108th Wing
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108th Wing
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Active | 1950–present |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Wing |
Role | Composite Air Refueling |
Part of | New Jersey Air National Guard |
Garrison/HQ | McGuire Air Force Base,New Jersey. |
Nickname(s) | "Jersey Thunder"[citation needed] |
Motto(s) | Victory Through the Sky[b] |
Tail Code | Orange Tail Stripe "New Jersey" in Black |
Website | http:// 108thwing.ang.af.mil |
Commanders | |
Current commander | ColonelEric A. Guttormsen[citation needed] |
Insignia | |
108th Wing emblem | ![]() |
108 Fighter-Bomber Wing emblem[c][1] | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Transport | C-32B |
Tanker | KC-46A Pegasus |
The108th Wingis a unit of theNew Jersey Air National Guard,one of the many units stationed at theMcGuire Air Force Baseentity ofJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,New Jersey. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by theUnited States Air ForceAir Mobility Command.
Mission
[edit]The 108th Wing principal mission isair refueling.Thewingenhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. It also provides air refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as aircraft of allied nations. The wing is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.
In addition to their primary air refueling mission, the Wing also supports an intelligence squadron and a cyberspace operations squadron
Units
[edit]The 108th Wing consists of the following units:[2][3]
- 108th Operations Group
- 108th Operations Support Squadron
- 140th Cyberspace Operations Squadron
- 141st Air Refueling Squadron(KC-46A)
- 170th Air Refueling Squadron(KC-46A)
- 150th Special Operations Squadron(C-32B)
- 204th Intelligence Squadron
- The 140th Cyberspace Operations Squadron is one of the twelve Air National Guard Cyber Protection Teams that defend networks and systems against threats.
- The 204th Intelligence Squadron is the first Air National Guard squadron that is solely dedicated to providing intelligence instruction and training products to the Air Mobility Command. It is also the first course of its kind in the intelligence community that integrates active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students.
- 108th Maintenance Group
- 108th Maintenance Squadron
- 108th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 108th Maintenance Operations Flight
- 108th Mission Support Group
- 108th Force Support Squadron
- 108th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 108th Security Forces Squadron
- 108th Communications Flight
The wing operates as a classic associate unit to the305AMWflying theKC-46Aand twoC-32BAircraft.
History
[edit]Formation of the 108th Wing
[edit]TheWorld War II348th Fighter Group was redesignated as the108th Fighter Groupand allotted to theNew Jersey National Guardon 24 May 1946. It was organized atNewark Municipal Airportand extended federal recognition later that year. Initially, the group reported to the52d Fighter Wingof theNew York National Guardand was supported by the 208th Air Service Group. In the fall of 1950, the Air National Guard reorganized its combat units under thewing base organizationthat had been used by the regular Air Force since 1947. In this reorganization, the108th Fighter Wingwas formed to include the 108th Group and its support elements, organized into the 108th Air Base Group, 108th Maintenance and Supply Group and the 108th Medical Group.
Korean War mobilization
[edit]Only a few months after being organized, the unit was called to active federal service on 1 March 1951 and moved toTurner Air Force Base,Georgia, where it was assigned toStrategic Air Command's40th Air Division.At Turner it became the108th Fighter-Bomber Wingin May. In December 1951 it was transferred toTactical Air Commandand moved toGodman Air Force Base,Kentucky where it replaced the123d Fighter-Bomber Wing,which had moved to England. On 1 December 1952, the wing transferred its mission, personnel and equipment to the405th Fighter-Bomber Wingand returned to state control.
Return to state control
[edit]With return to state control, the wing assumed theair defensemission. Despite its retention of thefighter bomberdesignation, it was gained byAir Defense Command(ADC) upon mobilization. ADC required the squadrons it gained to be designed to augment active duty squadrons capable of performing air defense missions for an indefinite period after mobilization independently of their parent wing.[4]It was not until 1955 that the wing was redesignated the108th Fighter-Interceptor Wing.The redesignation coincided with the change from long-rangeNorth American P-51H Mustangfighter. designed for the invasion of Japan, the P-51H was the last variant of the P-51 Mustang of World War II, but was produced too late to see any wartime combat. Not used in theKorean Wardue to it not being believed as rugged as its famous "D model" predecessor, the P-51H was used to equip Air National Guard units in the 1950s as an interceptor. In 1955, the Mustangs were retired and the squadron entered the jet age, with the arrival of theNorth American F-86E Sabre.
The 108th FIW was transferred toTactical Air Command(TAC) in 1958, being re-designated as a Tactical Fighter Wing. The 141st and 119th Tactical Fighter Squadrons transferred its interceptors and received andF-84F Thunderstreakfighter-bombers.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/F-84f-7108tw-chm-1962.jpg/220px-F-84f-7108tw-chm-1962.jpg)
On 1 October 1961, as a result of the Berlin crisis, the 108th TFW was again ordered to active federal duty. When activated, the 108th consisted of three squadrons, the 119th TFS atAtlantic CityAirport, the 141st TFSMcGuire Air Force Base,New Jersey, and the 149th TFS from the Virginia ANG at Byrd Field, nearRichmond, Virginia.All three squadrons were flying the F-84F Thunderstreak.
Once activated, the wing was deployed toChaumont-Semoutiers Air Base,France. However, only a portion of the 108th TFW deployed to France due to DOD budget limitations. This consisted of 28 F-84F's of the 141st TFS and officers and airmen from all three squadrons, with the remaining aircraft and personnel remaining on active duty at their home stations. The first elements of the 108th deployed to Chaumont from McGuire AFB on 16 October with the last aircraft and personnel arriving on 6 November. The ground units deployed by sealift, with the deployed elements reaching Chaumont by 17 November.
In France, the deployed elements of the 108th TFW were designated the7108th Tactical Wingon 20 November due to the reduced strength of the wing in Europe. The primary mission of the 7108th was to provide close air support to the Seventh Army in Europe under the direction of Ground Forward Air Controllers. To accomplish this mission, up to 30 sorties were flown each day. Pilots and aircraft were rotated back and forth from Atlantic City and Richmond in order for all pilots in the wing to become familiar with flying conditions at Chaumont and to teach USAFE operational procedures.
The deployment to France ended in October 1962 and the wing returned to New Jersey state control. The 119th TFS expanded to group size with the activation of the 177th Tactical Fighter Group. Immediately following this action, their F-84Fs were replaced by North AmericanF-86H Sabres.The 141st TFS, having left their F-84F's in France, were re-equipped with F-86H's upon their return.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/F-105B-57-5829-NJANG.jpg/220px-F-105B-57-5829-NJANG.jpg)
In April 1964, the 108th traded their Sabrejets in for theRepublic F-105 Thunderchief.the 108th was the first Air National Guard unit to fly twice the speed of sound. In May 1981, theMcDonnell F-4D Phantom IIreplaced the F-105s, and in 1985, they were upgraded to theF-4E Phantom II.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/NJANGandNorwayF-5.jpg/220px-NJANGandNorwayF-5.jpg)
In 1989, the 108th was declared the best Air National Guard flying unit and awarded the Spaatz Trophy. It participated in numerous exercises and made six overseas deployments as a fighter unit, to France, Greece, Ecuador and three times to Norway.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Usaf.kc135.750pix.jpg/220px-Usaf.kc135.750pix.jpg)
Air refueling
[edit]With the end of theCold War,the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing was re-aligned to aKC-135 StratotankerAir Refueling Wing. The F-4s were retired and the squadron was redesignated as the 141st Air Refueling Squadron. Also, as part of the conversion of the wing to the Objective Wing organization, the 108th Tactical Fighter Group became the 108th Operations Group, to which the 141st was assigned. The 108th received its firstBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker(KC-135E) on 27 September. Yet, a scant 69 days later, on 6 December, it flew its first refueling mission. Forty-one days later, on 16 January 1992, it flew its first operational mission – a night, air refueling of anE-3B "Sentry"bound for thePersian Gulf.
1992 was a busy year for the 108th. They flew their first passenger airlift mission on 27 February; its first overseas mission (Costa Rica) on 13 March; its first European mission, Germany 28 May, (South Korea) on 20 July, and its first humanitarian mission on 1 September, (three Stratotankers filled with critically needed supplies to "Hurricane Andrew"(Florida) victims). The wing was certified combat ready on 3 December 1992. The very next day it was tasked with two missions – its first operational deployment – nothing less than spearheading and establishing the U.S. – Somalia air bridge forOperation Restore Hope.It not only deployed an air refueling detachment toMoron Air Base,Spain, but also airlifted active duty air crews to Cairo West Air Base, Egypt. In January 1993, while deployed atMoron Air Base,Spain, the Wing off loaded its one millionth pound of fuel.
On 1 October 1993, the NJ ANG170th Air Refueling Groupcombined with the 108th Air Refueling Wing. The 108th welcomed the150th Air Refueling Squadron's 37 years experience in airlift and air refueling operations, and its 130,454 accident-free flying hours, recognized as the world's safest flying record.
In September 1994, for over 30 days, five aircraft and 300 members deployed toPisa,Italy for DENY FLIGHT. The 108th replaced the 126 ARW of the Illinois Air National Guard. Supported by 15 active duty Air Force personnel, the 108th Wing was the first Air National Guard unit to take full responsibility during that period.
May through August 1995, 13 members of the 108th and 170th Clinic deployed toGuantanamo Bay Naval Base,Cuba for a humanitarian mission,Operation Sea Signal.
In 2007, the 108 ARW began retiring its KC-135E aircraft and transitioning to the KC-135R. On 20 September 2023, the squadron flew its last mission with the KC-135R, as it transitioned to becoming anassociate squadronof the305th Air Mobility Wing,flyingBoeing KC-46 Pegasustankers.[5]
Lineage
[edit]- Established as the108th Fighter Wingc. 25 October 1950
- Activated on 1 November 1950
- Federalized and called to active duty on 1 March 1951
- Redesignated108th Fighter-Bomber Wingon 16 May 1951
- Released from active duty and returned to New Jersey state control on 1 December 1952
- Redesignated108th Fighter-Interceptor Wingon 1 July 1955
- Redesignated108th Tactical Fighter Wing(Special Delivery) on 1 July 1958
- Federalized and called to active duty, 1 October 1961
- Federalized deployed components operated as7108th Tactical Wing
- Released from active duty and returned to New Jersey state control on 30 August 1962
- Redesignated108th Tactical Fighter Wing
- Redesignated108th Air Refueling Wingon 19 October 1991
- Redesignated108th Wingon 1 December 2009
Assignments
[edit]- New Jersey Air National Guard, 1 November 1950
- 40th Air Division, 14 March 1951
- Ninth Air Force,18 November 1951 – 1 December 1952
- New Jersey Air National Guard, 1 December 1952 – present
- Gained by: Air Defense Command
- Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1958
- Federalized 7108th Tactical Wing assigned toUnited States Air Forces in Europe,1 October 1961 – 30 August 1962
- Gained by:Air Combat Command,1 June 1992
- Gained by:Air Mobility Command,1 June 1993–Present
Components
[edit]- Groups
- 103d Tactical Fighter Group,unknown – c. 1 July 1979
- 104th Tactical Fighter Group,c. June 1972 – c. 1 July 1979
- 108th Fighter Group (later 108th Fighter-Bomber Group, 108th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 108th Tactical Fighter Group, 108th Operations Group), 1 November 1950 – 1 December 1952, 1 December 1952 – 1 October 1958, 1 October 1962 – 9 December 1974, 1 October 1993 – present
- 170th Air Refueling Group,1 October 1991 – 1 October 1993
- 174th Tactical Fighter Group,c. June 1972 – 1 July 1979
- 175th Tactical Fighter Group,12 April 1968 – 13 May 1968
- 177th Tactical Fighter Group,15 October 1962 – c. August 1965
- 192d Tactical Fighter Group,15 October 1962 – 1 June 1993
- Squadrons
- 119th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron,1 October 1958 – 15 October 1962
- 149th Fighter Squadron,1 October 1961 – 17 August 1962
- 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1 October 1958 – 1 October 1962[f]
- 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron (later141st Air Refueling Squadron), 9 December 1974 – present
Stations
[edit]- Mercer Airport,New Jersey, 1 November 1950
- Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, 1 March 1951
- Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, 11 December 1951 – 1 December 1952
- McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 30 November 1952 – Present
- Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base,France, 1 October 1961
- McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 30 August 1962 – present
Aircraft
[edit]
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References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- Explanatory notes
- ^Wing members from the 108th deployed, under Operation Joint Forge, to Istres Air Base, France to assist in the base closure and the relocation of assets and personnel.
- ^From 1951–1994, this motto was inLatinas "Per Caelum Victoriae", translated as Through the Skies to Victory. Maurer,Combat Units,p. 228.
- ^pproved 15 August 1951.
- ^Aircraft is Republic F-105B-20-RE, serial 57-5829. The sign on the hangar proudly proclaiming McGuire AFB as the "Home of the Air Guard Thunderchiefs". This plane was sent toTinker Air Force Base,where it was used to practice airfield battle damage repair.Baugher, Joe (29 April 2023)."1957 USAF Serial Numbers".Joe Baugher.Retrieved3 October2023.
- ^Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-28-MC Phantom II, serial 65-696. After its retirement in 1985, this aircraft was briefly in private hands with civil registration N402AV, then preserved at the Heritage Aviation Airpark, Palmdale, California.
- ^On 8 September 1973, the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron was withdrawn from the National Guard and inactivated, redesignated the 341st Fighter Squadron and disbanded. The 141st Aero Squadron, which had been demobilized on 19 July 1919 was reconstituted, redesignated the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, allotted to the Air National Guard and activated in its place. DAF/PRM Letter 719p, Subject: Organization Actions Affecting Certain Air National Guard units, 31 July 1973.
- Citations
- ^Maurer,Combat Units,pp. 226–228
- ^Harbison, TSG Barb (2010)."What's in a Name?".GuardLife.Retrieved2 March2017.
- ^"Units".
- ^SeeCantwell, p. 148 for the same mission performed by reserve units.
- ^German, Howard (2 October 2023)."JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst's KC-135R Final Salute".The Aviationist.Retrieved3 October2023.
Bibliography
[edit]This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency
- Some of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the108th Air Refueling Wing website,which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be apublic domain resource.
- Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997).Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994.Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program.ISBN0-16049-269-6.Retrieved17 December2016.
- Donald, David.Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War.AIRtime, 2004.ISBN1-880588-68-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961].Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-02-1.LCCN61060979.Retrieved17 December2016.
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
- North American P-51H Mustang
- 108th Air Refueling Wing: New Jersey Air National Guard
- lineage and history, 108th Air Refueling Wing