Guard is a component of the New Hampshire Adjutant General's Department. It consists of the:*New Hampshire Army National Guard*New Hampshire Air National Guard*157th Air Refueling Wing-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.
Units
The New Hampshire Air National Guard consists of the 157th Air Refueling Wing157th Air Refueling Wing
The United States Air Force's 157th Air Refueling Wing is an aerial refueling unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard located at Pease ANGB, New Hampshire...
and the 133rd Air Refueling Squadron
133rd Air Refueling Squadron
The 133d Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 157th Air Refueling Wing.-Mission:...
flying the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is based at Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Formerly, the base was open as Pease Air Force Base until it was closed in 1991. Before it was closed, it was under the control of the United States Air Force's Strategic...
.
The 64th Air Refueling Squadron
64th Air Refueling Squadron
The 64th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force air-refueling squadron that is part of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing's 22nd Operations Group at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas...
is a part of the 22nd Operations Group, McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both Air Force pilots and World War II...
, but is operationally assigned to the 157th Air Refueling Wing. The partnership was formed as part of the Active Associate concept where Active Duty Airmen are assigned to an Air National Guard unit.
History
After the end of World War IIWorld 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...
, the New Hampshire Air National Guard was acitvated in 1946. Its first mission was as a Fighter Squadron based at Grenier Field, at the present-day Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport , commonly referred to simply as "Manchester Airport," is a public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Manchester, New Hampshire on the county line of Hillsborough and Rockingham counties...
. 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...
, NH Air Guard was activated to train USAF pilots. Some of the airmen were reassigned to other bases around the world and a few flew combat missions in Korea. In 1960, the mission of the NH Air National Guard changed to air transport in time for their participation in the Berlin Crisis of 1961
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...
. This is also when they received their present 157th designation.
In the mid-1960's, the 157th moved to Pease Air Force Base
Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Formerly, the base was open as Pease Air Force Base until it was closed in 1991. Before it was closed, it was under the control of the United States Air Force's Strategic...
, from which they also began flying logistical support to U.S. troops in Vietnam
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...
. In 1974, the NH Air National Guard received its current mission as in-flight refuelers.
Within hours of the September 11 attacks in 2001, the NH Air Guard began refueling the fighter jets that patrolled the airspace over major U.S. cities. The 157th was later deployed overseas in support of the War on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
The NH National Guard responded to Operation Iraqi Freedom in what was the largest call up of New Hampshire troops since World War II. Over half of New Hampshire's soldiers and airmen served overseas, conducting various security and infantry missions, providing medical care, building schools, and fostering international relations. The 157th refueled planes further forward in the conflict than at any other time in their history.