Oregon Air National Guard: Difference between revisions

Oregon Air National Guard
123d Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle at Portland AGB. The 123d FS is the oldest unit in the Oregon Air National Guard, having over 70 years of service to the state and nation.
Active	18 April 1941- present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Oregon
Branch	Air National Guard
Role	"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."[citation needed]
Part of	Oregon Military Department United States National Guard Bureau
Garrison/HQ	Oregon Military Department, 1776 Militia Way SE, Salem, Oregon
Motto(s)	"When we are needed, we are there."[citation needed]
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor John Kitzhaber (Governor of Oregon)
State military leadership	Major General Raymond F. Rees
Insignia
Oregon Air National Guard
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-15C/D Eagle

The Oregon Air National Guard (OR ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. State of Oregon. Along with the Oregon Army National Guard, it is an element of the Oregon National Guard.

As state militia units, the units in the Oregon Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Military Department unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Oregon Air National Guard is headquartered at the Oregon Military Department, Salem. It is commanded by Major General Raymond F. Rees.

Under the "Total Force" concept, Oregon Air National Guard units are considered to be reserve components of the United States Air Force (USAF). Oregon 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 Oregon 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 its federal obligations, the Oregon ANG may be activated by order of the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety.^{[citation needed]} 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.

In addition, the Oregon State Defense Force is an all-volunteer militia force under the Oregon Military Department that provides reserve personnel to both the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard. It is under state jurisdiction and its members are employed only within the State of Oregon. It is not subject to be called, ordered or assigned as any element of the federal armed forces. It's mission is to provide units organized, equipped and trained in the protection of life or property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety under competent orders of State authorities.^[1]

The Oregon Air National Guard consists of the following major units:

• 142d Fighter Wing

Established 18 April 1941; operates: F-15C/D Eagle

Stationed at: Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland; Gained by: Air Combat Command

The Wing consists of over 1,000 officers and airmen, the “Redhawks” guard the Pacific Northwest airspace and coastal waters from northern California to the Canadian border with F-15 Eagles on 24-hour Air Sovereignty alert. Both operational and training missions take 142d Fighter Wing units around the globe in support of drug interdiction, Air Expeditionary Force missions, and contingency operations.^[2]

• 173d Fighter Wing

Established 1983; operates: F-15C/D Eagle

Stationed at: Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls; Gained by: Air Education and Training Command

Originally an interceptor pilot training squadron, today the wing is an advanced training organization responsible for training ANG air-to-air combat pilots.^[3]

The Oregon Air National Guard origins date to 30 July 1940 with the establishment of the 123d Observation Squadron and is oldest unit of the Oregon Air National Guard. It is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II. The unit consisted of two officers, 108 enlisted men and two aircraft, a North American BC-1A (like the AT-6) and a Douglas O-46A. The squadron flew observation missions primarily along the Pacific Coast and occasionally made mail flights. In September 1941, the 123rd Observation Squadron (123 Obs. Sq.) was activated into federal service as part of the build-up of the Army Air Forces prior to the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

The modern OR ANG received federal recognition on 30 August 1946 as the 142d Fighter Group at Portland Municipal Airport, Portland. Its 123d Fighter Squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and its mission was the air defense of the state.

Today the 142d Fighter Wing at Portland and the 173d Figher Wing at Klamath Falls both fly the F-15 Eagle with a homeland defense mission. After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Oregon 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, Oregon 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.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oregon Air National Guard.

• Oregon Military Department
• Oregon National Guard web site