Stratton Air National Guard Base

Stratton Air National Guard Base. It is a United States Air Force installation located in Schenectady County, New York, and serves as the home of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing. The base is named in honor of New York State Senator Francis B. Stratton, a prominent advocate for the New York National Guard. Its primary mission involves providing unique ski-equipped Lockheed LC-130 airlift support to scientific research stations in Antarctica and Greenland.

History

The site's origins trace back to 1942 when it was established as Schenectady County Airport to support the World War II war effort. Following the war, the facility was transferred to local control before being designated a United States Air Force base in 1948 with the activation of the 109th Fighter Squadron. It was renamed in honor of Francis B. Stratton in 1974. Throughout the Cold War, the base hosted various fighter and reconnaissance units, including the 139th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron flying F-94 Starfire and F-101 Voodoo aircraft under Air Defense Command. A significant transition occurred in the 1970s when the 109th Tactical Airlift Group converted to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, beginning its specialization in cold-weather operations that would define its future.

Units

The principal and sole operational unit at the base is the 109th Airlift Wing, an organization under the Air Mobility Command-gained New York Air National Guard. The wing is composed of several subordinate groups and squadrons, including the 109th Operations Group, which commands the flying squadrons, and the 109th Maintenance Group. The primary flying unit is the 139th Airlift Squadron, which operates the fleet of modified Lockheed LC-130 aircraft. Support functions are carried out by the 109th Mission Support Group and the 109th Medical Group, providing essential base infrastructure, security, and personnel services.

Facilities

The installation encompasses the military portion of Schenectady County Airport, sharing runways with civilian aviation. Key infrastructure includes a large aircraft hangar complex capable of housing and maintaining the wing's specialized LC-130 fleet. The base features extensive maintenance facilities for the unique ski and wheel systems of its aircraft. Other significant facilities include a wing headquarters building, mission planning centers for polar operations, cargo processing areas, and training facilities for cold weather survival. The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs manages significant infrastructure investments to support the global mission.

Based units

The only permanently assigned flying unit is the 139th Airlift Squadron of the 109th Airlift Wing. The wing's associated support units, all collocated, include the 109th Maintenance Squadron, 109th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 109th Aerial Port Squadron, and 109th Security Forces Squadron. Non-flying units based here encompass the 109th Civil Engineer Squadron, 109th Force Support Squadron, and the 109th Comptroller Flight. These units report through the wing's group structure to the Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing.

Role and operations

The base's singular, global mission is to provide the United States military's only ski-equipped heavy airlift capability. This involves direct support of the National Science Foundation and the United States Antarctic Program through Operation Deep Freeze, resupplying remote stations like McMurdo Station and the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. The 109th Airlift Wing also supports National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) science campaigns and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research in Greenland. Domestically, the wing performs tactical airlift, aero-medical evacuation, and disaster response missions for United States Northern Command and New York State authorities, deploying its C-130 aircraft for hurricane relief and other state emergencies.

Category:Air National Guard bases Category:Military facilities in New York (state)