113th Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 113th Wing


caption= 113th Wing emblem
dates= 1946-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force/Air National Guard
type= Composite Unit
role= Air Combat
size=1,400
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison= Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
ceremonial_chief=
nickname="Capital Guardians"
motto= Custodes Pro Defensione - "Guardians for Defense"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 113th Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The Wing is the only Air National Guard unit that resides in a state other than its base (113th Wg resides in Maryland, yet is operated by the District of Columbia).

Mission

The 113th's primary mission is training of air combat and operational airlift crews for national defense. The 113th also provides a ready response force of fighters for the defense of the District of Columbia area 24/7. Members of the 113th also assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking in the District of Columbia on a case by case basis.

History

Andrews has been the home of the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard units since 1946. Wing members were called to active duty in the Korean War, the and the 1961 Berlin crisis and several other times. Over the years, the 113th has flown nine different fighter aircraft, including the F-100 Super Sabre deployment to Europe in 1964 and combat deployment to Vietnam in 1968. The most recent deployment was for Operation Iraqi Freedom both in 2003 and in 2006.

The wing flew the F-105 Thunderchief for 10 years before converting to the F-4 Phantom II fighter in 1981. The 113th now flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon and only recently the 201st began flying the C-21 Learjet and C-22 Boeing 727, as a result of the DCANG unit reorganization when the 201st Airlift Squadron became part of the wing in October 1995.

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, the DoD recommended that Cannon Air Force Base, NM be closed. As a result, it would distribute the 27th Fighter Wing’s F-16s to the 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, MD (nine aircraft) and several other installations. The committee claimed that this move would sustain the active/Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve force mix by replacing aircraft that retire in the 2025 Force Structure Plan. However, the base was temporarily removed from closure August 26, 2005, pending review of new mission assignment.

Previous designations

* 113th Wing (1995-Present)
* 113th Fighter Wing (1992-1995)
* 113th Tactical Fighter Wing (??-1992)
* 113th Fighter Group

ubordinate Units

* 121st Fighter Squadron
* 113th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
* 113th ASD
* 201st Airlift Squadron
* 121st Weather Flight
* 113th Military Personnel Flight
* 113th Civil Engineer Squadron
* 113th Services Flight
* 113th Communications Flight
* 113th Security Forces Squadron
* 231st Combat Communications Squadron (deactivated March 31, 2008 as a result of BRAC recommendations).

Aircraft operated

* C-40C (2002-Present)
* F-16C/D (???-Present)
* F-16A/B (1990-???)
* C-22B (???)
* C-21A (???)
* F-4D (1981-1990)
* F-105D (1971-1981)
* F-100C (1968-1969)
* F-100A (1958-1968)
* F-86H (1957-1958)
* F-86E (1955-1957)
* F-86A (1954-1955)
* F-51H (1952-1954)
* F-94B (1951-1952)
* F-84C (1949-1951)
* P-47D (1946-1949)

Decorations

* [http://wwa.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AwardsNet/SearchUnitAwards.aspx?Mode=Graphics Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)]
**1992-2007

References

* Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
* World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

External links

* [http://www.dcandr.ang.af.mil/index.htm 113th Wing Official Website]