General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons serving with the 100th Fighter Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, 2012. (Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III, USAF Photo)
The Alabama Air National Guard (AL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Alabama, United States of America. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard, an element of the Alabama National Guard.
As state militia units, the units in the Alabama Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command unless federalized. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Alabama through the office of the Alabama Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Alabama Air National Guard is headquartered in Montgomery, and its commander is Major General Sheryl E. Gordon.
Overview
Under the “Total Force” concept, Alabama Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Alabama ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Alabama Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.
Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units the elements of the Alabama ANG are subject to being activated by order of the governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.
Components
The Alabama Air National Guard consists of the following major units:
- 117th Air Refueling Wing
Established 21st January 1922 (as: 106th Observation Squadron); operates: KC-135R Stratotanker
Stationed at: Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base, Birmingham
Gained by: Air Mobility Command
The 117th Air Refueling Wing flies the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker. Its mission is to train and equip combat ready aircrews and support personnel to perform worldwide aerial refueling and airlift missions.
- 187th Fighter Wing
Established 1st October 1947 (as: 160th Fighter Squadron); operates: F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
Stationed at: Dannelly Field Air National Guard Base (aka Montgomery Regional Airport), Montgomery
Gained by: Air Combat Command
Flies F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter for air defense, air superiority, and air sovereignty; and RC-26B Condor reconnaissance/counter narcotics aircraft - 226th Combat Communications Group
Established 18th June 1954 (as: 225th Radio Relay Squadron)
Stationed at Abston Air National Guard Station; Montgomery
Gained by: Air Force Space Command
The Group commands, organizes, equips, trains and administers Combat Communications Squadrons.
History
Origins
The Alabama Air National Guard origins date to 27 August 1917 with the establishment of the 106th Aero Squadron as part of the World War I American Expeditionary Force. The 106th served in France on the Western Front, then after the 1918 Armistice with Germany was demobilized in 1919.
A Curtiss JN-6H of the 106th Observation Squadron, 1922
The Militia Act of 1903 established the present National Guard system, units raised by the states but paid for by the Federal Government, liable for immediate state service. If federalized by presidential order, they fall under the regular military chain of command. On 1at June 1920, the Militia Bureau issued Circular No.1 on organization of National Guard air units.
The squadron was reformed on 21st January 1922 as the 125th Squadron, Alabama National Guard, received federal recognition as a Corps Aviation unit. (It was re-designated the 135th Observation Squadron on 25th January 1923 and then it was re-designated the 114th Observation Squadron as an aviation unit the 39th Division on 1st May 1923. On 16th January 1924, it was re-designated the 106th Observation Squadron as an aviation unit in the 31st Division.) Maj. James A. Meissner, a World War I ace who had flown with Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, led the effort to form the unit and served as its first commander. It is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.
The 106th Observation Squadron was ordered into active service on 12th November 1940 as part of the buildup of the Army Air Corps prior to the United States entry into World War II.
Alabama Air National Guard
On 24th May 1946, the United States Army Air Forces, in response to dramatic postwar military budget cuts imposed by President Harry S. Truman, allocated inactive unit designations to the National Guard Bureau for the formation of an Air Force National Guard. These unit designations were allotted and transferred to various State National Guard bureaus to provide them unit designations to re-establish them as Air National Guard units.
North American RF-51D-25-NT Mustang (Serial No. 44-84522), 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, ca 1949.
The modern Alabama ANG received federal recognition on 25th November 1946 as the 106th Bombardment Squadron (Light) at Birmingham MAP (Sumpter Smith Field). It was equipped with B-26B/C Invaders and was assigned to Tactical Air Command. 18th September 1947, however, is considered the Alabama Air National Guard’s official birth concurrent with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the United States military under the National Security Act.
On 1st October 1947 the 117th Fighter Group allotted by the National Guard Bureau, extended federal recognition and activated at Birmingham, with the 106th Bomb Squadron being assigned to the unit. The 160th Fighter Squadron at Montgomery was authorized by the National Guard Bureau and recognized also on 1st October 1947. The 160th was equipped with the F-51D Mustang and its mission was the air defense of the state. On 15th October 1962, the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 160th TRS becoming the group’s flying squadron.
Republic RF-84 Thunderflash of the Alabama Air National Guard, 1961.
In 2007, the Alabama legislature requested the National Guard Bureau to allow the Alabama Air National Guard 160th Fighter Squadron to be re-designated as the 100th Fighter Squadron so the state could honor the legacy of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. This was obtained from the Air Force and on 12th September 2009, the 100th Flying Training Squadron was inactivated. The designation was transferred to the National Guard Bureau by the Air Force and it was allotted to the Alabama ANG. As a result, the 160th Fighter Squadron was inactivated, and the new 100th Fighter Squadron assumed its personnel, equipment and aircraft.
Today, the 117th Air Refueling Wing (117 ARW) provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The 187th Fighter Wing (187 FW) operated the F-16 Fighting Falcon and deploys around the world as part of Air Expeditionary Forces.
After the 11th September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Alabama has been activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel were engaged in Operation Noble Eagle air defense overflights of major United States cities. Also, Alabama ANG units have been deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as well as other locations as directed.
Douglas B-26C Invaders were flown by eight Alabama Air National Guard members and their Cuban exile allies during the covert assault on the Bay of Pigs in Cuba in April 1961.
Role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion
According to information from Seymour M. Hersh, author of The Dark Side of Camelot during early preparations to the Bay of Pigs Invasion, President Dwight D. Eisenhower personally asked then-Governor of Alabama John Malcolm Patterson (who served as a lieutenant in Eisenhower’s staff during the World War II) to use the aircraft of Air National Guard of Alabama (Patterson, as governor, was commander-in-chief of the guard) by Cuban émigrés to attack and pilots to train them in deep secret in Nicaragua. Patterson agreed and then-commander, Major General George R. Doster was ordered to oversee all operation.
“Red Tails” F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 100th Fighter Squadron in Montgomery
Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F-16C Fighting Falcon 87-0332, 100th FS, 187th FW, Alabama ANG, 2021
Check out the Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F-16C Fighting Falcon Alabama ANG, 2021 model available to pre-order from Flying Tigers. Please click on the image or link below to go straight to the model page.
Originally activated as the Alabama ANG 160th Fighter Squadron but in 2007 it was renamed the 100th FS / 187th FW. The change was made so the State of Alabama could honor the WWII 100th FS / 332nd FG known as the “Tuskegee Airmen”. The unit was an All-African-American squadron formed to show that Blacks could actually fly fighter aircraft. They not only showed them but they excelled at it. The Tuskegee Airmen planes were hand-me-downs so the tails were painted red to cover the previous markings. So some of the 100th FS F-16s have red tails.
Hobbymaster “Offers of the Week” Sale!
Check out the latest Hobbymaster SALE that has just been launched and are available to order at Flying Tigers today.
If you want any of these models be quick as possible as quantities are limited.
OFFER CLOSES MID-DAY TUESDAY 23RD OF AUGUST.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the image link below to see them all in the “Offers of the Week” Sale section.
Hobbymaster and other Military Brands Rare and “One only” available models! More models added!
I have added a large number of Hobbymaster and other Military branded models to the website. These are either rare and hard to find models or where there is only one (maybe two) available. Once they have gone they are gone!
All models are Brand New and Mint in Box and direct from the manufacturer / distributor.
If you have gaps in your collection and missed out the first time check these out.
Please click on the panels below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all .
Hobbymaster Updated Photo Gallery
Check out the all latest photos from Hobbymaster that have now been added to the Flying Tigers website. Please click on the images / links below to go to the model page.
Next Hobbymaster model delivery still due mid August at Flying Tigers.
Check out the next delivery of Hobbymaster models which will be available approx. mid-August and are available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Hobbymaster model delivery delayed from end of July to end of August at Flying Tigers.
This Hobbymaster model delivery will be available approx. at the end of August and are available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
HA5312 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale MiG-23MLD Blue 03, Soviet Air Force, Bagram, Afghanistan, July 1987 Sorry Sold out at pre-order stage.
HA9503 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-30SM Flanker Russian Knights Blue 34, RF-81705, Russian Air Force, 2019 Sorry sold out at pre-order stage.
That is all for this week.
Thank you for reading this week’s Newletter.
Richard
Flying Tigers.
