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| 102d Intelligence Wing | |
|---|---|
 102d Intelligence Wing emblem |
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| Active | 1946–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States Air Force |
| Branch | Air National Guard/Air Combat Command |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Ground-based distributed radar installation1 |
| Size | 950 members Including:80 officers 745 enlisted personnel |
| Part of | Air National Guard/Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Otis ANGB, Massachusetts |
| Nickname | "Eagle Keepers" "Bear Chasers" |
| Motto | "Omnis Vir Tigris" Everyone A Tiger |
| Equipment | Distributed Common Ground Systems Air Operations Center2 |
| Decorations |  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991) |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Anthony E. Schiavi |
The United States Air Force's 102nd Intelligence Wing (102 IW), Massachusetts Air National Guard, is an intelligence unit located at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. It is a parent unit of the 101st Intelligence Squadron. From its creation in 1946 to its mission change in 2008, the 102nd was helped patrol the Northeastern United States from foreign attack. The 102nd was deployed during the Berlin Crisis to France and was additionally deployed to Panama during Operation Coronet Nighthawk. In addition, it was a participant in Operation Northern Watch, in which it helped patrol the No-Fly Zone north of the 36th parallel. During the September 11 attacks, the 102nd Fighter Wing was the first Air Force unit to send aircraft toward New York City, unfortunately they arrived too late to help stop the attacks.
Base downsizing through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process removed the wing's F-15C Eagles beginning in 2007, leaving the 102nd with an intelligence gathering mission that will be fully active starting in 2010. It is one of three Air National Guard wings that works with the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency.
Contents |
History
Origins
After World War I ended, there was a great interest among those in the Army into organizing aviation assets for the National Guard system. At the time, in the US force structure aircraft were organized into infantry units in a fashion similar to other weapons, like artillery. Guard units without their own aircraft units would need units from other forces to be sent to operate with them, a situation no one thought was promising. The War Department agreed that the guard should organize aviation squadrons as an organic part of the 18 infantry divisions assigned to the National Guard.3
In Massachusetts, the Archie Club, composed of former Army Air Service pilots, lobbied for the formation of an air unit for the Massachusetts National Guard. The state had earlier been allotted the entire 26th Guard Division. On June 27, 1921, the Adjutant General of Massachusetts authorized the organization of the 101st Observation Squadron, and within weeks 15 veteran World War I pilots were commissioned and assigned to the 101st under the command of Capt. James K. Knowles. The 101st built its own air base on land-filled tidal flats at Jeffries Point, East Boston.4 The 101 flew its Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" aircraft throughout New England at air shows, county fairs and other events. In addition, the 101st attended two-week summer camps that simulated forward deployments.3 Pilots flew their Curtiss O-11s to temporary fields on Cape Cod while ground crews followed in trucks.3 One of these fields became Cape Cod Airport.3
In 1933 Jeffery Field was rebuilt with new hangers and administrative buildings, and renamed Logan Airport in honor of Major General Edward L. Logan, who commanded the 26th Division from 1923 to 1928.3 The 101st was ordered into state service in 1936 and 1938 during a devastating flood and hurricane to fly observation missions and to drop food and equipment to stranded fishermen and the residents of Isle au Haut, Maine3 The 101st helped gained fame when it played a big part in the U.S. Army Air Service's flight around the world.3 This flight was the crowning achievement in aviation in the United States because it succeeded where five other nations had failed. Boston was en route from the flight leg from Canada to Washington D.C. and the 101st was then lucky enough to be able to care for the planes.3 It then cared for the Spirit of St. Louis when Charles Lindbergh visited the state.5
World War II
101st Squadron
In 1940, the 101st was separated from the 26th Infantry Division and in November was ordered into active federal service for intensive training. This training centered around flying and discipline for the men of the 101st. Initially the 101st’s 25 officers and 133 enlisted men remained at home station until July 31 1941 when it was then moved from Logan to Otis Field at Camp Edwards. Otis Field was named in after 1st Lt Frank J. Otis, Jr., MD, a 101st flight surgeon who was killed in a flight accident in 1938. The 101st participated in the North Carolina maneuvers in the fall of 1941 and returned to Otis on December 6 1941.3
With the outbreak of World War II, the 101st was assigned to fly anti-submarine patrols off the coast of New England until September 10 1942. By then many of its original members has been reassigned during the expansion of the Army Air Forces. During the next two years, the 101st was transferred to several bases and on May 20, 1944 had its mission changed when it was re designated as the 39th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron. It was then placed under the command of the Ninth Air Force and deployed to the European Theater in December, 1944 with 45 officers and 297 enlisted men. The 39th flew both P-38s and P-51s during operational missions from January, 1945 to the end of the war in May. The 39th returned to the states in August, 1945 and was re designated as the 101st Fighter Squadron in May 1946, and then inactivated two month later.3
Veterans of the 101st and Army Air Force reorganized the 101st at Logan Airport on July 29, 1946. The squadron was equipped with the P-47 Thunderbolt and was federally recognized on October 15, 1946.3
318th Fighter Group
The 102nd Intelligence Wing can trace its roots back to the 318th Fighter Group.6 The 318th, which was formed in 1942, fought in the Pacific and was part of bomber escort missions to Japan, as well as participating in aircraft carrier takeoffs, rarely used by the Army Air Force.6 After the war, the 318th was moved to the United States. It was deactivated on January 12, 1946.6 It was reactivated as the 102nd Fighter Group on May 22, 1946.6
Cold War
In the post-war era the National Guard Bureau began a major expansion of its air units. Massachusetts was allotted the 67th Fighter Wing, which consisted of the 101st Fighter Squadron, the 131st Fighter Squadron, the 132nd Fighter Squadron, the 202nd Air Service Group, 601st Signal Construction Company, 101st Communications Squadron, 101st Air Control Squadron, 151st Air Control and Warning Group, 567th Air Force Band, 101st Weather Flight and the 1801st Aviation Engineer Company.3 The 67th Wing was assigned to Air Defense Command. In 1950, the 67th Fighter Wing was deactivated and the 102nd Fighter Group took its place.3 When the 102nd took command, it lost the every unit except for the 101st Fighter Squadron, the 131st, the 567th, and the 1801st.3
With the formation of the US Air Force the Guard units were generally neglected.3 In the midst of the switch to jet fighters, the Guard units were left with their handed-down and generally overused World War II propeller aircraft, and had little funds with which they could spend on training.3 As the Cold War intensified, the Air Forced looked to the Guard to fill US-based interception missions and started overhauling their organization.3 On 1 Nov. 1950 the 67th Fighter Wing was inactivated and replaced by the 102nd Fighter Wing, including just the 101st and 131st along with their associated support units,3 and at some point before 1961 the Wing was renamed a Tactical Fighter Wing. The squadrons were issued F-84B Thunderjets, but these aircraft were recalled and replaced by F-51 Mustangs which were flown until 1954 when the F-94 Starfire replaced the Twin Mustangs.3 In 1952 the 253d Combat Communications Group was activated and added to the 102nd.3 In 1958 the Wing converted to the F-86H Sabre.3
From 1956 to 1976, the 102d was headed by Brigadier General Charles W. Sweeney. Charles became famous for piloting the B-29 Superfortress which dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.7 During his tenure, he saw the growth and development of the wing from a rather new unit to a premiere force that was the mainstay of air defense in the northeastern United States.3
Berlin Wall Crisis
During the summer of 1961, as the crisis surrounding the building of the Berlin Wall unfolded, several USAF reserve units were notified on August 16 of their pending recall to active duty. On October 1st, the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing and its three squadrons, the 101st Tactical Fighter Squadron, the 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron, and the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron went on active duty at Otis Air Force Base.7
Between the 28th and 30th of October, the 102nd TFW departed Logan International Airport to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base, Phalsbourg, France.3 The wing deployed 82 Sabres across the Atlantic. In addition two C-47 Skytrains and six T-33 Shooting Star aircraft were assigned to the wing for support and training purposes. During the crisis, the Wing controlled the 102nd TFG, the 104th Tactical Fighter Group, and the 174th Tactical Fighter Group from New York.5 The 102d's primary mission at the time was to provide close air support to NATO ground forces, including the for the Seventh Army3 and air interdiction.3 During the Blockade, the 102nd did not incure any losses.3 Starting on December 5, the 102nd began deploying to Wheelus Air Base, Libya for gunnery training.
During its time in Europe, the 102nd participated in several USAF and NATO exercises, including a deployment to Leck Air Base, West Germany near the Danish border. At Leck, ground and support crews from both countries exchanged duties, learning how to perform aircraft maintenance and operational support tasks.
On May 7 1962, the Seventeenth Air Force stated that the 102nd would deploy back to the United States during the summer, returning in August 1962.3 Regular USAF personnel, along with a group of ANG personnel who volunteered to remain on active duty formed the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the newly activated 366th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Relocation to Otis
In 1968, the 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing moved to Otis Air Force Base. The next year the wing was reassigned from Air Defense Command to Tactical Air Command. The wing flew the F-84F Thunderstreak from 1964 until June 1971, when a squadron of F-100D Super Sabres was transferred directly from units fighting the Vietnam War.5 After making the transition to the "Hun," the Mach 2 F-106 Delta Darts soon arrived to replace them. On June 10 1972, after completing the move to the F-106, the unit officially became the 102nd Air Defense Wing.5 On December 30, 1973, Otis AFB was inactivated and transferred to the Massachusetts ANG as Otis Air National Guard Base.5
The wing participated in the interception of Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bombers on many occasions, the first of which occurred off Long Island on April 25, 1975.4 Many of these occasions included escorting the aircraft to Cuba. The wing also escorted drug smuggling planes on occassion and one time was scrambled to escort an unidentified object, which later turned out to be a weather balloon.8
In 1976, the 102nd Fighter Interceptor Group was deactivated and re-formed as the 102nd Fighter Interceptor Wing, assuming authority for the 177th and 125th Fighter Interceptor Groups in Atlantic City, NJ, and Jacksonville, FL, and for the 107th and 147th Fighter Interceptor Groups, flying F-4C Phantom at Niagara Falls, NY, and Ellington Field, TX.5
The 102nd FIW deactivated its F-106s on January 5, 1988. Between January and April 1988, the wing converted to the F-15A Eagle, which it received from a unit deactivating at Minot Air Force Base. It then resumed its alert commitment at Otis, and also established a new Detachment 1 at Loring AFB. The 102nd was the first ANG unit to be equipped with the F-15.5
Post-Cold War
The wing continued its air defense mission after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 1992, the wing deployed eight pilots, five F-15 Eagles, and 48 maintenance and security personnel, for five days to Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada for training.9 The same year, with the reorganization of the USAF, the wing was reassigned from the disbanding Tactical Air Command to the new Air Combat Command.9 A year later, the wing deployed 50 personnel from the 102nd Civil Engineering Squadron under field conditions, to the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas in July 1993.9 They helped to rebuild school buildings and municipal facilities that were damaged by Hurricane Andrew.9 The same year, Detachment 1 moved from Loring Air Force Base, which was closing, to Bangor International Airport, where it would operate until 2008.
Between 1991 and 1995 the wing deployed to Panama as part of Operation Coronet Nighthawk, a drug interdiction operation. In 1992 the Wing became simply the 102nd Fighter Wing as part of a USAF-wide renaming of units.10 From 1995 to 1998 the wing deployed to Iceland for 45 days of air defense duty.9 During 1998 members both trained for and performed for assignments in Iceland, Canada, Korea, and Europe. In 1999 the wing participated in Operation Northern Watch when it deployed with its F-15 Eagle aircraft to Turkey to patrol and enforce the no-fly zone north of the 36th Parallel in northern Iraq.9 The wing again deployed more than 350 personnel to the Middle East and Europe in 2000 to participate in Operation Southern Watch.5
Global War on Terror
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
- See also: Flight 11, Flight 175
On September 11, 2001, two planes were hijacked and flown towards New York City. The Federal Aviation Administration then contacted the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Northeast Air Defense Sector, bypassing standard procedures. NORAD ordered the 102nd Fighter Wing to scramble its jets. Two F-15s piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Duffy and Major Daniel Nash were scrambled and took off to fly to New York. Difficulties in pinpointing the exact location of Flight 11 led to a delay of five minutes before the scramble order was given at 8:43. When Flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46, the two F-15 Eagles that had been ordered to scramble were still on the runway at Otis; they did not take to the air until 8:52. Lacking a target, the F-15s were directed toward military-controlled airspace off the Long Island coast to avoid New York area air traffic. Uncertain about what to do, the planes were ordered to 'hold as needed' there. At 9:02, Flight 175 hit the South Tower while the fighters flew to their holding position. The Northeast Air Defense Sector was not contacted about this hijacked plane until 9:03. From 9:09 to 9:13 the F-15s stayed in the holding pattern.111213 At 9:13, the pilots of the F-15s told FAA Boston Center that they were heading for Manhattan to establish a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the area. The F-15s arrived over Manhattan at 9:25.12
Conspiracy link
- See Also: 9/11 Conspiracy theories
After the initial shock of the attacks had passed, questions arose about how the military handled the hijacking and subsequent response with the jets. Some thought that the jets had been purposely kept from flying immediately to New York City.14 The questions arising from the response time of the jets come from the practice of Cold War era policies which prohibited the immediate response to an emergency like a hijacking.15 First responder and pilot Daniel Nash said that he couldn't recall being told that the North Tower was hit but he did remember seeing the smoke over 70 miles away.14 It is also claimed by conspiracists that the calculations of NORAD were in correct because according to their own calculations, the planes were flying at 24% of their maximum speed.14 This statement takes into account the time in which the planes were in a holding pattern over military airspace. The jets were also prohibited from going supersonic over land by Federal Aviation Administration rules. These rules are meant to prevent damage to buildings from the shockwave a sonic boom produces.
Operations Noble Eagle
More than 600 wing members were mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle at different times. The wing began flying around-the-clock combat air patrols missions immediately thereafter, and continued doing so until February 2002.7 In the buildup to the invasion of Afghanistan, 6 F-15s and 161 personnel were sent to the Persian Gulf region.16 The wing also patrolled the skys of the Northeastern United States during this time period. The wing though never deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The wing converted from the F-15A/B to the F-15C/D in 2004.17 These planes came from Kadena Air Base.
BRAC 2005
The BRAC 2005 commission originally planned to close Otis Air National Guard Base and dissolve the 102nd.9 Locals argued that this would leave a huge gap in the national air defenses. BRAC officials, after visiting the base, decided to keep it open, but the 102nd would still lose its planes, only this time they were only going to the 104th Fighter Wing, based at Barnes Municipal Airport.8
The wing hosted the Cape Cod Air Show & Open House, its last air show with the F-15C Eagle at the end of Air Force Week in August, 2007. The wing shared a commonality with the 101st Air Refueling Wing, the 103d Fighter Wing, and the 104th Fighter Wing, which due to BRAC decisions, also changed the type of planes that they flew. Beginning in 2007, the F-15s began moving to Barnes Municipal Airport. With the grounding of the F-15 Eagles, the 158th Fighter Wing, which is based in Vermont took over the role of patrolling the Northeast's skies earlier than expected.18 This interruption of the F-15's flight, coinciding with the transitioning of the fighter jets to the 104th Fighter Wing, created some issues.18 The move was originally scheduled to be completed at the end of January, but the grounding of the F-15's in late 2007 and early 2008 delayed this move to the end of February.
On January 24, 2008, the 102d Fighter Wing flew its last patrol mission. The unit's wing commander, Colonel Anthony Schiavi, led the flight, accompanied by Major Daniel Nash, who was one of the first responders for 9/11. Fire trucks were on hand when the team landed a half-hour later, giving the planes and the pilots the customary ceremonial hose-down for the last time.8
New Mission
As soon as it was announced that the wing would be kept alive and Otis Air National Guard Base would remain open, the state government began thinking of the future for the 102d. Discussed among the staff of the 102nd and those at the Massachusetts Air National Guard headquarters was a plan that centered around the idea that the wing could transition to an intelligence mission so that it could help support the growing War On Terror. The plans hit a roadblock when it was announced that the funds which the wing could use to transition into its new mission had been depleted.19
The new mission was finally confirmed when Governor Deval Patrick announced that the wing would transition to an intelligence mission as soon as the planes left.20 Original BRAC plans only hinted at a Distributed Common Ground Station being created at Otis.21 These plans didn't include the air guardsmen affected by the loss of their jobs. The issue was finally resolved when the Air Force announced its plans, right before the F-15's started to leave for Barnes.20
On April 1, 2008, the 102d Fighter Wing was re designated as the 102d Intelligence Wing, with a formal ceremony on April 6. The wing will reach full operation in 2010.22 By October 1st, the wing is expected to be operationally ready.
During the time preceding the wing reaching full operational capacity, members of the wing had the option of moving with the F-15s to Barnes. Most members decided to stay behind and train for their new missions. The crash trucks moved with the F-15s to Barnes, leaving the brush breakers of the Massachusetts Military Reservation behind. The buildings formally occupied by the planes will be reused for the intelligence mission by wing members. These buildings include the hangers that the F-15s formally occupied.
Units assigned
Current
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s decision dissolved the maintenance unit, because there are no more planes.
- 102d Intelligence Group
- 101st Intelligence Squadron (2008–Present)
- Air Support Operation Squadron
- 102d Air Operations Group
- 202d Weather Flight (1967–Present)
- 253d Combat Communications Group
- 102d Mission Support Group
- 102d Civil Engineering Squadron
- 102d Communications Squadron
- 102d Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 102d Security Forces Squadron
- 102d Mission Support Flight
- 102d Student Pilot Flight
- 102d Services Flight
- 102d Medical Group
- 102d Medical Squadron
- 567th Air Force Band
Fighter Wing
Units that were part of the 102d Fighter Wing23:
- 102d Operations Group
- 101st Fighter Squadron (1946–2008)
- 102d Operations Support Flight
- 202d Weather Flight (1967–Present)
- 102d Maintenance Group (???–2008?)
- 102d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 102d Maintenance Squadron
- 102d Maintenance Operations Flight
- 102d Mission Support Group
- 102d Civil Engineering Squadron
- 102d Communications Squadron
- 102d Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 102d Security Forces Squadron
- 102d Mission Support Flight
- 102d Services Flight
- 102d Medical Group
- 102d Medical Squadron
Notes
- ^ "102nd Fighter Wing". Ken Middleton (22 January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ "Commander Environmental Statement". 102IW Public Affairs office (22 January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Commonwealth of Massachusetts Military Division, Air National Guard History". National Guard Museum & Archives (29 May 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b "Team Otis Online, The 102d Intelligence Wing". US Air Force. Retrieved on 2008-07-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The 102nd Fighter Wing". Philippe Colin (22 January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b c d "Air Force Combat Units of World War II — Part 5". Maurer, Maurer (1986). Retrieved on 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b c "Today in Guard History (August) History". National Guard (2008). Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
- ^ a b c "Otis See Its Last Landing". Boston News (29 May 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Global Security History of the 102d Fighter Wing". Global Security (29 May 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
- ^ "Flight Path Study — American Airlines Flight 11". National Transportation Safety Board (19 February 2002). Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ a b "'We Have Some Planes'". National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (July 2004). Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ "9/11 recordings chronicle confusion, delay". CNN (17 June 2004). Retrieved on 2008-05-24. and the 9/11 Commission Report - PAGE NUMBER NEEDED!
- ^ a b c "'Conspiracies!'". Telegraph.co.uk (7 July 2008). Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
- ^ "'9/11 Panel Suspected Deception by Pentagon'". Washington Post (2 August 2006). Retrieved on 2008-11-07.
- ^ "U.S. force buildup under way". USA Today (20 September 2001). Retrieved on 2008-11-22.
- ^ "102nd Fighter Wing, Massachusetts ANG". The AMARC Experience (16 August 2006). Retrieved on 2008-11-22.
- ^ a b "'A Falcon for an Eagle". airforce-magazine.com (14 December 2007). Retrieved on 2008-11-07.
- ^ "CapeCodTimes.com — New Otis mission in limbo". Cape Cod Times (29 May 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b "Otis Air Base 'Secure'". Cape Cod Times (17 September 2007). Retrieved on 2008-11-252.
- ^ "DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE". DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (6 August 2005). Retrieved on 2008-11-07.
- ^ "A change of the Guard at Otis". Massachusetts National Guard (7 April 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ "FY05 Annual Report Fina". Massachusetts National Guard (29 May 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
References
- World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
External links
- "The On Guard" August 2007
- AMARC (AMARC) 102d FW
- Philippe Aviation Updates
- Fencecheck on the 102d
- Patches for the 102d and 101st
- 102nd Intelligence Wing: Massachusetts Air National Guard
- Flight With the 102d
- US considered 'suicide jet missions'
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