F. S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base

F. S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base is a joint civil-military airfield and Air National Guard installation located on the south shore of Long Island near Westhampton Beach, New York and Suffolk County, New York. Established during World War II as an Army Air Forces airfield, the installation evolved through the Cold War, Vietnam War, and post-Cold War periods into a modern Air National Guard hub hosting personnel, aircraft, and support infrastructure associated with regional and national contingency operations. The base is named for Francis S. Gabreski, a decorated United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force fighter ace and national aviation figure.

History

The site originated as Westhampton Beach Airport during the expansion of Army Air Forces Training Command facilities in the early 1940s, and was redesignated as an active airfield supporting Eighth Air Force and Ninth Air Force operations in the Atlantic theater. Postwar realignment placed the field under the jurisdiction of the Air Force Reserve Command and later the Air National Guard, with the New York Air National Guard assuming stewardship amid the 1950s reorganizations tied to the Korean War mobilization. During the Cold War, the installation hosted interceptor and tactical units linked to Air Defense Command and participated in continental air defense exercises such as Operation Sky Shield and Operation White Cloud. In the 1960s and 1970s elements supported logistics and training rotations for units deploying to Southeast Asia for the Vietnam War. The base gained prominence when the 106th unit converted to rescue and airlift roles in the 1990s following Base Realignment and Closure actions and the post-Cold War restructuring of United States Air Force assets, aligning with national search-and-rescue priorities and overseas contingency operations during the Global War on Terrorism.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The installation occupies runway, apron, hangar, and support complexes adjacent to Long Island MacArthur Airport airspace and regional transportation corridors such as New York State Route 27A. Its primary runway and taxiway pavements accommodate medium-to-large fixed-wing and rotorcraft operations, with maintenance hangars configured for depot-level servicing and rapid deployment staging. Communications and command facilities are interoperable with North American Aerospace Defense Command liaison elements and regional Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control centers, enabling interoperability during homeland defense and civil search-and-rescue missions. On-base infrastructure includes fuels storage, ordnance handling areas compliant with Department of Defense Explosives Safety Regulations standards, and family housing and morale facilities regulated under Military Housing Privatization Initiative frameworks. Environmental remediation and shoreland protection interfaces with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation guidelines and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mapping have shaped infrastructure upgrades.

Units and Operations

The principal tenant is the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, which encompasses subordinate units including the 102nd Rescue Squadron and support groups for operations, maintenance, and medical support. The wing conducts combat search-and-rescue, personnel recovery, and aeromedical evacuation tasks supporting theater and homeland contingencies, coordinating with joint organizations such as United States Northern Command, Air Combat Command, and United States Coast Guard District units during maritime rescues. Periodic integration exercises occur with 102nd Intelligence Wing elements and nearby active-duty units from Eglin Air Force Base and Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, reinforcing interoperability for expeditionary taskings and domestic emergency response under the auspices of Federal Emergency Management Agency activations.

Aircraft and Equipment

Historically the installation hosted fighters and transports including models from Republic F-105 Thunderchief and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II lineages during earlier tactical eras; in its modern configuration the wing operates rotary and fixed-wing assets optimized for rescue missions. Current primary aircraft types have included the Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules family in specialized rescue and aerial refueling configurations, supplemented by rescue-parachute and hoist systems certified to Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness standards. Ground support equipment encompasses aviation maintenance platforms from United Technologies-derived engine stands, precision avionics test benches, and integrated survival equipment stocks interoperable with United States Air Force Special Operations Command-sourced personal recovery kits during joint deployments.

Role and Mission

The base's mission centers on personnel recovery, combat search-and-rescue, aeromedical evacuation, and support to civil authorities for maritime and coastal emergencies along the Atlantic Coast and the Northeastern United States. As part of the Air National Guard posture, the wing maintains a dual state-federal mission set under Title 10 of the United States Code and Title 32 of the United States Code authorities, enabling mobilization for overseas contingency operations and activation by the Governor of New York for state emergencies. Through taskings from Air Mobility Command and coordination with United States Special Operations Command for designated recoveries, the installation provides rapid-response capability for downed aircrew recovery, natural disaster relief, and continuity of operations support for critical infrastructure.

Environmental and Community Impact

The installation's proximity to sensitive coastal habitats and suburban communities has driven collaborative programs with Suffolk County, New York authorities, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and regional conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy to mitigate noise, stormwater runoff, and habitat fragmentation. Environmental assessments conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and remediation projects addressing former Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances impacts have guided land use planning and public outreach. Community engagement includes partnerships with Suffolk County Community College for workforce development, support to regional veteran organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and coordinated emergency preparedness exercises with local municipalities and American Red Cross chapters. Category:Installations of the United States Air National Guard