106th Rescue Wing
| 106th Rescue Wing | |
|---|---|
 106th Rescue Wing emblem |
|
| Active | 19??-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Rescue |
| Role | Search and Rescue |
| Size | Abt. 1,000 |
| Part of | Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Francis S. Gabreski Airport, New York |
| Engagements | Normandy, France |
The 106th Rescue Wing is a New York Air National Guard unit stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Airport (formerly Suffolk County Air Force Base) in Westhampton Beach, New York. As an Air National Guard organization, the wing is operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command. The mission of the wing is combat search and rescue (CSAR). During peacetime, the unit also provides search and rescue services to the maritime community and NASA. The 106th is also afforded the honor of being the oldest unit in the Air National Guard.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Mission
[edit] Federal Mission
Provide trained and equipped personnel, capable of augmenting active duty forces in time of war, national emergencies and increased national security.
[edit] State Mission
Assist the State of New York in disaster relief and other state emergencies as directed by the governor.
[edit] History
The lineage of this unit is traced back to the 1st Aero Company, New York National Guard (see history at 102d Rescue Squadron) formed in 1915 and which was federalized in 1916 in Hempstead Plains, Mineola, Long Island. The unit's flying activities were recorded in a May 1, 1908 article in the New York Herald, "On a cool spring evening on the last day in April, 1908, a group of New York National Guardsman gathered at the 77th Regimental Armory on Park Avenue in the City of New York in order to learn the fine art of flying a balloon. The instructors included Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm and Auguste Post."
Several years later, in 1916, Captain Raynal C. Bolling, then Solicitor General of United Steel Corporation, was activated and took command of the first flying squadron of the National Guard.
Since then the unit has achieved a number of honors, including the following:
- Oldest Unit in the ANG
- Balloon training in 1908 in NYC (100 years old)
- Federally recognized in 1916
- First ANG pilot, Beckwith Havens. Alluding to Private Havens, a member of the Glenn Curtiss exhibition team, the New York Times reported, "It will be the first time the National Guard has figured in actual military aviation in this country."
- The First Multi-Aircraft Cross-Country Flight
- 1920s commander was Major George A. Vaughn, a World War I ace (12 aircraft)
- 1930s member was Thomas J. Watson, Jr., who went on to become chairman of IBM
- One of three USAF rescue organizations comprising the official NASA Space Shuttle rescue team
[edit] 106th Bomb Wing (New York Air National Guard)
- Ordered to active duty on: 1 March 1951
- At: March Air Force Base, California
- Transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC) on 1 March 1951
- Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force (15AF)
- Equipment: B-29s
- Redesignated as 320th Bomb Wing on 16 June 1952
Shortly after the Air Force was formed in November 1947, the New York National Guard 106th Bombardment Group and its units, 102nd Bombardment Squadron (Light) and the 114th BS(L) were relocated to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. Peacetime operations continued from Brooklyn until 1 March 1951 when another call to active duty came. Assigned to Strategic Air Command, the squadron relocated to March AFB, California, and was subsequently redesignated the 106th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 1 May 1951. Conversion to the new Boeing B-29A Superfortress began, and 16 June 1951 saw the 106th BG(L) redesignated the 106th Bomb Wing (Medium) under the Strategic Air Command (SAC). The 106th continued operations under SAC until it was redesignated the 320th Bomb Wing (BW) Medium (M) on 16 June 1952.
[edit] 1980s onwards
- First female officer in the Air National Guard, Norma Parsons-Erb
- October 1991, downed helicopter and lost pararescueman (TSgt Arden "Rick" Smith) in storm, later became known as "The Perfect Storm"
- July 1996, first aircraft on-scene at TWA Flight 800
- 1998, longest over-water rescue mission in an HH-60, saved one soul, made famous by the book: Pararescue, The Untold Story of a rescue and the heroes that pulled it off, written by Michael Hirsh
- July 1999, located the transponder from the wreckage of John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s downed airplane
- September 11, 2001, first ANG personnel on scene at World Trade Center
[edit] Assignments
[edit] Major Command/Gaining Command
- Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (2006-Present)
- Air National Guard/Air Force Special Operations Command (2004-2006)
- Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1 June 1992-2006)
- Air National Guard/Military Airlift Command (1975-1 June 1992)
- Air National Guard/Aerospace Defense Command (1972-1975)
[edit] Previous designations
- 106th Rescue Wing (106 RQW)
- 106th Rescue Group (106 RQG)
- 106th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (106 ARRG)
- 106th Fighter Interceptor Group (106 FIG)
- 106th Air Refueling Group (106 ARG)
- 106th Air Transport Group (106 ATG)
- 106th Fighter Interceptor Group (106 FIG)
- 394th Bomb Wing (Medium) (394 BW (M))
[edit] Squadrons assigned
- 101st Rescue Squadron (2004–Present)
- 102d Rescue Squadron (1947–Present)
- 103d Rescue Squadron (???-Present)
- 106th Medical Group (2004–Present)
- 106th Operations Support Squadron
[edit] Bases stationed
- Francis S. Gabreski Airport, New York (1975–Present)
[edit] Aircraft & Missiles Operated[2]
- HH-60G Pavehawk(1990-Present)
- HC-130N Hercules (1975-Present)
- HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (1975–1990)
- HC-130P Hercules (1975-Present)
- F-102A Delta Dagger (1972-1975)
- KC-97L Stratotanker (???-1972)
- C-97G Stratofreighter (???-???)
- C-97A Stratofreighter (???-???)
- MC-119J Flying Boxcar (???-???)
- F-94B Starfire (???-???)
- B-26 Marauder (???-???)
- B-29 Superfortress (???-???)
[edit] References
- ^ Firstaero
- ^ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
- The Perfect Storm: A Story of Men Against the Sea, Sebastian Junger, 1997
- Pararescue: The Story of An Incredible Rescue and the Men that Pulled it Off, Michael Hirsh, 1998
- That Others May Live, Jack Brehm, 2000
- War Flying in France, George A. Vaughn, 1922
- Guardsmen Look Skyward, The Minute Man in Peace & War: A History of the National Guard, Jim Dan Hill, 1964
- The Millionaires Unit, Marc Wortman, 2006
- Deadly Departure: Why the Experts Failed to Prevent the TWA Flight 800 Disaster and How it Could Happen Again, Christine Negroni, 2000
[edit] External links
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