174th Attack Wing

The 174th Attack Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard headquartered at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. It is a military organization rather than a commercial consumer brand. The wing provides trained personnel and weapon systems for United States air, space, and cyberspace operations, with responsibilities that can include homeland defense, joint missions, and assistance to civil authorities when directed by the governor of New York. If called into federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The organization traces its lineage to the expansion of the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron. It was established by the United States Air Force and allotted to the New York Air National Guard in 1962, receiving federal recognition on 1 September of that year as the 174th Tactical Fighter Group. The group initially operated the North American F-86H Sabre from Hancock Field and conducted peacetime training, large-scale exercises, and tactical air-support activities. During the Vietnam era, the unit participated in exercises designed to replicate combined-arms and expeditionary operations. In 1968, the group was federalized and partially mobilized for service at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. There, its principal role was to train Forward Air Controllers by exposing them to the operational requirements of fighter aircraft and close-air-support missions. The mobilized members returned to Air National Guard status in December 1968. The wing underwent several major aircraft and mission changes. The F-86H was replaced by the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly in 1970, followed by the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II beginning in 1979. The transition to the A-10 coincided with the organization’s redesignation from group to wing. In the 1980s, the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron became an early close-air-support operator of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, including experiments with specialized weapons and targeting equipment. The wing also conducted domestic and overseas exercises and deployments, including missions connected with Panama, NATO activities in Europe, and training in Alaska. The wing supported Operation Desert Storm in 1991, deploying 516 members to the Persian Gulf. Its experimental GPU-5/A gun-pod employment proved unsuccessful in combat and the pods were withdrawn after limited use, while other air-to-ground weapons were retained. The unit received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the Valor device for its Desert Storm service. After the Cold War, the organization was redesignated the 174th Fighter Wing in 1992 and aligned with the Air Combat Command following the inactivation of Tactical Air Command. It transitioned among F-16 variants and participated in post-Cold War no-fly-zone operations, including Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, Operation Northern Watch, and Operation Southern Watch. The 138th Fighter Squadron also deployed expeditionary elements in support of operations in Iraq during the global war on terrorism. The wing later moved from manned fighter operations to remotely piloted aviation. Its current principal aircraft is the MQ-9 Reaper, operated by the 108th and 138th Attack Squadrons. The present organization includes operations, maintenance, mission-support, security-forces, medical, and air-operations elements. Its activities combine New York domestic-response responsibilities with the ability to provide personnel and systems for federal and international operations.

The 174th Attack Wing began its lineage in 1962, when the United States Air Force expanded the New York Air National Guard’s 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Federal recognition was granted on 1 September 1962, creating the 174th Tactical Fighter Group at Hancock Field in Syracuse. Its initial equipment was the F-86H Sabre, and its early responsibilities consisted of tactical fighter training and readiness activities. The group participated in major exercises during the 1960s. Exercise Oneida Bear II in 1965 tested close-air-support procedures in a large joint exercise at Fort Drum. In 1967, unit personnel took part in an amphibious and airborne exercise at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, and later participated in Operation Sentry Post I, a joint Air National Guard and Tactical Air Command exercise involving air-to-air and air-to-ground training. In 1968, the organization was alerted and then partially mobilized for federal service. Selected headquarters, squadron, and maintenance personnel moved to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, where the unit formed part of the 140th Tactical Fighter Wing alongside the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The mission was to train Forward Air Controllers for service in South Vietnam. The mobilization ended on 20 December 1968, after which personnel returned to normal Air National Guard status. The unit retired its Sabres in 1970 and adopted the A-37B Dragonfly for a close-air-support mission shaped by Vietnam experience. Beginning in 1979, it transitioned to the A-10A Thunderbolt II and was redesignated from a group to a wing on 1 July 1979. During the 1980s, the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron performed demanding deployments and exercises in the continental United States, Europe, Panama, Alaska, and Canada. In 1988, the wing began converting to Block 10 F-16A/B aircraft in a specialized close-air-support configuration. Testing in 1989 included the Pave Penny laser spot tracker and GPU-5/A gun pod. The wing deployed 516 personnel to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The GPU-5/A experiment was quickly abandoned in combat because of accuracy and integration problems, but the unit completed its broader combat mission and received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the Valor device. In 1992, the organization became the 174th Fighter Wing as part of post-Cold War Air Force restructuring, and it entered the Air Combat Command structure after Tactical Air Command was discontinued. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the wing operated successive F-16 variants and supported no-fly-zone operations over Iraq. It deployed to Incirlik Air Base for Operation Provide Comfort in 1995, formed an expeditionary fighter squadron for Operation Northern Watch in 1996, and later supported Operation Southern Watch from Prince Sultan Air Base. The wing also deployed personnel to Iraq in 2006 and 2008 in connection with the global war on terrorism. The organization subsequently transitioned from manned F-16 fighter operations to the MQ-9 Reaper. Following this change, it became the 174th Attack Wing. The current wing provides remotely piloted aircraft capability through the 108th and 138th Attack Squadrons, supported by operations, maintenance, mission-support, security, medical, and air-operations units. Its dual state and federal role allows it to respond to New York emergencies under gubernatorial authority while remaining available for federal activation and Air Combat Command missions.

• 1996

  Operation Northern Watch expeditionary deployment

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  An expeditionary fighter squadron was formed to support the no-fly-zone mission over northern Iraq.

• 1995

  Operation Provide Comfort deployment

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing conducted a rotation at Incirlik Air Base supporting enforcement of the northern Iraq no-fly zone.

• 1992

  Redesignation as the 174th Fighter Wing

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Post-Cold War restructuring changed the unit’s designation and placed it in the Air Combat Command structure.

• 1991

  Operation Desert Storm deployment

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed 516 members to the Persian Gulf and flew combat missions during the war.

• 1988

  Conversion to the F-16

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing began converting to Block 10 F-16A/B aircraft configured for close air support.

• 1979

  Redesignation as a wing and transition to the A-10

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July and began operating the A-10A Thunderbolt II.

• 1970

  Transition from the F-86H to the A-37B

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit retired its Sabres and adopted the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly for close-air-support operations.

• 1968

  Federal mobilization for Forward Air Controller training

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Selected personnel deployed to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, to train Forward Air Controllers for Vietnam-era operations.

• 1962

  Federal recognition as the 174th Tactical Fighter Group

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was activated on 1 September at Hancock Field, Syracuse, after being allotted to the New York Air National Guard as an expansion of the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

• Transition to MQ-9 Reaper operations

  [1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing moved from manned F-16 fighter operations to its present remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper mission.

A New York Air National Guard operational wing focused on remotely piloted aircraft, expeditionary readiness, homeland defense, and support to civil authorities.

• Remotely piloted aircraft

  MQ-9 Reaper

  The MQ-9 Reaper is the wing’s current principal weapon system. It is a medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft used to provide operational capability for global air operations and related joint missions. The 108th Attack Squadron and 138th Attack Squadron are identified as MQ-9 units within the wing.

• Fighter aircraft · 1988

  F-16 Fighting Falcon

  The wing operated F-16A/B and later F-16C/D aircraft during the late Cold War and post-Cold War periods. Its F-16 mission emphasized tactical air support and close air support, and the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron participated in specialized configuration and weapons testing.

• Close-air-support aircraft · 1979

  A-10A Thunderbolt II

  The A-10A replaced the A-37B beginning in 1979 and supported the wing’s close-air-support and expeditionary-readiness role during the 1980s. The transition also accompanied the organization’s change from tactical fighter group to wing.

• Light attack aircraft · 1970

  A-37B Dragonfly

  The Cessna A-37B entered service in 1970 after the retirement of the F-86H Sabre. It supported a close-air-support mission developed from Vietnam-era operational experience and remained in use until the later A-10 transition.

• 2000Operation Southern Watch

  Southern Iraq · Saudi Arabia

  An expeditionary deployment from Prince Sultan Air Base supported enforcement of the United Nations-mandated no-fly zone below the 32nd parallel in Iraq.

  Outcome. The unit contributed fighter capability to the multinational southern Iraq no-fly-zone mission.

  Source
• 1996Operation Northern Watch

  Northern Iraq · Turkey

  The 138th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron was formed and deployed as part of the multinational mission enforcing the no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq.

  Outcome. The expeditionary construct combined Air National Guard, reserve, and active-duty capabilities for rotational operations.

  Source
• 1995Operation Provide Comfort

  Northern Iraq · Turkey

  The wing deployed to Incirlik Air Base for a 30-day rotation supporting enforcement of the no-fly zone over northern Iraq.

  Outcome. The deployment supported the continuing international no-fly-zone mission over northern Iraq.

  Source
• 1991Operation Desert Storm

  Persian Gulf

  The 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed 516 members and flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. The unit’s GPU-5/A gun-pod employment was discontinued after limited combat use because of accuracy and weapons-integration problems.

  Outcome. The wing received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the Valor device, while the GPU-5/A pod was removed from the combat configuration.

  Source

• 1988

  Conversion to a close-air-support F-16 configurationGeneration change

  Background

  The Air Force selected the wing to convert from A-10 operations to specialized Block 10 F-16A/B aircraft.

  Action taken

  The first F-16s arrived in late 1988, followed by testing of the Pave Penny tracker and GPU-5/A gun pod.

  Aftermath

  The aircraft supported a close-air-support concept, although the GPU-5/A proved unsuitable for sustained combat employment during Desert Storm.

  Source

• 1979

  Transition to the A-10A Thunderbolt IIGeneration change

  Background

  The Air National Guard adopted a Total Force approach that equipped selected units with front-line Air Force aircraft.

  Action taken

  The wing transitioned from the A-37B to the A-10A and was redesignated from group to wing.

  Aftermath

  The A-10 became the basis for the unit’s close-air-support readiness and overseas exercises during the 1980s.

  Source

• 1970

  Adopt a dedicated close-air-support missionStrategy

  Background

  After Vietnam-era experience and the retirement of the F-86H, the organization needed an aircraft and mission suited to low-intensity ground-support operations.

  Action taken

  The unit replaced the Sabre with the A-37B Dragonfly and shifted toward a specialized close-air-support role.

  Aftermath

  The close-air-support orientation continued through later A-10 and F-16 operations.

  Source

• Transition to MQ-9 Reaper operationsGeneration change

  Background

  The wing’s historical manned fighter mission was replaced by a remotely piloted aircraft mission.

  Action taken

  The organization became the 174th Attack Wing and began operating MQ-9 Reaper systems.

  Aftermath

  The wing’s present mission combines remotely piloted aviation with homeland defense, joint operations, and civil-authority support.

  Source

• 174th Attack Wing operates MQ-9 Reaper aircraft[1]174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The wing’s current mission centers on operating the MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft for global operations and domestic support missions.

1. 1174th Attack Wingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2174th Attack Wing official website174attackwing.ang.af.mil