North Carolina Air National Guard

North Carolina Air National Guard
Active	1948 - present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Role	"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Garrison/HQ	Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, North Carolina
Motto	We stand ready
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Bev Perdue (Governor of the State of North Carolina)
State military leadership	Major General Gregory A. Lusk
Insignia
USAF Roundel
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-130H Hercules

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

History

In 1948 the 156th Fighter Squadron, North Carolina Air Guard, at Morris Field, Charlotte was federally recognized. It was equipped with the P-47D Thunderbolt, and received the F-51D Mustang in 1948. Following the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, NCANG units were called to active duty, the 156th fighter squadron was assigned to the 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard.

In 1955 the facilities at Morris Field were expanded, two years later the 145th Fighter Group was organized consisting of the 156th Fighter Squadron and subordinate units. In 1960 the 145th FG group was redesignated the 145th Aeromedical Transport Group flying evacuation missions. In 1964 the 145th ATG was redesignated 145th Air Transport Group (Heavy). From 1966 to 1971 the 145th ATG was deployed to Vietnam, flying over 20 million km without an aircraft accident.^[1]

In 1990 North Carolina Army and Air National Guard units were mobilized for Operation Desert Shield, followed by Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Personnel from the 145th Airlift Wing were deployed to Germany and other locations. In 1995 North Carolina Army and Air National Guard troops were mobilized for service in Bosnia, Hungary, and Germany.^[2]

Units

A North Carolina ANG C-130H taking off from Howard AFB, Panama, 1999.

• 145th Airlift Wing
  • 145th Mission Support Group
  • 145th Aircraft Generation Squadron
  • 145th Civil Engineer Squadron
  • 145th Operations Support Flight
  • 145th Logistics Readiness Squadron
  • 145th Logistics Support Flight
  • 145th Maintenance Operation Flight
  • 145th Aerial Port Squadron
  • 145th Security Forces Squadron
  • 145th Communications Flight
  • 145th Medical Squadron
  • 145th Services Flight
  • 156th Airlift Squadron
  • 156th Weather Flight
  • 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
• 118th Air Support Operations Squadron
• 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron
• 263d Combat Communications Squadron

Aircraft operated

Since 1948 the North Carolina Air National Guard operated the following aircraft:^[3]

• C-130 Hercules (1971–Present)
• C-124 Globemaster (1966–1971)
• C-121 Super Constellation (1962–1967)
• C-119C Flying Boxcar (1961–1962)
• F-86E/L Sabre (1957–1960)
• F-86A Sabre (1954–1957)
• T-33 Shooting Star (1953–1954)
• F-84 Thunderjet (1950–1953)
• P-51 Mustang (1949–1950)
• P-47 Thunderbolt (1948–1949)

References

1. ^ http://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/history/
2. ^ http://www.nc.ngb.army.mil/index.php/about/
3. ^ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

External links

• North Carolina National Guard
• 145th Airlift Wing

United States Air Force portal