District of Columbia Air National Guard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

District of Columbia Air National Guard

Active May 24, 1946
Country United States
Branch Air National Guard

United States Air Force
Type Air Reserve Component
Size 5,000 personnel
1 flying wing
2 flying squadrons
Garrison/HQ Andrews Air Force Base
Nickname Capital Guardians
Motto Custodes Pro Defensione
Guardians for Defense
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brig. Gen. Richard J. Prosek

The District of Columbia Air National Guard is the component of the United States Air National Guard operating within the District of Columbia. They are also known as the Capital Guardians.

Because Washington, D.C. lacks an Air Force installation, DC Air National Guard units are stationed at nearby Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Contents

[edit] Units

  • 113th Wing
  • 121st Weather Flight
  • 231st Combat Communications Squadron

[edit] 113th Wing Air National Guard (DCANG)

Andrews has been the home of the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard units since 1946. Wing members were called to active duty in the Korean War, the and the 1961 Berlin crisis and several other times. Over the years, the 113th has flown nine different fighter aircraft, including the F-100 Super Sabre deployment to Europe in 1964 and combat deployment to Vietnam in 1968. The most recent deployment was for Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The wing flew the F-105 Thunderchief for 10 years before converting to the F-4D Phantom II fighter in 1981. The 113th now flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon and only recently the C-21 Learjet and C-22 Boeing 727, as a result of the DCANG unit reorganization when the 201st Airlift Squadron became part of the wing in October 1995.

Formerly Detachment 1, Headquarters DCANG, the 201st AS performs operational airlift missions for the National Guard Bureau, the Air Force and the Department of Defense as requested.

Training of air combat and operational airlift crews for national defense is the 113th's primary mission. The 113th also provides a ready response force of fighters for the defense of the District of Columbia area 24/7. Members of the 113th also assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking in the District of Columbia on a case by case basis.

[edit] 121st Weather Flight (DCANG)

The 121st Weather Flight, organized in 1953., is an Air Combat Command Air National Guard unit which provides operationally ready weather observers, forecasters and officers for contingency support to First United States Army Headquarters, Fort Gillem, Ga. And Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, N.C. as needed.

The primary peacetime mission is to train personnel, providing weather support through observations of current weather conditions, forecasts, weather watches/warnings, staff and aviation briefings, climatology and astronomical data. The flight uses automated data retrieval systems such as the Automated Weather Distribution System, Next Generation (Doppler) Radar, laser beam ceilometer (cloud base measuring device), fixed satellite receivers, internet connective data bases and Air Force and Navy meteorological dial-in data retrieval systems.

[edit] 231st Combat Communications Squadron (DCANG)

The 231st Combat Communications Squadron is an Air Combat Command gained unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. The unit has federal and state missions.

The federal mission is to deploy, install, operate, and maintain Communications and Electronic facilities in support of USAF worldwide operations.

The unit supports many DOD agencies and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1994-95 and 1995-96.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Air National Guard in the United States
States Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Federal district
and territories		 District of Columbia • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands
United States Air Force stub This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/i/s/District_of_Columbia_Air_National_Guard_0963.html"