Always Ready, Always There.
- On November 1, 1915, the Guard’s first genuine aviation unit was established. That outfit, the 102d Rescue Squadron, New York Air National Guard (ANG), is recognized today as the ANG’s oldest unit.
- During World War II, approximately 4,800 Guard aviation personnel in 29 observation squadrons were mobilized.
- The Air National Guard was established as a separate reserve component on 18 September 1947 when the Air Force was created.
- The ANG mobilized 45,000 airmen in 66 of its flying squadrons, over 80 percent of its total force, during the Korean War.
- In January 1968, 9,343 ANG personnel were called up in response to the North Korean seizure of the USS Pueblo. Four fighter squadrons were deployed to Vietnam and two were sent to Korea. An additional 1,333 Air Guardsmen were mobilized May 1968 in response to the Communist’s Tet offensive in Vietnam.
- The Persian Gulf crisis of 1990-1991 saw 12,404 Air Guardsmen mobilized for federal service.
- During the Kosovo War in 1999, 4,870 Air Guardsmen were mobilized.
- The majority of aircraft that responded to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 belonged to the ANG.
- After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, ANG volunteers flew 4,132 airlift sorties in relief efforts.
