110th Wing

The 110th Wing is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard headquartered at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek, Michigan. Although the supplied name refers to the unit's former designation as the 110th Airlift Wing, the authoritative subject is the 110th Wing, its current title since 1 March 2019. The organization has undergone several major mission and designation changes since its creation in the 1950s, moving from air defense and tactical reconnaissance to tactical air support, fighter operations, airlift, remotely piloted aircraft operations, and broader air and cyber support functions. The unit was constituted in 1956 as the 110th Fighter Group (Air Defense) and was allotted to the Air National Guard. Its flying component was the 172d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, based at what was then W. K. Kellogg Airport in Michigan. The group was initially associated with the 127th Air Defense Wing. In 1957, the 172d transitioned from fighter-interceptor duties to tactical reconnaissance with the RB-57 Canberra. That change caused the original group organization to be inactivated in 1958, although the 172d Reconnaissance Squadron and a reconnaissance technical unit continued the Battle Creek presence. The group was reactivated in 1962 as the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. During the following decades, the unit operated a succession of aircraft and adapted its mission to changing Air Force requirements. In 1971, it moved from the jet-powered RB-57 to the propeller-driven Cessna O-2 Skymaster and was redesignated the 110th Tactical Air Support Group. It returned to jet operations in 1980 with the OA-37 Dragonfly. In 1991, the organization transitioned to the OA-10 Thunderbolt II and became the 110th Fighter Group. It was elevated to wing status in 1995 as the 110th Fighter Wing. The 110th participated in overseas operations during the post-Cold War period, including Operation Deny Flight in 1997 and Operation Noble Anvil over Kosovo in 1999. Its personnel and aircraft also supported United States operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. These deployments reflected the unit's role as an operational Air National Guard formation capable of integrating with larger Air Force campaigns. A major transformation began in 2008, when the wing moved from the A-10 mission to the Learjet C-21A. The C-21A provided executive transport, cargo movement, and limited aeromedical evacuation capability. The organizational change became official on 1 March 2009, when the 110th Fighter Wing was redesignated the 110th Airlift Wing. At the same time, the unit moved from Air Combat Command to Air Mobility Command. The base also gained the 217th Air Operations Group in April 2009, adding intelligence, communications, planning, and operational coordination capabilities in support of the United States Air Force in Africa. The wing later returned to an attack-focused identity. On 13 December 2014, it was redesignated the 110th Attack Wing. The National Guard Bureau subsequently approved the shorter designation 110th Wing, effective 1 March 2019. Its current organization includes the 110th Operations Group, the 172nd Attack Squadron operating MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, the 272nd Cyber Operations Squadron, the 217th Air Operations Group and its subordinate units, as well as medical, mission support, engineering, security, logistics, communications, and force support organizations. The wing's contemporary mission combines distributed and remotely piloted aviation with air operations support. The 110th Operations Group functions as a remote-split operations center: aircraft and some maintainers deploy forward, while many pilots remain in Michigan and control MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper aircraft through satellite communications links. The unit therefore represents a modern Air National Guard model in which personnel at a domestic base can contribute directly to operations conducted in distant theaters. If activated for federal service, the wing would be gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

The 110th Wing traces its lineage to the 110th Fighter Group (Air Defense), constituted on 15 April 1956 and allotted to the Air National Guard. It received federal recognition and was activated on 1 September 1956 at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, Michigan. The 172d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron served as its flying unit, while material, base, and medical support elements completed the initial organization. In 1957, the unit's mission changed from fighter interception to tactical reconnaissance. The 172d received RB-57 Canberra aircraft and became a tactical reconnaissance squadron. The resulting reorganization reduced the size of the original group, which was inactivated around April 1958. A 127th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron was activated to preserve additional reconnaissance-related capabilities at Battle Creek. The 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was reactivated on 1 October 1962. The 172d operated RB-57 aircraft until 1971, when the unit shifted to the Cessna O-2 Skymaster. On 11 June 1971, the group became the 110th Tactical Air Support Group, reflecting its new role in tactical air support. In 1980, the unit transitioned to the OA-37 Dragonfly, restoring a jet-powered capability. In 1991, the organization moved from the OA-37 to the OA-10 Thunderbolt II and was redesignated the 110th Fighter Group. Following the reorganization of the Air National Guard, it became the 110th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1995. During the 1990s, the wing supported overseas operations, including Operation Deny Flight in 1997 and Operation Noble Anvil in 1999. It also later supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The most significant post-Cold War change came in 2008, when the unit transitioned from the A-10 to the C-21A Learjet. The C-21A was a twin-engine passenger and cargo aircraft capable of carrying personnel and limited aeromedical evacuation loads. The unit was redesignated the 110th Airlift Wing on 1 March 2009 and transferred from Air Combat Command to Air Mobility Command. On 1 April 2009, the 217th Air Operations Group was established at Battle Creek. Its subordinate elements provided intelligence, communications, operations, and Air Force component planning support, particularly for missions associated with the United States Air Force in Africa. The wing's airlift identity was temporary. On 13 December 2014, it became the 110th Attack Wing. On 1 March 2019, the National Guard Bureau officially shortened the designation to 110th Wing. The current organization includes the 110th Operations Group, the 172nd Attack Squadron with MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, the 272nd Cyber Operations Squadron, the 217th Air Operations Group, and a range of medical and mission-support units. The modern wing uses a distributed operating model. Its operations center can control remotely piloted aircraft through satellite communications while aircraft, maintainers, and selected pilots operate forward. This arrangement allows the unit to contribute to distant missions without moving every operational function from Michigan. The wing also supplies cyber, intelligence, communications, air planning, security, logistics, engineering, medical, and personnel support. Its lineage demonstrates the changing requirements of the Air National Guard, from territorial air defense and reconnaissance to expeditionary combat support and network-enabled remotely piloted operations.

• 2019

  Current 110th Wing designation adopted

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The National Guard Bureau officially renamed the unit the 110th Wing on 1 March.

• 2014

  Attack wing designation adopted

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing was redesignated the 110th Attack Wing during a ceremony on 13 December.

• 2009

  Airlift wing designation adopted

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 110th Airlift Wing and moved from Air Combat Command to Air Mobility Command.

• 2009

  217th Air Operations Group established

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 217th Air Operations Group was created at Battle Creek on 1 April to provide air operations, intelligence, communications, and planning support.

• 2008

  Transition from A-10 to C-21A

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit began a major transition from A-10 aircraft to Learjet C-21A aircraft, which arrived in October.

• 1999

  Operation Noble Anvil deployment

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing deployed to Trapani, Italy, in May 1999 to support air operations over Kosovo.

• 1995

  Raised to wing status

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 110th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1995.

• 1991

  OA-10 mission and fighter group redesignation

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing transitioned to the OA-10 Thunderbolt II and was redesignated the 110th Fighter Group.

• 1980

  OA-37 Dragonfly introduced

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit returned to jet operations with the OA-37 Dragonfly.

• 1971

  Tactical air support designation adopted

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  After moving from the RB-57 to the Cessna O-2 Skymaster, the unit became the 110th Tactical Air Support Group.

• 1962

  Tactical reconnaissance group reactivated

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and its support organizations were reactivated on 1 October.

• 1957

  Transition to tactical reconnaissance

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 172d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron began operating RB-57 Canberra aircraft in a tactical reconnaissance role.

• 1956

  110th Fighter Group constituted

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 110th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was constituted and allotted to the Air National Guard on 15 April 1956.

• 1956

  Federal recognition and activation

  [1]110th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The group was federally recognized and activated at Battle Creek, Michigan, on 1 September 1956.

A Michigan Air National Guard wing positioned as a flexible, multi-mission force combining remotely piloted aviation, air operations, cyber, intelligence, communications, and expeditionary support.

• Remotely piloted aircraft operations

  MQ-9 Reaper operations

  The 172nd Attack Squadron operates MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. The wing supports distributed operations in which aircraft and selected maintenance and flight personnel can deploy forward while many pilots operate from the United States through satellite communications links. This remote-split model is a central feature of the wing's contemporary mission.

• Military airlift · 2008

  C-21A airlift and transport

  From 2008, the unit operated the C-21A, the military version of the Learjet 35A. The aircraft provided passenger transport and cargo movement and could be configured for limited aeromedical evacuation. The C-21A era led to the 110th Airlift Wing designation, although the unit later adopted attack and then general wing designations.

• Air operations support · 2009

  217th Air Operations Group support

  The 217th Air Operations Group provides a largely self-contained package of air operations capabilities. Its subordinate organizations cover combat operations, communications, air component operations, intelligence, and planning functions, supporting larger Air Force commands and deployed missions.

• Military cyber operations

  Cyber operations

  The 272nd Cyber Operations Squadron forms part of the wing's modern information and network mission. The available reference identifies the squadron as an organizational component but does not provide further public detail about specific programs or operational outputs.

• 1999Operation Noble Anvil

  Italy · Kosovo · Balkans

  In May 1999, the wing deployed to Trapani, Italy, in support of Operation Noble Anvil, the United States component of the air campaign conducted over Kosovo.

  Source
• 1997Operation Deny Flight

  Bosnia and Herzegovina · Balkans

  The 110th Fighter Wing participated in Operation Deny Flight, the NATO-led air operation associated with enforcing the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

  Source
• Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · Middle East

  The wing served in Iraq-related operations under Operation Iraqi Freedom. The available reference confirms participation but does not specify the exact deployment dates, aircraft, or subordinate elements involved.

  Source
• Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan · Southwest Asia

  The wing supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan-related operations. Publicly available reference material confirms participation without providing a complete deployment chronology.

  Source

• 2019

  Adoption of the 110th Wing designationStrategy

  Background

  The unit's responsibilities had broadened beyond the specific airlift and attack labels used in earlier periods.

  Action taken

  The National Guard Bureau officially renamed the organization the 110th Wing on 1 March 2019.

  Aftermath

  The shorter designation remains the unit's current official identity and accommodates its mix of remotely piloted aircraft, air operations, cyber, intelligence, communications, and support missions.

  Source

• 2014

  Return to an attack-oriented identityStrategy

  Background

  After the C-21A airlift period, the organization adopted a mission identity centered on attack operations.

  Action taken

  The unit was redesignated the 110th Attack Wing on 13 December 2014.

  Aftermath

  The attack designation remained in use until the National Guard Bureau adopted the broader 110th Wing title in 2019.

  Source

• 2009

  Establishment of the 217th Air Operations GroupStrategy

  Background

  The Battle Creek installation expanded beyond its aircraft mission to provide more specialized air operations support.

  Action taken

  The 217th Air Operations Group was established on 1 April 2009 with intelligence, communications, operations, and Air Force component planning functions.

  Aftermath

  The group became a continuing component of the wing and strengthened its command, planning, communications, and intelligence capabilities.

  Source

• 2008

  Transition from A-10 aircraft to C-21A aircraftGeneration change

  Background

  The unit underwent a major mission change after the Air Force moved it away from the A-10 combat aircraft role.

  Action taken

  The organization began receiving C-21A Learjet aircraft in October 2008 for passenger transport, cargo movement, and limited aeromedical evacuation.

  Aftermath

  The transition led to the 110th Airlift Wing designation in 2009 and a change in gaining command from Air Combat Command to Air Mobility Command.

  Source

1. 1110th Wingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2110th Wing official website110wg.ang.af.mil