Delaware Air National Guard

Delaware Air National Guard
Active	1946 - present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Role	"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Garrison/HQ	New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Jack A. Markell (Governor of the State of Delaware)
State military leadership	Brigadier General Hugh D. Broomall
Insignia
USAF Roundel
Aircraft flown
Transport	Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The Delaware Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is, along with the Delaware Army National Guard, an element of the Delaware National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.

Units

The Delaware ANG consists of the following units:^[1]

• 142nd Airlift Squadron, 166th Airlift Wing
• 166th Operations Group
• 166th Medical Group
• 166th Mission Support Group
• 166th Maintenance Group
• 166th Network Warfare Squadron

History

Korea

During the Korean War Delaware's entire Air Guard was ordered to active duty, and though the 142nd Fighter Squadron remained at New Castle County Airport, its pilots were all rotated to the Far East and most saw combat against Russian-built jets in what came to be known as MiG Alley over Korea.^[2]

A 166th Military Airlift Group C-97G in the 1960s.

Vietnam

In the Vietnam War, the Delaware Air Guard began a regular schedule of cargo flights to Vietnam in late 1965 and operated several each month, in addition to its regular flights to Europe and the Caribbean. The Air Guard carried 60% of the cargo it would be expected to carry if it were an active unit in Federal service.^[3] Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Spruance (1916-2011), a founding member of the Delaware Air Guard, received the first Air Force Distinguished Service Medal given to a reserve officer for his work Vietnam. After a near fatal plane crash in 1961 Brig. Gen. Spruance selflessly devoted his time, knowledge and experience in an effort to improve flying and crash survival techniques. In 1968 he gave over 100 presentations to over 10,000 people, at 58 bases, in 60 days.^[4]

Persian Gulf

During the 1991 Gulf War, the Headquarters 166th Tactical Airlift Group, 166th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the 142nd Tactical Airlift Squadron were activated in January 1991 involving over 275 Air Guard members. Shortly thereafter, members of the 166th Tactical Clinic were also called upon, bringing the total Air Guard involvement to over 350. All eight C-130 Hercules aircraft were deployed with the Air Guard to the Persian Gulf. The Air Guard merged with the 1670th Tactical Airlift Provisional, part of the largest composite U.S. Air Force Wing in the entire Persian Gulf area. The unit flew missions carrying personnel and fuel bladders critical to destroying the Iraqi Republican Guard. They were also one of the first crews that flew into Kuwait International Airport to begin rebuilding. In May, they moved a significant portion of the Shiite Muslim refugees to a camp in Saudi Arabia. In January and February personnel from the 166th Civil Engineering Squadron were also tasked with the 100% enlargement of the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base. Brig. Gen. (then Lieutenant Colonel) Ernest Talbert served in combat zones in Southwest Asia as a C-130 pilot in support of Operation Desert Storm. On 11 Nov. 2005 he became the first African-American general in the history of the Delaware National Guard. Upon his retirement as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard on 11 Jan. 2009, Brig. Gen. Talbert received the honorary rank of Major General.^[5] The Delaware Air National Guard units returned on 31 May 1991.^[6]

A Delaware ANG C-130H at New Castle ANGB, 2008.

Afghanistan

The Delaware Air National Guard was called upon again during the Afghanistan War. Its units have deployed to the Afghan region several times since 2001. In November 2004 Lieut. Col. (then Major) Patrick Houtman received the Distinguished Flying Cross for taking evasive action at low altitude after a surface to air missile was launched against his C-130H aircraft. Lieut. Col. Houtman was the first Delaware National Guard member to receive this decoration.^[7] Lieut. Col. Gregory Carr and Master Sgt. Thomas Michaels of the 142nd Airlift Squadron were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for active participation in combat action, having been personally present and under direct enemy fire on 26 Sept. 2004. On that date they were carrying Afghan and US VIP’s on a classified mission when they were engaged by multiple sources of ground fire. ^[8] In April 2008, Staff Sgt. Aaron Weber, Staff Sgt. Aaron Sweeney, and Staff Sgt. David Gazzara, received the Air Force Combat Action Medal for being engaged by enemy forces while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. These three Airmen are the first Delaware National Guard ground personnel to receive the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal.^[9] As the deputy commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. (then Colonel) Carol Timmons received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during period of 3 May 2008 to 3 Sept. 2008. On 14 May 2011 she was promoted to brigadier general and became the first federally recognized female general officer in the history of the Delaware National Guard.^[10]

References

1. ^ http://delawarenationalguard.com/members/air/
2. ^ http://delawarenationalguard.com/aboutus/history/korea/
3. ^ http://delawarenationalguard.com/aboutus/history/vietnam/
4. ^ http://www.spruance.com/Crash_Survival/spruan95.htm
5. ^ http://www.166aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123135392
6. ^ http://delawarenationalguard.com/aboutus/history/gulfwar/
7. ^ http://ourmilitaryheroes.defense.gov/profiles/houtmanP.html
8. ^ Memorandum for personnel flight from LTG Gary L. North, USAFCENT, 14 October, 2008. Alisa Patterson DSN 965-8745
9. ^ http://delawarenationalguard.com/aboutus/history/afghanistan/
10. ^ http://www.166aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123258283

External links

• Delaware National Guard
• 166th Airlift Wing

United States Air Force portal