Tennessee Air National Guard

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Tennessee Air National Guard


caption= Insignia of the Tennessee Air National Guard
dates= 1921 (Aviation Section of Tennessee National Guard Established)
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= Air National Guard
type=
role= "To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
size=
command_structure= Tennessee Military Department
Department of Defense
garrison= Berry Field Air National Guard Base
garrison_label= Headquarters
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march= The Air Force Song
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1= President George W. Bush
"(Commander-in-Chief)"
Michael Wynne
"(Secretary of the Air Force)"
Governor Phil Bredesen
""'(Governor of the State of Tennessee)
commander1_label= Civilian leadership
commander2= Major General Gus L. Hargett
"(Adjutant General, Tennessee Military Department)"
Major General Wiliam R. Cotney
"(Assistant Adjutant General, Air, Tennessee Military Department)"
commander2_label= State military leadership
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label= USAF Roundel
aircraft_attack=
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_Command_and_Control=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_transport=C-5, C-130, KC-135 Stratotanker
aircraft_tanker=KC-135 StratotankerThe Tennessee Air National Guard consists of three wings and four geographically separated units of the United States Air Force (USAF).

The Tennessee Air National Guard falls under the chain of command of the United States Air Force and the Adjutant General of the Tennessee Military Department. [ [http://www.tnmilitary.org Tennessee Military Dept.] Accessed 22 Sep 07.]

It is the responsibility of the Air National Guard to serve as the air branch of the greater Tennessee National Guard as a separate entity from the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Units

118th Airlift Wing

The 118th Airlift Wing (AW) is based out of Berry Field Air National Guard Base at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The 118th's history goes back to the 1920s when veteran fliers of the First World War organized their own unit of the Tennessee National Guard. In 1921, the unit received official federal status as the 136th Air Observation Squadron, making it the first air unit of the Tennessee National Guard, as well as one of the oldest currently operational National Guard aviation units, the first being established only six years earlier in 1915. [ [http://www.ang.af.mil/history/Heritage/MexicanBorderCrisis.asp ANG History Program] Accessed 22 Sep 07.] The 136th was initially issued 4 Curtiss JN-6 and one DeHavilland DH-4 aircraft.

By 1938 the squadron had moved to its present location at Berry Field, what would become known as Nashville International Airport. By World War 2, the unit had changed names to the 105th Observation squadron, and its pilots would provide their experience flying many different types of aircraft in dozens of units throughout the war. By the 1950s, the unit has reorganized as the 118th Composite Wing with headquarters at Berry Field.

in 1993.

In 2005 a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee recommended to the Department of Defense to redistribute the C-130H aircraft to the Illinois Air National Guard and the Kentucky Air National Guard. The fire fighting and aerial port units would move to Memphis, Tennessee and the Aeromedical Squadron would be transferred to Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth, and all other units would remain in Nashville. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/118aw.htm GlobalSecurity.org - 118th Air Wing] Accessed 22 Sep 07.]

134th Air Refueling Wing

The 134th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) [ [http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/ TennANG 134th Air Refueling Wing] Official Site. Accessed 22 Sep 07.] is based out of McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base at Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport. In 1952, the 164ths home base, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base was established as Mcghee Tyson Air Force Base in order to protect vital strategic assets in the Knoxville area, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Alcoa aluminum plants in neighboring Alcoa, TN, and the system of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dams and power production facilities in the region. [ [http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/ McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base] Official Site. Accessed 22 Sep 07. ]

A aircraft.

Unlike the 118th Airlift Wing, the 134th ARW was positively affected by the BRAC commission. The unit was granted by the Air Force on the recommendation of the BRAC commission a total of 12 newer KC-135R aircraft and the retiring of the 8 older KC-135E currently operated by the wing. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/134arw.htm GlobalSecurity.org - 134th Air Refueling Wing] Accessed 22 Sep 07. ]

572nd Band

The 572nd Band was formed in 1973 in order to support the operations of the Professional Military Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. It has grown into the band of the Tennessee Air National Guard and is known as the "Air National Guard (ANG) Band of the Smokies." Its parent unit is the 134th Air Refueling Wing. [ [http://www.572tangband.org/history.htm TennANG 572nd Band] Accessed 22 Sep 07.]

164th Airlift Wing

The 164th Airlift Wing began life in 1946 as the 155th FS flying F-51 Mustang piston engine fighters. By 1961 the unit was flying C-97 cargo aircraft in vital support missions in conflicts all over the world, a mission that the 164th continues today. In 1967, the 164th completed its final flight of a C-124 and switched to the more modern C-130 turboprop cargo aircraft. All C-130As were retired in 1992, and the 164th was given newer C-141 aircraft. The 164th was one of the last units to operate the venerable C-141, using it until it was finally retired in 2004 and replaced with the massive C-5A.

The 164th is based out of Memphis International Airport in Memphis, Tennessee. [ [http://www.tnmemp.ang.af.mil/ TennANG 164th Airlift Wing] Official Site. Accessed 22 Sep 07.]

Geographically Separated Units

*119th Combat Air Control Squadron - McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee
*228th Combat Communications Squadron - McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee
*241st Engineering Squadron - Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, Chattanooga, Tennessee

References

External links

;Official sites
* [http://www.tnmilitary.org/tngweb/ang.htm Tennessee Air National Guard]

;Unofficial sites
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/118aw.htm GlobalSecurity.org: 118th AW]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/134arw.htm GlobalSecurity.org: 134th ARW]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/164aw.htm GlobalSecurity.org: 164th AW]