175th Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 175th Wing


caption= 175th Wing emblem
dates= 1962-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Composite: Fighter and Tactical Airlift
role= Air Combat
size=
command_structure=
current_commander= Brig Gen Guy M. Walsh
garrison= Warfield Air National Guard Base, Maryland
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto= Librati In Promptu (“Poised in Readiness”)
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= USS Pueblo Crisis; Bosnia; Haiti; Iraq; Afghanistan
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 175th Wing (175 WG) is a composite fighter and tactical airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base at the Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland. It is unique among Air National Guard units in that the 175 WG has three active USAF gaining commands: the Air Combat Command for its fighter aircraft, the Air Mobility Command for its airlift aircraft, and United States Air Forces in Europe for its 235th Civil Engineer Flight.

The wing is comprised of two flying units, the 104th Fighter Squadron and the 135th Airlift Group, as well as support units including security forces, engineers, communications, logistics, aerial port and administrative support functions. Approximately 1,500 full-time and traditional part-time air guard members are employed by the Maryland Air National Guard.

Mission

The 175th Wing has both federal and state missions.

Federal: In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings and to augment active military forces. In wartime, provides close air support and tactical airlift capability to meet the needs of combatant commanders worldwide.

State: Provides assistance to state authorities during natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emergencies at the call of the governor and provides combat and support forces for homeland defense.

The 175th Wing consists of two distinct flying units with different missions—the 104th Fighter Squadron, flying the A-10C “Thunderbolt II” single-seat attack and close air support aircraft, and the 135th Airlift Squadron, operating the C-130J “Hercules” transport aircraft.

History

The 175th Wing (175 WG) was organized in 1962 as the 175th Fighter Group. At the time of its organization, it was the second group-sized headquarters in the Maryland Air National Guard. From 1962 until 1996, Maryland had two flying groups: the 135th Airlift Group and the 175th Fighter Group. In 1996, the 175th was reorganized as a composite wing and 135th was inactivated, with its flying squadron reassigned to the new 175th Wing. At this time, support units previously assigned to the 135th were inactivated and their personnel transferred to equivalent units within the 175th. Subsequently, the 135th Airlift Group was reactivated and assigned to the 175th Wing as a subordinate group, with separate operations and maintenance units.

Prior to 11 Sep 2001, the wing made multiple deployments to Kuwait in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, enforcing the United Nations Security Council Resolutions that created a "No Fly Zone" for Iraqi military aircraft over southern Iraq in the wake of Operation DESERT STORM. The 175 WG is fully integrated into the Air Force's Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (AEF) operational construct, and since 11 Sep 2001, the wing has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

The 175th Wing was the first USAF unit selected to upgrade to precision engagement A-10C, receiving its first A-10C in October 2006 and achieving initial operational capability (IOC) with the A-10C in September 2007. It was also the first unit to deploy the A-10C in combat, when it deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in 2007.

Heraldry

Symbolism: Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force Operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The crossbow symbolizes the fighter mission and the Pegasus denotes the airlift mission. The representation of the Maryland state flag reflects the consolidation of these two missions with the Wing and also indicates the unit's home location.

Background: Approved by Air Force on 23 August 1996. This insignia superseded one previously approved by the Air Force for the 175th Fighter Group following that unit's redesignation as the 175th Wing.

Assignments

Major Command

*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-Present) for A-10C assets
*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (1999-Present) for C-130J assets
*Air National Guard/United States Air Forces in Europe (1996-Present) for 235th Civil Engineer Flight
*Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1962-1992)

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

*175th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1992)
*175th Fighter Group (1992-1996)

ubordinate Units

*135th Airlift Group
**135th Airlift Squadron (1996-Present)
**135th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**135th Maintenance Operations Flight
**135th Maintenance Squadron
**135th Operations Support Flight
*175th Operations Group
**104th Fighter Squadron (1962-Present)
**175th Operations Support Flight
*175th Maintenance Group
**175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**175th Maintenance Operations Flight
**175th Maintenance Squadron
*175th Medical Group
*175th Mission Support Group
**135th Aerial Port Flight
**175th Mission Support Flight
**175th Security Forces Squadron
**175th Logistics Readiness Squadron
**175th Services Flight
**175th Civil Engineer Squadron
**175th Communications Squadron
**175th Student Flight
*175th Information Operations Squadron
*235th Civil Engineer Flight

Bases stationed

*Warfield Air National Guard Base (Martin State Airport), Maryland (1962-Present)

Aircraft operated

*A-10 Thunderbolt II (1979-Present)
*C-130 Hercules (1980-Present)

Decorations

* [http://wwa.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AwardsNet/SearchUnitAwards.aspx?Mode=Graphics Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)]
**1999-2001
**1998-1999
**1996
**1992-1994
**2006-2007

References

External links

* [https://www.md.ngb.army.mil/ Maryland National Guard]
* [http://www.175wg.ang.af.mil 175th Wing]
* [http://www.marylandmilitaryhistory.org/ Maryland Military Historical Society]