Kansas Air National Guard

The Kansas Air National Guard (KS ANG) is the aerial militia of Kansas and an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It operates within the dual-status structure common to the National Guard. In its state role, the organization is under the authority of the governor of Kansas through the Kansas adjutant general and may be called upon to protect life and property, support public safety, assist during disasters, conduct search and rescue, and help preserve essential services. When ordered into federal service by the president, its units enter the United States military chain of command and are operationally assigned to the appropriate Air Force major command or agency. The organization is headquartered in Topeka and consists principally of the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base and the 184th Intelligence Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. The 190th Air Refueling Wing operates KC-135R Stratotankers and provides aerial refueling for United States aircraft, other American military forces, and allied air forces. Its mission gives the Air Force worldwide mobility and extends the range and endurance of fighters, bombers, transports, and other aircraft. The 184th Intelligence Wing conducts intelligence collection and analysis and provides wartime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support. Its personnel may deploy to augment active-duty units and other operational formations. The Kansas Air National Guard traces its institutional origins to the 127th Observation Squadron, established on 4 August 1941. The squadron was one of the pre-World War II National Guard observation units and was ordered into active federal service on 6 October 1941 as the United States expanded its military preparations. After World War II, the modern Air National Guard system was created from former Army Air Forces unit designations. Kansas received federal recognition for the 127th Fighter Squadron on 7 September 1946 at Wichita Municipal Airport, initially operating F-51D Mustang fighters in a state air-defense role. The service's commonly recognized official birth is associated with 18 September 1947, when the United States Air Force became a separate military department. Kansas units subsequently moved through fighter, interceptor, reconnaissance, tactical fighter, intelligence, and air-refueling missions. A second major lineage was established when the 117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron received federal recognition on 23 February 1957 at Hutchinson Air National Guard Base. During the early 1960s, Kansas formations expanded to group level, including the 184th Tactical Fighter Group and the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Their later reorganizations produced the modern intelligence and air-refueling wings. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, personnel and aircraft from Kansas Air National Guard units have supported domestic air-defense operations and overseas campaigns. Members participated in Operation Noble Eagle, including air-defense flights over major American cities, and deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as other missions directed by the federal government. The organization therefore combines a state emergency-response function with national and international military commitments under the Air Force's Total Force concept.

The legal and organizational foundations of the modern National Guard were established by the Militia Act of 1903, which created a system of state-raised military units supported by federal funding and subject to both state and federal service. In 1920, the Militia Bureau issued guidance for organizing National Guard aviation units. Kansas's Air National Guard lineage developed from this interwar and prewar aviation framework. The direct predecessor of one of the service's principal modern units was the 127th Observation Squadron, established on 4 August 1941. It was among the original group of National Guard observation squadrons formed before World War II. The unit initially had 115 enlisted and commissioned personnel, although its officer complement was below its authorized strength. By November 1941 it was operating from Sherman Field at Fort Leavenworth with a small collection of observation and liaison aircraft, including BE-1, O-47A, O-38E, and L-1 aircraft. On 6 October 1941, as the United States accelerated military preparations, the squadron was ordered into federal active service as part of the Army Air Corps buildup. Following World War II, the United States Army Air Forces reorganized amid major postwar reductions. In 1946, the National Guard Bureau allocated inactive Army Air Forces unit designations to state air organizations so that a separate Air National Guard structure could be re-established. Kansas received federal recognition for the 127th Fighter Squadron on 7 September 1946 at Wichita Municipal Airport. Equipped with F-51D Mustangs, the unit's initial postwar role was the air defense of Kansas. The establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate service on 18 September 1947 is generally treated as the formal birth of the Air National Guard and is also commonly associated with the Kansas Air National Guard's official institutional beginning. A second important Kansas lineage began on 23 February 1957, when the 117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron received federal recognition at Hutchinson Air National Guard Base. It operated F-80C Shooting Star jet interceptors. During the 1960s, Kansas aviation units expanded and changed missions as the Air National Guard adapted to Cold War requirements. On 1 October 1962, the 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron expanded to group status, creating the 184th Tactical Fighter Group. On 15 October of the same year, the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron expanded into the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Over subsequent decades, these formations underwent further reorganizations and mission changes. The 184th lineage ultimately became the 184th Intelligence Wing, located at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. Its current work centers on collecting and analyzing intelligence and supplying wartime support to the broader Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance enterprise. The 190th lineage became the 190th Air Refueling Wing, located at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base in Topeka. It operates KC-135R Stratotankers and provides in-flight refueling for United States and allied aircraft. The post-Cold War and post-September 11 security environment gave the Kansas Air National Guard a combined domestic and expeditionary role. After the 2001 terrorist attacks, personnel from every Kansas Air National Guard unit were involved in the national response. Aircrews, maintainers, communications specialists, air controllers, and security personnel supported Operation Noble Eagle and domestic air-defense activity. Kansas personnel also deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom, alongside other overseas assignments. Today, Kansas Air National Guard units operate under the Air Force Total Force concept. They are trained and equipped by the United States Air Force and can be gained operationally by Air Mobility Command or the relevant Air Force intelligence organization when federalized. At the same time, the governor may activate them for state missions such as disaster relief, search and rescue, protection of vital services, and public-safety support. This dual chain of responsibility remains the defining institutional characteristic of the organization.

• 2001

  Kansas units support Operation Noble Eagle

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Following the September 11 attacks, Kansas Air National Guard personnel supported domestic air-defense operations and related security missions.

• 1962

  Kansas tactical fighter and reconnaissance groups are activated

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron expanded into the 184th Tactical Fighter Group on 1 October, while the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron expanded into the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 15 October.

• 1957

  117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron receives federal recognition

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was recognized on 23 February at Hutchinson Air National Guard Base and operated F-80C Shooting Star interceptors.

• 1947

  United States Air Force is established as a separate service

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The creation of the independent United States Air Force on 18 September is commonly treated as the official birth point of the Air National Guard system.

• 1946

  Modern Kansas Air National Guard receives federal recognition

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The 127th Fighter Squadron was federally recognized on 7 September at Wichita Municipal Airport and equipped with F-51D Mustang fighters.

• 1941

  127th Observation Squadron is established

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was formed on 4 August as a prewar National Guard observation unit and became the oldest lineage represented in the Kansas Air National Guard.

• 1941

  127th Observation Squadron enters federal active service

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was ordered into active service on 6 October during the expansion of the Army Air Corps before United States entry into World War II.

• 1920

  National Guard aviation organization receives formal guidance

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The Militia Bureau issued Circular No. 1 concerning the organization of National Guard air units.

• 1903

  Militia Act establishes the modern National Guard framework

  [1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Federal legislation created the modern system of state-raised military units that could perform state missions and enter federal service when ordered.

A dual-role state and federal military organization that provides Kansas with trained airpower and emergency-response capacity while supplying the United States Air Force with reserve aerial-refueling and intelligence capabilities.

• Aerial refueling

  190th Air Refueling Wing

  Based at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base in Topeka, the 190th Air Refueling Wing operates KC-135R Stratotankers. Its principal mission is to provide in-flight refueling for United States Air Force aircraft, other American military forces, and allied air forces. By extending aircraft range and time on station, the wing supports air mobility, air defense, strike, transport, and expeditionary operations. The unit is operationally associated with Air Mobility Command when serving in its federal role.

• Military intelligence

  184th Intelligence Wing

  Located at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, the 184th Intelligence Wing provides intelligence collection and analytical support. Its personnel contribute to wartime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and may deploy overseas to reinforce active-duty formations. The wing represents the Kansas Air National Guard's transition from earlier tactical fighter missions toward specialized information and intelligence capabilities.

• Emergency response

  State emergency and civil-support missions

  When activated by the governor, Kansas Air National Guard personnel can assist with disaster relief, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, civil defense, and preservation of public safety. These missions may involve responses to floods, fires, severe storms, earthquakes, and other emergencies. They are performed in the organization's state capacity rather than as routine Air Force federal deployments.

• 2001Operation Noble Eagle

  United States

  Kansas Air National Guard elements supported the national air-defense response after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Flight crews, maintainers, communications personnel, air controllers, and security personnel participated in protection and surveillance missions over major United States cities.

  Outcome. The Kansas organization became part of the continuing domestic homeland-defense effort conducted by the Air National Guard.

  Source
• Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan · United States

  Kansas Air National Guard personnel deployed overseas in support of the United States-led campaign in Afghanistan.

  Source
• Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · United States

  Kansas Air National Guard personnel deployed in support of United States military operations in Iraq.

  Source

• 1962

  Expansion of Kansas tactical aviation unitsStrategy

  Background

  Cold War force organization required larger formations and specialized tactical missions.

  Action taken

  The 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron expanded into group-level organizations.

  Aftermath

  These reorganizations formed important lineages that later evolved into the 184th Intelligence Wing and 190th Air Refueling Wing.

  Source

• 1946

  Re-establishment as an Air National Guard fighter unitStrategy

  Background

  Postwar military restructuring created the modern Air National Guard from allocated former Army Air Forces unit designations.

  Action taken

  Kansas received federal recognition for the 127th Fighter Squadron at Wichita and assigned it an air-defense mission with F-51D Mustang aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The action established the modern Kansas Air National Guard lineage within the separate Air Force reserve structure.

  Source

• 2001

  Kansas Air National Guard units support Operation Noble Eagle after September 11 attacks[1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Elements of Kansas Air National Guard units were activated for domestic air-defense missions after the September 11 terrorist attacks, including overflights of major United States cities and related aviation, maintenance, communications, control, and security duties.

• Kansas Air National Guard personnel deploy in support of Afghanistan and Iraq operations[1]Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Kansas Air National Guard members and units deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and other federally assigned missions.

1. 1Kansas Air National Guarden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kansas Adjutant General's Department: Kansas Air National Guardkansastag.gov