103d Airlift Wing

The 103d Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard, located at Bradley ANGB, Connecticut.

Mission

Before the completion of the BRAC realignment with the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts, the 103 FW provided the firepower of the A-10 for close-air support as well as combat search and rescue missions, while maintaining an expeditionary combat support capability. In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended consolidating the wing with the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Municipal Airport in Massachusetts, and establish an aircraft maintenance depot at Bradley ANG Base, with no flying mission. When the BRAC recommendations were announced, Connecticut sued the Defense Department, arguing that the closure of the guard unit without the governor's approval would violate states' rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Before the lawsuit could make it to trial, Connecticut and DoD officials reached a compromise where the A-10s would be transferred out, and the 103 FW would transition to flying C-21 learjets, and by 2014 would again transition to the C-27J Spartans.^[1] As of June 2007, the unit has been reconstituted as the 103d Airlift Wing, according to official advertisements for job vacancies at the wing.

The wing's new mission will be to provide cargo and passenger airlift, medevac, and distinguished visitor support.

History

Assignments

Major Command/Gaining Command

• Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (2008–present)
• Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1 June 1992-2008)
• Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1971-1 June 1992)

Previous designations

• 103d Airlift Wing (2007–present)^[2]
• 103d Fighter Wing (1979–2007)
• 103d Fighter Group (April 1971-1979)
• 103d Fighter Interceptor Group (1952-April 1971)

Squadrons assigned

• 103d Air Control Squadron
• 118th Airlift Squadron (2007–present)
• 118th Fighter Squadron (1952–2007)

Bases stationed

• Bradley ANGB, Connecticut (1952–present)

Aircraft Operated^[3]

• C-27J Spartan (2014)
• C-21A Learjet (2007–2014)
• A-10A Thunderbolt II (1979–2007)
• C-12 Huron (???-???)
• F-100D Super Sabre (1971–1979)
• F-102 Delta Dagger (1965–1971)
• F-100A Super Sabre (1959–1965)
• F-86 Sabre (1958–1959)
• F-94B Starfire (1956–1958)
• F-84D Thunderjet (1954–1956)
• F-51 Mustang (1952–1954)
• P-47 Thunderbolt (1947–1952)
• C-47 Skytrain (1947–1950)
• B-26 Marauder (1947–1950)
• T-6 Texan (1947–1950)
• L-5 Sentinel (1947–1950)
• L-19 Bird Dog (1947–1950)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1992-1994 ^[4]
  • (200x?)^[5]

References

External links

• Bradley Air National Guard Base, Connecticut
• 103rd Airlift Wing official website
• GlobalSecurity.org, 103rd Airlift Wing