111th Attack Wing
The 111th Attack Wing is a Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit headquartered at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, operating MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, and precision strike missions.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The 111th Attack Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard based at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Although its immediate predecessor is widely associated with fighter and attack aviation, the wing represents a much longer Pennsylvania National Guard lineage that began with the 103d Observation Squadron, organized on 27 June 1924 as one of the original National Guard observation squadrons established before the Second World War. The organization has repeatedly changed aircraft, mission, designation, and operating command in response to national defense requirements. The wing's wartime lineage includes the 391st Bombardment Group, constituted in January 1943 and trained on Martin B-26 Marauders for service with the Ninth Air Force in Europe. From RAF Matching in England, the group flew its first combat mission on 15 February 1944 and conducted more than 150 missions against airfields, rail yards, bridges, fuel installations, troop concentrations, communications targets, and V-weapon sites. Its operations supported the Normandy invasion, the breakout at Saint-Lô, and the Allied advance through France and the Low Countries. The group later moved to the European continent, converted to Douglas A-26 Invaders, and completed its final mission in May 1945 before being inactivated after returning to the United States. The wartime group was reactivated and redesignated the 111th Bombardment Group in 1946, then organized as a Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit at Philadelphia International Airport. During the Korean War period, parts of the organization were called to federal service, with aircraft and personnel being reassigned to training and reconnaissance duties. The group operated RB-29 reconnaissance aircraft for a period in 1951–1952. On 13 June 1952, an RB-29 crew associated with the organization was shot down by Soviet MiG-15 fighters over waters near Vladivostok. The fate of the crew remained concealed from relatives for decades and became known more clearly after the opening of post-Soviet archives. After returning to Pennsylvania control, the unit moved through a series of air-defense aircraft, including the F-51D Mustang, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-94 Starfire, and F-89 Scorpion. In 1962 it transitioned to the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter and adopted a global airlift role under the Military Air Transport Service and later the Military Airlift Command. The organization moved from Philadelphia to new facilities at Willow Grove Naval Air Station in 1963. Its airlift crews supported worldwide transportation requirements, including missions connected with the Vietnam War. In 1969 the unit returned to an observation and airborne forward air control mission. It initially used the U-3A Blue Canoe and then the Cessna O-2A Skymaster, followed by the OA-37 Dragonfly in 1981. The unit conducted deployments and exercises in Central America during the 1980s. In 1988 it received the A-10A Thunderbolt II, later performing the OA-10 forward air control role alongside close air support and combat search and rescue missions. It became the 111th Fighter Group in 1992 and the 111th Fighter Wing in 1995. The wing deployed A-10s to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch in 1995 and again in 1999. After the September 11 attacks, it supported operations connected with Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom, including a short-notice deployment to Al Jaber Air Base. From October 2002 through January 2003, the wing led an expeditionary deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, operating in austere conditions and supporting U.S., coalition, and ground-force operations. It subsequently deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from February through May 2003 for the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, moving from Al Jaber to Tallil Air Base while supporting coalition armored forces. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process recommended closing Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and redistributing the wing's A-10 aircraft. The recommendation ultimately ended the wing's A-10 fighter mission and led to a major organizational transition. The modern 111th Attack Wing operates MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft and provides qualified personnel, operational units, and support capabilities to combatant commanders. Its stated roles include surveillance, reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, and weapons employment when directed. The wing also hosts tenant organizations, including Pennsylvania Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve elements, at Horsham.
History
The organization's lineage begins with the 103d Observation Squadron, formed in Pennsylvania on 27 June 1924. It was among the original National Guard observation squadrons created before World War II. During the Second World War, the lineage was carried by the 391st Bombardment Group, constituted on 15 January 1943 and activated six days later. Equipped with B-26 Marauders, the group trained for the European theater and arrived at RAF Matching in England in January 1944. It flew its first mission on 15 February and supported the Allied campaign through attacks on transportation, communications, military installations, fuel facilities, bridges, and V-weapon sites. It supported the Normandy invasion and the advance across France and the Low Countries, later moving to the continent and converting to A-26 Invaders. The group flew its final mission in May 1945 and was inactivated in the United States in October. In 1946 the wartime group was reactivated and redesignated the 111th Bombardment Group for Pennsylvania Air National Guard service. It received federal recognition at Philadelphia International Airport in December 1948. A 1950 reorganization briefly created a composite structure incorporating fighter elements, but the organization returned to a bombardment designation after those fighter elements were reassigned. The Korean War produced another major change. The group was called to active duty, while several bombardment squadrons and their B-26 aircraft moved to Langley Air Force Base for crew training. The group headquarters, support elements, and the 103d Bombardment Squadron moved to Fairchild Air Force Base. In August 1951 it became a strategic reconnaissance group and began operating RB-29 Superfortresses fitted with cameras for aerial reconnaissance. On 13 June 1952, an RB-29 was intercepted and shot down by Soviet MiG-15s near Vladivostok. The incident was not fully understood by the aircrew families until information became available after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The group was subsequently inactivated and its squadrons assigned directly to the wing. The organization returned to Pennsylvania control in late 1952 and re-formed at Philadelphia. Its 103d unit moved through several air-defense aircraft: the F-51D Mustang, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-94 Starfire, and F-89 Scorpion. In 1962 the unit adopted the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter and transferred to a strategic airlift role. It moved from Philadelphia to Willow Grove in 1963 and used the C-97 for worldwide personnel and cargo transport, including Vietnam-related flying. In 1969 the unit shifted again, becoming an airborne forward air control organization. The U-3A served as an interim aircraft before the unit received the O-2A Skymaster. The mission continued with the OA-37 Dragonfly from 1981, and the unit conducted Central American deployments during the decade. In 1988 it received the A-10A Thunderbolt II, enabling a more capable close air support platform while retaining forward air control and combat search and rescue responsibilities. The unit became the 111th Fighter Group in 1992 and the 111th Fighter Wing in 1995. The A-10 era included deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch. A voluntary 90-day deployment to Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait in 1995 supported combat air operations over Iraq, combat search and rescue alert, forward air control, and joint training. A second deployment followed in 1999. Following the September 11 attacks, the wing supported operations in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. Its October 2002–January 2003 deployment to Bagram involved difficult conditions, night operations, unexploded ordnance hazards, extreme weather, and rocket attacks. In early 2003 the wing deployed again, operating first from Kuwait and then from Tallil in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2005 BRAC process recommended closing Willow Grove and redistributing the wing's A-10 fleet. The resulting transition ended the traditional fighter-wing mission. The organization is now the 111th Attack Wing, operating MQ-9 Reapers through the 103d Attack Squadron and providing remotely piloted aircraft capabilities to combatant commanders. Its wider structure includes the 111th Operations Group, 111th Medical Group, and 111th Mission Support Group, as well as tenant military organizations at Horsham.
- 2005
BRAC recommends Willow Grove closure and A-10 redistribution
[1]The Base Realignment and Closure recommendations initiated the process that ended the wing's A-10 fighter mission.
- 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment
[1]The wing deployed from Kuwait to Tallil Air Base, Iraq, in support of coalition ground forces during the initial invasion.
- 1995
Operation Southern Watch deployment
[1]The wing volunteered for a 90-day deployment to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, supporting operations over Iraq and joint training.
- 1988
A-10 Thunderbolt II received
[1]The unit transitioned to A-10A aircraft, combining close air support with forward air control and combat search and rescue duties.
- 1969
Airborne forward control mission adopted
[1]The unit returned to an observation role and began developing its airborne forward air control capability.
- 1962
Transition to strategic airlift
[1]The unit replaced its interceptor mission with Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter transport operations.
- 1952
RB-29 reconnaissance aircraft shot down
[1]An RB-29 associated with the organization was shot down by Soviet MiG-15s near Vladivostok on 13 June.
- 1946
Pennsylvania Air National Guard lineage reactivated
[1]The wartime group was reactivated and redesignated the 111th Bombardment Group for National Guard service.
- 1944
European combat operations begin
[1]The group flew its first mission from RAF Matching on 15 February and supported the Normandy campaign and subsequent Allied advance.
- 1943
391st Bombardment Group activated
[1]The wartime predecessor was constituted in January and activated with B-26 Marauders for European operations.
Products and positioning
A Pennsylvania Air National Guard operational wing positioned as a globally deployable provider of remotely piloted aircraft intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, and attack capabilities, while also supporting state and federal emergency and contingency missions.
Remotely piloted aircraft
MQ-9 Reaper
The MQ-9 Reaper is the wing's current operational aircraft. Through the 103d Attack Squadron, the wing uses the platform to provide remotely piloted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, and weapons employment for combatant commanders when tasked.
Attack and close air support aircraft · 1988
A-10A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II
The A-10 became the wing's principal combat aircraft from 1988 and supported close air support, airborne forward air control, and combat search and rescue missions. The aircraft featured prominently in deployments supporting Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom before the BRAC-driven transition away from the fighter mission.
Strategic airlift aircraft · 1962
Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
The C-97 marked the unit's transition from air defense to global airlift in 1962. Based at Willow Grove from 1963, it carried troops and cargo worldwide and supported Vietnam-related transportation missions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Kuwait · Iraq
The wing deployed from February to May 2003, initially operating from Al Jaber in Kuwait and later from Tallil Air Base in Iraq. Its A-10s supported U.S., British, Marine, Army, and coalition ground forces during the invasion.
Outcome. The deployment supported the coalition advance from the Kuwait border through Basra and toward Baghdad. The wing later received recognition associated with its combat service, including an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor.
- 2002Bagram deployment
Afghanistan
From October 2002 through January 2003, the wing led an out-of-cycle deployment to Bagram Air Base, supporting U.S. Army, Special Forces, and coalition ground forces in austere conditions.
Outcome. Personnel reportedly completed all assigned tasking at a high sortie rate despite night-only operations, unexploded ordnance, severe weather, and rocket attacks.
- 2001Post-September 11 operations
Kuwait · Afghanistan
The wing deployed on short notice to support operations associated with Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. Weapons personnel supported preparation of early combat sorties into Afghanistan.
Outcome. The wing resumed expeditionary operations shortly after the attacks and supported continuing U.S. and coalition missions.
- 1999Operation Southern Watch
Kuwait · Iraq
The wing returned to Al Jaber Air Base for another deployment supporting combat operations and training over Kuwait and Iraq.
Outcome. The wing continued its expeditionary A-10 role, although employment was more constrained by the platform's limited precision-weapon capability at that time.
- 1995Operation Southern Watch
Kuwait · Iraq
The wing conducted a voluntary 90-day deployment to Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, supporting enforcement of United Nations resolutions over Iraq, combat search and rescue alert, forward air control, joint training, and combat flight operations.
Outcome. The deployment established the wing as the first Air National Guard fighter unit to deploy to Al Jaber and demonstrated its ability to operate from a damaged and austere base.
Brand decisions
2005
BRAC-driven end of the A-10 fighter missionStrategyBackground
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations proposed closing Willow Grove and redistributing the wing's A-10 aircraft to other Air National Guard installations or retirement.
Action taken
The wing underwent a major restructuring that ended its traditional A-10 fighter-wing role and ultimately supported its evolution into an attack wing operating remotely piloted aircraft.
Aftermath
The organization became focused on MQ-9 Reaper operations and continued to provide deployable intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack capabilities.
Recent events
- 2003
111th Wing supports Operation Iraqi Freedom from Kuwait and Iraq[1]
Other
The wing deployed from Al Jaber Air Base to Tallil Air Base during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, supporting U.S., British, Marine, Army, and coalition ground forces.
111th Attack Wing transitions from fighter and attack aviation lineage to MQ-9 operations[1]
Other
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard organization now operates MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft after the end of its earlier A-10 fighter mission and subsequent organizational evolution.
Sources2 sources
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