108th Attack Squadron

108th Attack Squadron
108th Attack Squadron
	One of the squadron's MQ-9 Reapers at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska during Red Flag – Alaska in 2019
Active	1948–1953; 1953–1965; 1965–1994; 2014–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	New York
Branch	Air National Guard
Part of	New York Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing 174th Operations Group; ; ;
Garrison/HQ	Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York
Motto(s)	Potential Without Bounds
Insignia
108 Attack Sq emblem
Tail code	NY

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.

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.^[1]

History

Radar operations

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.^[2] 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.^[3] In February 1952, ADC reorganized its defenses and the squadron was reassigned directly to the 32nd Air Division.^[4]

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.^[4]^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] In October 1961, the flight was again called to active service during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, moving to Germany,^[6] where it manned a radar site under the 86th Air Division. It was returned to state control the following August.^[8]

The flight was inactivated in November 1965, when the 108th Tactical Control Squadron was activated.^[a] The new unit was redesignated the 108th Air Control Squadron in 1992. The squadron was inactivated in 1994.^[9]

Unmanned aerial vehicle training

The squadron was redesignated the 108th Attack Squadron and reactivated in October 2104, to assume the training mission of the 138th Attack Squadron, which then focused on operational missions.^[9] 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.^[10]

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 4,000 miles (6,400 km) away.^[11]

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.^[12]

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^[4]

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^[6]
Returned to state control on 1 August 1962^[8]

Inactivated c. 1 November 1965

Consolidated with 108th Tactical Control Squadron

108th Attack Squadron

Constituted as the 108th Tactical Control Squadron (CRC)^[b] on 1 September 1965 and allotted to the Air National Guard

Activated c. 1 November 1965

Redesignated 108th Tactical Control Squadron (FACP)^[c] 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 2014^[13]

Assignments

152nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 22 November 1948^[4]
32nd Air Division, 6 February 1952^[4]
Northeast Air Command, 19 January 1953
152nd Tactical Control Group, 1 August 1953^[14]
86th Air Division, 1 November 1961
152nd Tactical Control Group (later 152nd Air Control Group), 1 August 1962 – c. 1 November 1965,^[8] c. 1 November 1965 – 16 February 1994
174th Operations Group, 5 October 2014 – present^[13]

Stations

Hancock Field, New York, 15 January 1948^[5]
Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire, August 1951^[3]
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^[14]
Mainz Kastel Air Station, 1 August 1961
Gutersloh Air Station, Germany, 1962^[8]
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^[13]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ The two units were later consolidated as a single unit.
^ Combat Reporting Center
^ Forward Air Control Point

Citations

^ Prichard, Lt Col Brian E. (1 April 2021). "United States Air Force Abbreviated Aircraft Investigation Board Report" (PDF). Air Combat Command. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
^ Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1952). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1952" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 130. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1951). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1951" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 116-17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cornett & Johnson, p. 94
^ ^a ^b Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1950). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1950" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 115. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c O'Hara, Maj Gen A. C. "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1961" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 51. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
^ Brock, Maj Gen R. C. (15 June 1959). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1958" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 108. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d O'Hara, Maj Gen A. C. (14 June 1963). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1962" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 111. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b No byline (October 2014). "108th Activation Ceremony". New York Air National Guard Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^ Stoquert, Maj Sandra (30 April 2015). "108th Attack Squadron dedicates new training facility in honor of former wing commander". 174th Attack Wing. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
^ Fisher, Eric M. (14 June 2019). "MQ-9s Join RED FLAG-Alaska for First Time". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ Everstine, Brian W. (12 April 2021). "Pilot Mixed Up MQ-9 Controls in June 2020 Crash". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Morgan, Duane (4 October 2014). "Members of Hancock Field Hold Ceremony for the 108th Attack Squadron". 174th Attack Wing. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b See organizational chart at Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (11 January 1955). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1954" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 117. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W. (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2024. (not all years reported)

This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[9] The two units were later consolidated as a single unit.

[14] Combat Reporting Center

[15] Forward Air Control Point

[1] Prichard, Lt Col Brian E. (1 April 2021). "United States Air Force Abbreviated Aircraft Investigation Board Report" (PDF). Air Combat Command. Retrieved 9 January 2025.

[1952AGreport-2] Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1952). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1952" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 130. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

[1951AGreport-3] Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1951). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1951" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 116-17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

[CJ108ACWS-4] Cornett & Johnson, p. 94

[1950AGreport-5] Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (31 December 1950). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1950" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 115. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

[1961report-6] O'Hara, Maj Gen A. C. "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1961" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 51. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

[7] Brock, Maj Gen R. C. (15 June 1959). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1958" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 108. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[1962report-8] O'Hara, Maj Gen A. C. (14 June 1963). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1962" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 111. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

[108activation-10] No byline (October 2014). "108th Activation Ceremony". New York Air National Guard Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

[11] Stoquert, Maj Sandra (30 April 2015). "108th Attack Squadron dedicates new training facility in honor of former wing commander". 174th Attack Wing. Retrieved 20 September 2024.

[12] Fisher, Eric M. (14 June 2019). "MQ-9s Join RED FLAG-Alaska for First Time". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[13] Everstine, Brian W. (12 April 2021). "Pilot Mixed Up MQ-9 Controls in June 2020 Crash". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[reactivation-16] Morgan, Duane (4 October 2014). "Members of Hancock Field Hold Ceremony for the 108th Attack Squadron". 174th Attack Wing. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[AGreport1954-17] See organizational chart at Hausauer, Maj Gen Karl F. (11 January 1955). "New York Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General Report, 1954" (PDF). New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. p. 117. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

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