Minnesota Air National Guard

Minnesota Air National Guard
Active	17 September 1948 - present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Role	"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Mark Dayton (Governor of the State of Minnesota)
State military leadership	Major General Richard C. Nash
Insignia
USAF Roundel
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-16CJ Fighting Falcon
Transport	C-130H Hercules

The Minnesota Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is, along with the Minnesota Army National Guard, an element of the Minnesota National Guard.

Mission

The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.

Units

The Minnesota Air National Guard has two primary units:^[1]

• the 148th Fighter Wing, based at Duluth International Airport; and
• the 133d Airlift Wing, based at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

History

The first National Guard flying unit in the nation was the 109th Observation Squadron, Minnesota National Guard, passing muster inspection on 17 January 1921. This unit was, however, assigned to the (Army) National Guard, as the Air National Guard was not formed in the U.S. before 1946. The 109th Observation Squadron was send to Europe, initially flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V, and later reconnaissance missions with the North American F-6 Mustang.

During the Korean War Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.

In the 1950s and early 1960 both units of the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Duluth and 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in St. Paul were providing active air defense commitments with 24 hour alert status. Threats by the Soviet Union to oust Western troops from West Berlin in 1961 prompted the Berlin Crisis and a call-up of selected National Guard forces throughout the U.S. Included in this mobilization were members of the 133rd Air Transport Wing, who served in federal active service for 11 months while operating out of their home station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.

During the Vietnam War, although never officially mobilized, the Air Guard flew hundreds of supply and transport missions to Southeast Asia.

The Minnesota Air National Guard was also activated in the Global War On Terror since 11 September 2001. Immediately after the attack on New York City and Washington, D.C., F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing were providing combat air patrols over key locations. The 133rd Airlift wing also provided airlift in Afghanistan.^[2]

Gallery

• 

  A Minnesota ANG F-51D in the early 1950s

• 

  An F-102A with other ANG fighters, circa 1970

• 

  A 179th FS F-4D over Germany, 1987

• 

  A 109th AS C-130H, 2009

See also

See list of Minnesota National Guard units.

References

1. ^ http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/air/
2. ^ http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/history/history.php#1946

External links

United States Air Force portal

• Minnesota Air National Guard Units
• Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
• 133rd Airlift Wing (official website)
• 148th Fighter Wing (official website)