New Hampshire Air National Guard

New Hampshire Air National Guard
Active	1946 - present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Role	"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Garrison/HQ	Pease Air National Guard Base
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor John Lynch (Governor of the State of New Hampshire)
State military leadership	Brigadier General Carolynn Protzmann[1]
Insignia
USAF Roundel

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.

Units

The New Hampshire Air National Guard consists of the 157th Air Refueling Wing 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.^[2]

History

After the end of World War II, 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.

A 157th ARW KC-135R with Connecticut ANG A-10As, 2007.

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.^[3]

References

1. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/06/06/woman_leading_state_air_national_guard
2. ^ http://www.157arw.ang.af.mil/units/64thairrefuelingsquadron/index.asp
3. ^ https://www.nh.ngb.army.mil/history/historyhome

External links

United States Air Force portal

• New Hampshire National Guard
• 157th Air Refueling Wing