New York Air National Guard

New York Air National Guard
Unit name	New York Air National Guard
Dates	1917–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Department of Defense
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Air National Guard
Role	Air sovereignty, airlift, refueling, reconnaissance
Garrison	Stratford, Connecticut
Commander1	President of the United States
Commander1 label	Commander-in-Chief
Commander2	Governor of New York
Commander2 label	State commander

New York Air National Guard is the air militia component of the New York National Guard and a reserve partner of the United States Air Force under the Total Force Policy. Established with roots in early 20th-century aviation units, it provides air defense, airlift, aerial refueling, and intelligence support for state and federal missions. The force operates at the intersection of state emergency response and federal expeditionary operations, cooperating with federal agencies, regional combatant commands, and allied partners.

History

The origins trace to pre-World War I aviation activities linked to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and later formations like the 1st Aero Squadron and National Defense Act of 1916-era units. Post-World War I reorganizations tied New York units to the creation of the Army Air Service and later the Army Air Forces, with personnel and squadrons reconstituted under the National Defense Act of 1920 and interwar milestones such as the Mitchell Report. World War II mobilizations connected New York air units to theaters involving the European Theater of Operations (United States) and the Pacific Ocean Areas, while Cold War expansion linked the organization to the establishment of the United States Air Force and integration with commands like Air Combat Command and Strategic Air Command. During the Korean War and Vietnam War, New York units were federalized and attached to units deploying to Haneda Air Base-era operations and Southeast Asia support. Post-Vietnam restructuring involved adoption of missions aligned with the Total Force Concept and participation in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. After the September 11 attacks, New York air units expanded domestic air defense in coordination with Federal Aviation Administration and North American Aerospace Defense Command, and contributed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recent history includes modernization efforts coincident with the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) decisions and partnerships with NATO exercises such as Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Mission and Role

The state mission includes civil support under the authority of the Governor of New York for responses to disasters like Hurricane Sandy and Superstorm Sandy-era relief, coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, and support for law enforcement under statutes like the Insurrection Act. Federally, units provide combat-ready forces to United States Northern Command, United States European Command, and United States Central Command for contingency operations. Missions span homeland air defense with partners like North American Aerospace Defense Command, strategic and tactical airlift in concert with Air Mobility Command, aerial refueling for Global Strike Command and allied air forces, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance supporting National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency taskings.

Organization and Units

The structure comprises multiple wings, groups, and squadrons aligned with the United States Air Force force structure. Major components historically and currently include units analogous to the 106th Rescue Wing, 107th Attack Wing, 109th Airlift Wing, and 174th Attack Wing (examples of wing designations), with subordinate squadrons performing missions in airlift, intelligence, reconnaissance, refueling, and rescue. Command relationships include the New York Joint Force Headquarters and affiliations with numbered air forces like the First Air Force and the Eleventh Air Force for training and operational alignment. Cooperative relationships exist with civilian institutions such as the State University of New York system for technical training, and interagency partners like the New York City Office of Emergency Management.

Equipment and Aircraft

Over time the inventory evolved from biplanes of the Curtiss JN-4 era to piston transports like the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, jet fighters such as the North American F-86 Sabre, to modern platforms. Current equipment includes models used for airlift and refueling comparable to the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and tankers like the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus in various ANG units. Intelligence and unmanned systems such as the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and sensors linked to the E-3 Sentry network are employed for ISR missions. Support equipment encompasses airfield management systems compatible with Federal Aviation Administration standards, and survivability upgrades derived from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-funded technologies.

Operations and Deployments

Units have deployed to major operations including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle homeland defense sorties, and humanitarian missions like Operation Unified Response following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. International exercises have included participation in Red Flag, Saber Strike, and BALTOPS, and bilateral engagements with partners such as the Royal Air Force, Canadian Forces, and French Air and Space Force. Domestic operations feature support during Hurricane Katrina, pandemic response coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and security missions for high-profile events like presidential inaugurations and United Nations General Assembly sessions in New York City.

Training and Facilities

Training occurs at state installations and federal ranges, with facilities linked to airfields like Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Gabreski Air National Guard Base, and other regional bases supporting flying hours, survival training, and maintenance. Units utilize ranges such as the Pinecastle Range Complex and partner with federal schools like the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Air University, and National Guard Bureau schools for professional military education. Cooperative training includes exercises at the Nellis Air Force Base complex, interoperability training at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, and disaster response drills with agencies including the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Category:Air National Guard units Category:Military units and formations in New York (state)