110th Airlift Wing

The 110th Airlift Wing (110th AW) is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard, stationed at Kellogg Air National Guard Base, Battle Creek, Michigan. If activated to federal service the Wing would be gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

Overview
The wing operates the C-27J Spartan. The C-27J is the newest cargo aircraft in the Air Force inventory. The missions that the C-27J can undertake include direct support of Army units, homeland security, disaster response, and medical evacuation, as well as multiple other Federal and State requirements. The C-27J has advantages over other Air Force cargo aircraft in that it is cheaper to operate, it can deliver small or medium sized loads without wasted excess capacity, and it can operate out of short, unimproved airfields without requiring ground support.

Units

 * 110th Operations Group
 * 172d Airlift Squadron


 * 110th Maintenance Group
 * 110th Mission Support Group
 * 110th Medical Group

History
In 1956 the 172d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS) of the Michigan Air National Guard was authorized to expand to a group level, and the United States Air Force constituted the 110th Fighter Group (Air Defense) and associated support units and allotted them to the Air National Guard for activation. The 172d FIS became the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 110th Material Squadron, 110th Air Base Squadron, and the 110th USAF Dispensary.

In 1957, the 172d FIS received a new aircraft, the RB-57 Canberra, and a new mission – tactical reconnaissance. The resulting reorganization cost the 110th Fighter Group 40 percent of its manpower and its name – the group was inactivated and the 172d, now the 172d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, once again became Battle Creek's primary Air National Guard unit. The activation of a non-flying squadron, the 127th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, helped prevent the loss of additional Guard members.

In 1962, the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and support organizations were reactivated with Major Howard Strand serving as its commander. Major Strand departed in January 1965 to become deputy commander of the 127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Selfridge AFB, Michigan. He returned again in 1974 to lead the 110th until 1981.

The 172d flew Canberras until 1971, when it undertook the radical and unexpected transformation from the RB-57 jets to the smaller, prop-powered Cessna O-2 Skymaster. On 11 June 1971, the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group became the 110th Tactical Air Support Group. In 1980, the 110th saw a return to jet power when it reequipped with OA-37 Dragonfly.

In 1991 the 110th Tactical Air Support Group transitioned from the Dragonfly to the OA-10 Thunderbolt II, and was redesignated the 110th Fighter Group. In June 1995 the 110th Fighter Group became the 110th Fighter Wing.

In 1997 the wing took part in Operation Deny Flight. The 110th Fighter Wing served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In May 1999 the 110th Fighter Wing was deployed to Trapani Italy in support of Operation Noble Anvil, the air operations over Kosovo.

The 110th Fighter Wing underwent a major transition moving from the A-10 aircraft to the Learjet C-21A aircraft in 2008. The C-21, which arrived in October 2008, is a twin turbofan engine passenger aircraft, the military version of the Lear Jet 35A. With a crew of two, it can accommodate eight passengers and 42 cuft of cargo. For aero medical evacuations, it can carry one little litter or five ambulatory patients plus one flight nurse and two medical technicians. The 110th Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 110th Airlift Wing with no change in station. It changed from an Air Combat Command unit to an Air Mobility Command unit on 1 December 2009.

The base also witnessed the creation of a new unit, the 110th Air Operations Group (AOG) on 1 April 2009. The 110th AOG is an organization supporting the 17th Air Force (AFAFRICA). The 110th AOG has five squadrons that include medical, communications, logistics, operations and planning in a largely self-contained package.

The wing has now transitioned to the C-27J with no change in its designation or gaining command.

Lineage

 * Constituted as the 110th Fighter Group and allotted to the Air National Guard ca. 15 April 1956
 * Extended federal recognition and activated, 1 September 1956
 * Inactivated on 30 June 1957


 * Redesignated 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
 * Activated on 1 October 1962
 * Redesignated 110th Tactical Air Support Group, 1 July 1971
 * Redesignated 110th Fighter Group, 16 October 1991
 * Redesignated 110th Fighter Wing, 1 October 1995
 * Redesignated 110th Airlift Wing, 1 March 2009

Assignments

 * Michigan Air National Guard, 1 September 1956 – 30 June 1957
 * Gained by: Air Defense Command


 * Michigan Air National Guard, 1 October 1962 – Present
 * Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1962
 * Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992
 * Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 March 2009

Components
Groups
 * 110th Air Operations Group, 1 April 2009 – Present
 * 110th Operations Group, 1 June 1992 – Present
 * 110th Logistics Group (later 110th Maintenance Group), 1 October 1995 – Present
 * 110th Medical Group, 15 October 1962 – Present
 * 110th Support Group (later 110th Mission Support Group), 1 October 1995 – Present

Operational Squadron
 * 172d Airlift Squadron, 1 September 1956 – 30 June 1957; 1 October 1962 – Present

Stations

 * W. K. Kellogg Airport, Michigan, 1 September 1956-30 June 1957; 1 October 1962–
 * Designated: Kellogg Air National Guard Base, Michigan, 1991–Present

Aircraft

 * C-21A Learjet (2009–Present)
 * A-10A Thunderbolt II (1991–2009)
 * OA-10A Thunderbolt II (1991–2009)
 * OA-37B Dragonfly (1981–1991)


 * O-2A Skymaster (1971–1981)
 * RB-57 Canberra (1962–1971)
 * F-89C Scorpion (1956–1957)