108th Attack Squadron

October 2022 October 2022 108th Attack Squadron 60px|center MQ-9s join RED FLAG-Alaska for first time Image 1 of 7.jpg 300 One of the squadron's MQ-9 Reapers at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska during Red Flag – Alaska in 2019 1948–1953; 1953–1965; 1965–1994; 2014–present New York 25pxAir National Guard New York Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing 174th Operations Group Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York Potential Without Bounds 165px 108th Attack Squadron emblem 165px 108th Tactical Control Flight emblem NY Tail code The 108th Attack Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York. It was most recently activated on 5 October 2014 and assigned to the 174th Operations Group. The squadron operates the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and serves as a Formal Training Unit, producing qualified aircrew for both the Air National Guard and the active duty United States Air Force. First organized in 1948 as the 108th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, the unit served in radar operations throughout the Cold War. It was called to active duty during the Korean War in 1951 and deployed to Newfoundland in 1953 to man a radar site under Northeast Air Command. The unit was again activated during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, deploying to Germany before returning to state control in 1962. It subsequently served as the 108th Tactical Control Squadron and later the 108th Air Control Squadron before being inactivated in 1994. The squadron was redesignated the 108th Attack Squadron and reactivated in October 2014, taking over the training mission of the 138th Attack Squadron. In 2019, it became the first unit to bring MQ-9 Reapers to Red Flag – Alaska. Mission The squadron is a Formal Training Unit for the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. It produces newly qualified aircrew, launch and recovery qualified aircrew, and instructor qualified aircrew for the Air National Guard and active duty Air Force. Also, it conducts continuation training and exercise support by launching and recovering Reapers that can be controlled from any other MQ-9A unit. It can also be tasked to launch domestic operations missions to support the Governor of New York or national missions when federally activated. https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2020/25JUN20%20ACC%20Syracuse%20Hancock%20Intl%20Airport%20MQ-9A%20AIB%20Report.pdf Prichard Lt Col Brian E. United States Air Force Abbreviated Aircraft Investigation Board Report 1 April 2021 Air Combat Command January 9, 2025 History Radar operations thumb|left|AN/CPS-6 radar The squadron was first organized in 1948 as the 108th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Hancock Field, receiving federal recognition as part of the 152nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group. Its first equipment was the AN/CPS-6 radar with a range of 100 miles. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1952.pdf Hausauer Maj Gen Karl F. Karl F. Hausauer New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1952 31 December 1952 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150212193939/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1952.pdf February 12, 2015 130 January 26, 2025 With the onset of the Korean War, the squadron was called to active duty in September 1951, moving to Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire for training as Air Defense Command (ADC) expanded its radar network. Within six months of its activation, the squadron was earmarked for overseas deployment. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1951.pdf Hausauer Maj Gen Karl F. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1951 31 December 1951 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150411192441/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1951.pdf April 11, 2015 116-17 January 26, 2025 In February 1952, ADC reorganized its defenses and the squadron was reassigned directly to the 32nd Air Division.Cornett & Johnson, p. 94 As the air defense system expanded to provide earlier warning, in January 1953, the squadron moved to Newfoundland, where it manned a new radar site under the command of Northeast Air Command. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1950.pdf Hausauer Maj Gen Karl F. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1950 31 December 1950 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150212173448/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1950.pdf February 12, 2015 115 January 26, 2025 It served there until August 1953, when its assets were transferred to the 642d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron and the squadron was returned to state control. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1961.pdf O'Hara Maj Gen A. C. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1961 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150212172615/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1961.pdf February 12, 2015 51 January 26, 2025 The unit was activated again in the National Guard the following month with reduced size as the 108th Aircraft Control and Warning Flight. In 1958, the flight won the Commander's Trophy as the best unit in the New York Air National Guard. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1958.pdf Brock Maj Gen R. C. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1958 15 June 1959 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center 108 https://web.archive.org/web/20150212174311/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1958.pdf February 12, 2015 October 11, 2024 In October 1961, the flight was again called to active service during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, moving to Germany, where it manned a radar site under the 86th Air Division. It was returned to state control the following August. http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1962.pdf O'Hara Maj Gen A. C. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1962 14 June 1963 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150212165206/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/AG_Report_1962.pdf February 12, 2015 111 January 26, 2025 The flight was inactivated in November 1965, when the 108th Tactical Control Squadron was activated.The two units were later consolidated as a single unit. The new unit was redesignated the 108th Air Control Squadron in 1992. The squadron was inactivated in 1994. https://dmna.ny.gov/ang/?p=1414430011 No byline 108th Activation Ceremony October 2014 January 24, 2025 New York Air National Guard Public Affairs Unmanned aerial vehicle training The squadron was redesignated the 108th Attack Squadron and reactivated in October 2014, to assume the training mission of the 138th Attack Squadron, which then focused on operational missions. On 3 May 2015, the squadron opened a renovated Formal Training Unit facility to train pilots, sensor operators, and mission coordinators. The former General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon avionics building is named after Major General Robert A. Knaff who saw the squadron's transition from F-16s to MQ-9s and increases the student body at the base to around 90. Renovations began on the facility in May 2014 and cost $3.5 million, half the projected cost of an entirely new building.Stoquert Maj Sandra 2015-04-30 108th Attack Squadron dedicates new training facility in honor of former wing commander https://www.174attackwing.ang.af.mil/Media/Article-Display/Article/864696/108th-attack-squadron-dedicates-new-training-facility-in-honor-of-former-wing-c/ 2024-09-20 174th Attack Wing en-US In 2019, the squadron was the first to bring MQ-9 Reapers to Red Flag – Alaska, flying out of Eielson Air Force Base while the pilots remained at their home station in New York, over 4000 mi away.Fisher Eric M. 2019-06-14 MQ-9s Join RED FLAG-Alaska for First Time https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/1876805/mq-9s-join-red-flag-alaska-for-first-time/ 2022-10-02 U.S. Indo-Pacific Command en-US On 25 June 2020, one of the squadron's MQ-9s crashed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base after losing engine power. An investigation determined that the cause of the accident was pilot error when it was found that the pilot accidentally cut the fuel supply to the drone's engine causing a crash.Everstine Brian W. 2021-04-12 Pilot Mixed Up MQ-9 Controls in June 2020 Crash https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pilot-mixed-up-mq-9-controls-in-june-2020-crash/ en-US 2 October 2022 Air & Space Forces Magazine Lineage 108th Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron Constituted on 24 May 1946 as the 108th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron and allotted to the National Guard Organized on 15 January 1948 Received federal recognition on 22 November 1948 Called to active duty on 1 September 1951 Returned to state control on 1 August 1953 and redesignated 108th Aircraft Control and Warning Flight Activated on 1 September 1953 Called to active duty 1 October 1961 Returned to state control on 1 August 1962 Inactivated c. 1 November 1965 Consolidated with 108th Tactical Control Squadron 108th Attack Squadron Constituted as the 108th Tactical Control Squadron (CRC)Combat Reporting Center on 1 September 1965 and allotted to the Air National Guard Activated c. 1 November 1965 Redesignated 108th Tactical Control Squadron (FACP)Forward Air Control Point on 1 September 1965 Redesignated 108th Tactical Control Squadron on 1 September 1965 Redesignated 108th Air Control Squadron in 1992 Inactivated on 16 February 1994 Redesignated 108th Attack Squadron and activated on 5 October 2014Morgan Duane 2014-10-04 Members of Hancock Field Hold Ceremony for the 108th Attack Squadron https://www.174attackwing.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/864705/members-of-hancock-field-hold-ceremony-for-the-108th-attack-squadron/ 2022-10-02 174th Attack Wing en-US 2 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221002100722/https://www.174attackwing.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/864705/members-of-hancock-field-hold-ceremony-for-the-108th-attack-squadron/ dead Assignments 152nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 22 November 1948 32nd Air Division, 6 February 1952 Northeast Air Command, 19 January 1953 152nd Tactical Control Group, 1 August 1953See organizational chart at https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/application/files/3716/1141/3649/AG_Report_1954.pdf Hausauer Maj Gen Karl F. New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1954 11 January 1955 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center 117 October 11, 2024 86th Air Division, 1 November 1961 152nd Tactical Control Group (later 152nd Air Control Group), 1 August 1962 – c. 1 November 1965, c. 1 November 1965 – 16 February 1994 174th Operations Group, 5 October 2014 – present Stations Hancock Field, New York, 15 January 1948 Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire, August 1951 Pepperrell Air Force Base, Newfoundland, c. 7 April 1952 Torbay Air Station, Newfoundland, c. April 1952 Red Cliff Air Station, Newfoundland, 1 January – 1 August 1953 Hancock Field, 1 September 1953 Mainz Kastel Air Station, 1 August 1961 Gutersloh Air Station, Germany, 1962 Roslyn Air Force Station, 1 August 1962 – 1 November 1965 Hancock Field (later Hancock Field Air National Guard Base), New York, 1 November 1965 – 16 February 1994 Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York, 5 October 2014 – present References Notes Explanatory notes Citations 30em Bibliography Cornett Lloyd H Johnson Mildred W. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf 1980 Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB, CO https://web.archive.org/web/20220626094249/https://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf June 26, 2022 December 8, 2024 http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/ various New York Adjutant Generals New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Reports, 1846–1995 New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142803/http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/AG_Reports/ July 14, 2014 October 15, 2024 (not all years reported) Category:Squadrons of the United States Air National Guard Category:Military units and formations in New York (state) Category:Attack squadrons of the United States Air Force