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Bradley Space & Aviation Day 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
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The Hole in the Wall
Gang Camp CT Air National Guard |
Connecticut's Air
National Guard The two
locations host units officially named the 103rd Airlift Wing and 103rd Air
Control Squadron, which are more commonly known as the “Flying Yankees” and
“Yankee Watch.” In addition, a new unit formed at Bradley ANG Base in 2008 is
known as the 103rd Air Operations Group or “Yankee Vigilance.” Sited in a
new facility atop a hillside adjacent to Long Island Sound, the 103rd Air
Control Squadron mission is real-time detection, identification and
surveillance of air traffic for combat operations and homeland defense. Until April
2008, the 103rd Fighter Wing provided the awesome firepower of the A-10
Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the warthog, for close-air support as
well as combat search and rescue missions. The Flying Yankees are now
an Airlift Wing with a new flying mission, an aircraft engine repair facility
and recruiting has begun for an In a few
years, the 103rd Airlift wing will receive the C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft
(JCA). With a proven history of innovation on the A-10 and C-21, the
Flying Yankees are certain to overcome the inherent challenges of flying a
new aircraft by refining training, maintenance techniques and tactical
employment to ensure the success of the program. The warrior mindset of the
Flying Yankees aircrew and maintenance members, garnered from decades of
expeditionary experience is an ideal match for the demand of forward
bases. Whether operating from austere airfields or more robust
locations, the blue-suit maintenance team of the Flying Yankees will keep the
JCA as ready to deliver critical cargo as they did with the lethal firepower
of the A-10. The Flying Yankees can be as proud of providing the
critical airlift that eliminates the need for vulnerable convoys as they are
now of their ability to interdict enemy supplies. Until the JCA is
ready for fielding, the wing is flying the C-21 transport aircraft providing
aircrew training, high priority passenger airlift, counter drug and homeland
security support, and medical evacuation. The C-21 provides the flying
bridge mission essential to keeping the unit’s pilots and maintainers sharp
until the Joint Cargo Aircraft arrives. The Flying Yankees took over
maintenance and began flying missions in support of the The combat,
command and planning experience of The current
experience with A-10 engines at Bradley has been leveraged to create a new
Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) for the A-10 aircraft’s TF-34
turbofan engines. The expansion of TF-34 engine maintenance at Bradley
will ensure the current renowned expertise is not lost. An ideal fit
for the region, the CIRF capitalizes on the unit’s proximity to the F-22 and
F-35 fighter engine production facilities, and is ideally suited to add new capability
when A-10s retire from the fleet. The CIRF shipped its first engine on
November 3, 2007, and coupled with the C-21 now and C-27 in the future
Bradley will continue to offer training and real world aviation experience. Connecticut
based Airmen have served abroad and at home for decades, and continue to
serve overseas in the Global War on Terrorism. Prior, our Within hours
on 9-11, the 103 FW ‘Flying Yankees’ had aircraft loaded with ordinance on
alert status with crews standing by; while the 103 ACS ‘Yankee Watch’
surveyed a critical air picture from Cape Cod, Mass. to Atlantic City, N.J. Many 103 FW
members were deployed to Middle East on 9-11 and returned to prosecute the
war in The global
war on terror sent the 103 ACS members to Connecticut's Air
National Guard |
