Truax Air National Guard Base
Encyclopedia
- For the civil use of this facility, see Dane County Regional AirportDane County Regional Airport-Statistics:-External links:* Dane County Regional Airport: * Wisconsin Airport Directory: * * - Listen live to Madison's Air Traffic Control...
Truax Field Air National Guard Base (also known as Truax Field), is a 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...
base, located at Dane County Regional Airport
Dane County Regional Airport
-Statistics:-External links:* Dane County Regional Airport: * Wisconsin Airport Directory: * * - Listen live to Madison's Air Traffic Control...
, Wisconsin. It is located 5.7 miles (9.2 km) northeast of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
.
Units
Truax Field ANGB is the home of the Wisconsin Air National GuardWisconsin Air National Guard
The Wisconsin Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard...
115th Fighter Wing
115th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 115th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Truax Field, Wisconsin.-Mission:The 115th Fighter Wing provides multi-role fighter support including air-to-air, close air support and precision guided bombing...
(115 FW), equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The 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...
. It is operationally-gained by 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 ....
(ACC). In addition, Wisconsin Army National Guard units are stationed at the base.
History
Truax Field was named in honor of Wisconsin-native Lieutenant Thomas L. Truax, who was killed in a P-40 training accident in November 1941World War II
Originally known as "Madison Army Airfield", Truax Field was activated as an Army Air Forces airfield in June 1942 during 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...
. During the war it was used by the Army Air Force Eastern Technical Training Center, a major school operating at Truax AAF for training radio operators and mechanics, and later expanded to training in radar operations, control tower operations and other communications fields for the Army Airways Communication Service. A special unit established in 1943 trained radio operators and mechanics on B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
communications equipment. The host unit on the airfield was the 334th (later 3508th) Army Air Force Base Unit. On September 17, 1945, the airfield's mission was changed to that of a separation center, and it was closed as an active AAF airfield on November 30, 1945.
Air Defense Command
Truax Field was reactivated by the United States Air ForceUnited 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...
on 1 February 1951 using a right of return due to 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...
. Federalized Wisconsin Air National Guard
Wisconsin Air National Guard
The Wisconsin Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard...
units were assigned to the base, placed under the jurisdiction of Air Defense Command (ADC) on 15 February 1951.
Fighter defense
Initial USAF units assigned to Truax Field were the 128th Air Base Group, activated on 10 February 1951 to prepare the base for use, then the 128th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 16 February with its operational 128th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 16 February. The F-51D Mustang-equipped 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was also activated at Truax that date. A second squadron, the 128th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron came on active duty on 10 April with F-80A Shooting Stars, being reassigned from General Mitchell Field near Milwaukee. These federalized ANG units were placed under the operational control of the ADC Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense Force
The Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
(CADF).
During the tenure of the federalized Air National Guard units, Truax Field underwent a major improvement project to upgrade its 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...
facilities and airfield to a permanent Air Force installation. A jet runway was constructed, along with permanent concrete block structures to replace the temporary World War II buildings on the station.
The ADC 31st Air Division at Snelling AFS, Minnesota took control of Truax Field on 6 February 1952 from the CADF when the 128th FIW was returned to Wisconsin state control. The operational interceptor squadrons were relieved from active duty in November and December 1952 with the ADC 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 475th Fighter Group stationed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on January 2, 1958.-History:Combat in Southwest...
replacing the guardsmen. In February 1953, the 520th Air Defense Group was activated at Truax Field to assume control over the interceptor squadrons, relieving the 31st AD. The 433d FIS was transferred to the Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
on 20 July 1954, being replaced on 8 August by the 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command San Francisco Air Defense Sector stationed at Oxnard AFB, California. It was inactivated on July 18, 1968.-History:...
. By this time both the 432d and 456th FIS were flying the F-86D Sabre interceptor.
On 18 August 1955, the ADC "Project Arrow" project re-designated the 520th ADG to become the 327th Fighter Group
327th Fighter Group
The 327th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
(Air Defense). This project re-activated notable World War II combat units by re-designating postwar units. Under the 327th FG, the operational squadrons were also re-designated, the 432d FIS becoming the 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960-History:...
; the 456th FIS becoming the 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Air Defense Command, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin. The squadron was inactivated on June 25, 1966.-History:...
.
On 8 September 1955, the 37th Air Division was activated at Truax Field, taking command of the 327th FG. In addition to command of the interceptor units, the 37th AD operated a Manual Direction and Control Center (MDCC) for ADC interceptor units within its assigned area of parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. In December 1956, the 37th AD formed and activated the 639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, a radar squadron which it reassigned to Lowther Air Station
CFS Lowther
Canadian Forces Station Lowther is a closed General Surveillance Radar station. It is located east-southeast of Mattice-Val Côté, Ontario...
, Ontario as part of the Pinetree Line
Pinetree Line
The Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
. The Division also began supervision of the construction of a SAGE radar Direction and Combat Center, programmed for activation in 1958.
The 323d FIS was transferred to Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland on 1 October 1957. It was replaced by the 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. During the fall of 1957, the F-86Ds of the 327th Fighter Group were replaced by ADC with the new F-102A Delta Dagger interceptors. In 1960, budget reductions forced the inactivation of the 61st FIS, it's F-102s being reassigned to other interceptor squadrons.
SAGE Direction and Combat Center
In 1958 a Semi Automatic Ground EnvironmentSemi 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...
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-07) and Combat Center (CC-02) was established at Truax Field, located about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) 43°07′36"N 089°20′06"W south of the ADC interceptor parking ramp.
The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for Air Defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack. This automated control system was used by NORAD for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft. In the later versions the system could automatically direct aircraft to an interception by sending instructions directly to the aircraft's autopilot.
Command and Control of DC-07/CC-02 was initially under the Chicago Air Defense Sector
Chicago Air Defense Sector
The Chicago Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
(CHADS) which was activated under the 37d AD on 8 March 1957. CADS provided for the air defense of Illinois; Indiana; most of Iowa and northern Missouri. On 1 April 1959, the 30th Air Division replaced the 37th AD in an ADC realignment. The SAGE building held had two separate computers, the second serving as a "hot standby" in case the active computer failed. With this backup, availability was an unprecedented 99.6%, when many other computers from that era would fail every few hours.
The CHADS was inactivated 1 April 1966 and operation of the SAGE complex was taken over by the 20th Air Division, which was essentially a re designation of CADS. By 1967 the cost of operating the complex was extremely high and technology advances allowed the Air Force to shut down many SAGE Data Centers. DC-07/CC-02 was inactivated on 31 December.
Realignment
By the late 1960s, the need for air defense against manned aircraft was diminishing with the perceived less threat of an aircraft attack by the Soviet Union. The 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was inactivated on 25 June 1966, it's F-102s being sent to Air National Guard units at other bases. The SAGE DC-07/CC-02 blockhouse of the CHADS was inactivated on 31 December 1967 along with the 20th Air Division which was reassigned to Fort Lee AFS, Virginia.Air Defense Command turned jurisdiction of most of Truax Field to the Wisconsin Air National Guard on 1 January 1968, a small weather detachment from the Air Weather Service (4th Weather Wing OL-4, Det 8), remained at the field until 31 January 1970 when it also was inactivated. Truax Field has operated as a joint military/civil airport ever since.
ADC units assigned
- 20th Air Division, 1 April 1966-31 December 1967
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
- 37th Air Division, 8 September 1955-1 April 1959
- Chicago Air Defense SectorChicago Air Defense SectorThe Chicago Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
, 8 March 1957-1 April 1966
- 128th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Federalized Wisconsin ANG), 16 February 1951-6 February 1952
- 128th Air Base Group, 10 February 1951-6 February 1952
- 128th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 16 February 1951-6 February 1952
- 520th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953
- Re-designated: 327th Fighter Group327th Fighter GroupThe 327th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
(Air Defense), 18 August 1955-25 June 1966
- 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 November 1957-25 July 1960 (F-86D, F-102)
- 128th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 10 April 1951-1 December 1952 (F-80A, F-86F)
- 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1951-1 November 1952 (F-51D)
- 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron323d Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960-History:...
, 18 August 1955-1 October 1957 (F-86D) - 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron325th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Air Defense Command, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin. The squadron was inactivated on June 25, 1966.-History:...
, 18 August 1955-25 June 1966 (F-86D, F-102) - 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron432d Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 475th Fighter Group stationed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on January 2, 1958.-History:Combat in Southwest...
, 1 December 1952-18 August 1955 (F-86F) - 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 November 1952-20 July 1954 (F-89C)
- 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron456th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command San Francisco Air Defense Sector stationed at Oxnard AFB, California. It was inactivated on July 18, 1968.-History:...
, 8 August 1954-18 August 1955 (F-86D)
- 639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 December 1956-1 July 1957
Modern era
Today, Truax Field ANGB remains the home installation of the 115th Fighter Wing115th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 115th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Truax Field, Wisconsin.-Mission:The 115th Fighter Wing provides multi-role fighter support including air-to-air, close air support and precision guided bombing...
(115 FW), an 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...
unit operationally gained by 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 ....
(ACC), flying the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter aircraft. The 115 FW has two distinct missions. The Federal mission under Title 10 USC is to staff and train flying and support units to augment 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 ....
general purpose fighter forces to effectively and rapidly project F-16 combat power anywhere in the world to perform wartime or peacetime missions as well as operations other than war. The 115 FW maintains mobilization readiness as part of the Air Reserve Component (ARC) and conducts training in support of Total Force capabilities as directed by the gaining command (i.e., ACC). The State mission under Title 32 USC is to provide trained and equipped units to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order, and public safety as directed by the Governor of Wisconsin.
See also
- Wisconsin World War II Army AirfieldsWisconsin World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Wisconsin for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations