1.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
2.
Massachusetts
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It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, and New York to the west. The state is named for the Massachusett tribe, which inhabited the area. The capital of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England is Boston, over 80% of Massachusetts population lives in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, a region influential upon American history, academia, and industry. Originally dependent on agriculture, fishing and trade, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution, during the 20th century, Massachusetts economy shifted from manufacturing to services. Modern Massachusetts is a leader in biotechnology, engineering, higher education, finance. Plymouth was the site of the first colony in New England, founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims, in 1692, the town of Salem and surrounding areas experienced one of Americas most infamous cases of mass hysteria, the Salem witch trials. In 1777, General Henry Knox founded the Springfield Armory, which during the Industrial Revolution catalyzed numerous important technological advances, in 1786, Shays Rebellion, a populist revolt led by disaffected American Revolutionary War veterans, influenced the United States Constitutional Convention. In the 18th century, the Protestant First Great Awakening, which swept the Atlantic World, in the late 18th century, Boston became known as the Cradle of Liberty for the agitation there that led to the American Revolution. The entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts has played a commercial and cultural role in the history of the United States. Before the American Civil War, Massachusetts was a center for the abolitionist, temperance, in the late 19th century, the sports of basketball and volleyball were invented in the western Massachusetts cities of Springfield and Holyoke, respectively. Many prominent American political dynasties have hailed from the state, including the Adams, both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also in Cambridge, have been ranked among the most highly regarded academic institutions in the world. Massachusetts public school students place among the top nations in the world in academic performance, the official name of the state is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. While this designation is part of the official name, it has no practical implications. Massachusetts has the position and powers within the United States as other states. Massachusetts was originally inhabited by tribes of the Algonquian language family such as the Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Pocomtuc, Mahican, and Massachusett. While cultivation of crops like squash and corn supplemented their diets, villages consisted of lodges called wigwams as well as longhouses, and tribes were led by male or female elders known as sachems. Between 1617 and 1619, smallpox killed approximately 90% of the Massachusetts Bay Native Americans, the first English settlers in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims, arrived via the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620, and developed friendly relations with the native Wampanoag people. This was the second successful permanent English colony in the part of North America that later became the United States, the event known as the First Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World which lasted for three days
3.
Air National Guard
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When Air National Guard units are used under the jurisdiction of the state governor they are fulfilling their militia role. However, if federalized by order of the President of the United States and they are jointly administered by the states and the National Guard Bureau, a joint bureau of the Army and Air Force that oversees the National Guard of the United States. The ANG of the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands have no aircraft assigned, ANG units typically operate under Title 32 USC. However, when operating under Title 10 USC all ANG units are operationally-gained by an active duty USAF major command. ANG units of the Combat Air Forces based in the Continental United States, conversely, CONUS-based ANG units in the Mobility Air Forces, plus the Puerto Rico ANGs airlift wing and the Virgin Islands ANGs civil engineering squadron are gained by the Air Mobility Command. The vast majority of ANG units fall under either ACC or AMC, established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U. S. S. When not in a status, the Air National Guard operates under their respective state. The exception to rule is the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Because both state Air National Guard and the Air National Guard of the United States relatively go hand-in-hand, Air National Guard of the United States units or members may be called up for federal active duty in times of Congressionally sanctioned war or national emergency. The United States Air National Guard has about 110,000 men and women in service, even traditional part-time air guardsmen, especially pilots, navigators/combat systems officers, air battle managers and enlisted aircrew, often serve 100 or more man-days annually. As such, the concept of Air National Guard service as representing only one weekend a month, the Georgia Air National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard previously flew the B-1B Lancer prior to converting to the E-8 Joint STARS and KC-135R Stratotanker, respectively. In addition, the 131st Fighter Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard transitioned from flying the F-15C/D Eagle at St and these proposals were eventually overruled and cancelled by the U. S. Congress. As state militia units, the units in the Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command and they are under the jurisdiction of the United States National Guard Bureau unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. Air National Guard units are trained and equipped by the United States Air Force, the state ANG units, depending on their mission, are operationally gained by a major command of the USAF if federalized. Air National Guard personnel are expected to adhere to the moral and physical standards as their full-time active duty Air Force. The same ranks and insignia of the U. S. Air Force are used by the Air National Guard, the Air National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in a service members home state or equivalent. The creation of the regiments was caused by the perceived need to defend the Bay Colony against American Indians. This organization formed the basis of subsequent colonial and, post-independence, state and this distinction accounts for why there are no National Guard components in the U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps or U. S. Coast Guard
4.
Massachusetts Air National Guard
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The Massachusetts Air National Guard is the air force militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America. It is, along with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, an element of the Massachusetts National Guard, as commonwealth militia units, the units in the Massachusetts Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Massachusetts through the office of the Massachusetts Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Massachusetts Air National Guard is headquartered on Hanscom Air Force Base, MA, under the Total Force concept, Massachusetts Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components of the United States Air Force. Massachusetts ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of public services. 131st Fighter Squadron was organized by Lyle E. afhra. af. mil/, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security 102nd Intelligence Wing 104th Fighter Wing Massachusetts National Guard
5.
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport
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Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is a public/military airport in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is owned by the City of Westfield and is three miles north of it, the airport is northwest of the larger city of Springfield. Formerly known as Barnes Municipal Airport, it is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, westfield-Barnes is one of Massachusetts largest airports with a strong flight training, general aviation, and military presence. July 13,1914 can be the date upon which aviation came to Westfield, jack McGee of Pawtucket, Rhode Island flew a Wright biplane over Westfield and the flight originated on a strip of land near Southampton Road and the Holyoke Rail Bridge. McGee was hired by merchants to drop tickets from his airplane which could have been claimed for prizes. In 1923 citizens of Westfield, and nearby Holyoke set out to build an airport. A group of local businessmen was charged to convince the owner of the land where the airport is now, Vincent E. Barnes. Barnes agreed to give up his land and he didnt ask for any money from the city or the businessmen, the 27-acre plot was named Westfield Aviation Field and was dedicated on October 12,1923. However, as the field gained in popularity, Vincent Barnes leased the city another 27-acre plot, in 1936, Mrs. Barnes and her daughter Saddie Knox donated an additional 297 acres to the city of Westfield. Shortly thereafter, the City Council voted to name the airport after the family who made it possible, between 1939 and 1940, the administration building, hangar, and the beacon light were built with grant money totaling near $90,000. Soon a passenger service was started, on October 28,1937, a 10-passenger Stinson Trimotor aircraft began flying between Westfield and Newark, New Jersey. American Airlines DC-3s operated out of Westfield from 1938 until 1950, over the last 50 years the airport has expanded to 1,200 acres, added another runway, 15/33 with a length of 5,000 feet, and made improvements including a VORTAC and an ILS system. In 1974 the Air Traffic Control Tower opened easing traffic congestion, the airport covers 1,200 acres at an elevation of 270 feet above mean sea level. It has two paved runways, 2/20 measuring 9,000 by 150 feet and 15/33 measuring 5,000 by 100 feet. The airport recently opened a new administration and terminal which replaced a terminal that housed the control tower. It is also the site of a major Massachusetts Air National Guard fighter jet wing, in the year ending May 31,2010 the airport had 57,031 aircraft operations, an average of 156 per day, 89% general aviation, 10% military, and 1% air taxi. At that date 155 aircraft were based at airport,72. 9% single-engine,3. 9% multi-engine,11. 6% jet. Barnes Regional Airport has one fixed-base operator, Rectrix Aviation is the newest FBO, operating in the new terminal building which includes a conference room, weather facilities, and comprehensive pilot services
6.
104th Fighter Wing
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The 104th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, stationed at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts. If activated to service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. As commonwealth militia units, the units in the 104th Fighter Wing are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command and they are under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts National Guard unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. Specifically, the Wing is tasked to provide operationally ready combat units, combat support units and its goal is to organize, train and equip assigned personnel to provide an operationally ready squadron to the Air Combat Command that flies and fights successfully. As a result, the 131st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Barnes Municipal Airport was authorized to expand to a level. The 131st FIS becoming the flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 104th Headquarters, 104th Material Squadron, 104th Combat Support Squadron, the mission of the 104th Fighter Group was the air defense of Massachusetts. The 104th, along with the new 102d Fighter Group at Logan Airport, the air defense mission ended on 10 November 1958 when the Massachusetts Air Guard and its units were reassigned to Tactical Air Command and converted to F-86H Sabre fighter-bombers. During the 1950s and early 1960s, better training and equipment, during the summer of 1961, as the 1961 Berlin Crisis unfolded, the 131st TFS was notified on 16 August of its pending federalization and recall to active duty. On 1 October the 131st was federalized and assigned to the 102d Tactical Fighter Wing, the mission of the 102d TFW was to reinforce the United States Air Forces in Europe and deploy to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base, France. In France, the unit was to close air support to NATO ground forces. This involved keeping its aircraft on 24/7 alert, between 28 and 30 October, the 102d TFW departed Otis AFB for Phalsbourg. The wing deployed 82 F-86H Sabres, in addition 2 C-47 and 6 T-33 aircraft were assigned to the wing for support and training purposes. Starting on 5 December, the 102d began deploying to Wheelus Air Base Libya for gunnery training, during its time in Europe, the 102d participated in several USAF and NATO exercises, including a deployment to Leck Air Base, West Germany near the Danish border. At Leck, ground and support crews from both countries exchanged duties, learning how to perform maintenance and operational support tasks. On 7 May 1962, USAFE Seventeenth Air Force directed that the 102d TFW would deploy back to the United States during the summer, and the unit returned to the United States in July 1962. Regular USAF personnel, along with a group of ANG personnel who volunteered to remain on duty formed the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the newly activated 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. The last of the ANG aircraft departing on 20 July, operational readiness inspections also honed the edges of the wing
7.
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
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The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air supremacy in aerial combat. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas design in 1967 to meet the services need for an air superiority fighter. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976 and it is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills scored by the Israel Air Force. The Eagle has been exported to Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, the F-15 was originally envisioned as a pure air superiority aircraft. Its design included a secondary ground-attack capability that was largely unused, the aircraft design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, was later developed and entered service in 1989. The F-15 Eagle is expected to be in service with the U. S. Air Force past 2025, newer models are still being produced for foreign users. The F-15 production line is set to end in 2019,47 years after the types first flight. The F-15 can ultimately trace its origins to the Vietnam War, when the U. S. Air Force, at the time, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was pressing for both services to use as many common aircraft as possible, even if there were performance sacrifices involved. The former were capable in the tactical role, while the latter might be less so. If the Air Force did choose a design, maintaining air superiority would be a top priority. The next month, a report on light tactical aircraft suggested the Air Force purchase the F-5 or A-7 and this point was reinforced after the loss of two Republic F-105 Thunderchief aircraft to obsolete MiG-15s or MiG-17s on 4 April 1965. In April 1965, Harold Brown, at that time director of the DDR&E, stated the position was to consider the F-5. On 1 August, Gabriel Disosway took command of Tactical Air Command and reiterated calls for the F-X, an official requirements document was finalized in October, and sent out as a request for proposals to 13 companies on 8 December 1965. Following a downselect, four companies were asked to further developments. In total, they developed some 500 design concepts, typical designs featured variable-sweep wings, weighed over 60,000 pounds, included a top speed of Mach 2.7 and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.75. When the proposals were studied in July 1966, the aircraft were roughly the size and weight of the TFX, and like that aircraft, through this period, studies of combat over Vietnam were producing worrying results. Previous doctrine had stressed long-range combat using missiles, and optimized aircraft for this role, the result was highly loaded aircraft with large radars and excellent speed, but limited maneuverability and often lacking a gun. In early 1967, they proposed that the design had a thrust-to-weight ratio of near 1,1, a maximum speed further reduced to Mach 2.3, a weight of 40,000 pounds
8.
Bellows Air Force Station
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Bellows Air Force Station is a United States military reservation located in Waimanalo, Hawaii. Bellows AFS is operated by Detachment 2, 18th Force Support Squadron of the 18th Mission Support Group based at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, located on the opposite side of Oahu is the similar Pililaau Army Recreation Center, part of the Armed Forces Recreation Centers system. Created in 1917 as the Waimanalo Military Reservation, the base was renamed Bellows Field in 1933 after Lt. Franklin Barney Bellows, a World War I war hero. Bellows Field was made a permanent military post in July 1941, Bellows Field was used for recreational gliders in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In this way the pilot could keep the glider in the air as long as desired, Bellows AFS was also the Air Force transmitter facility site for long haul HF radio communications from the late 1950s until HF radio was largely replaced by the military satellite program. HF radio links were established using highly directional Sloping V antennas to Clark Air Base, Philippines, message circuits were originated or relayed at Hickam AFB, near Pearl Harbor, and sent to Bellows for re-transmission over the HF systems. The receiver site was separated from the transmitter site to prevent RF interference from the high power transmitters. In 1958, when the last runways were closed and the flying field status terminated, as a Recreation Center, Bellows AFS provides beachfront cabins, camping, and limited condominium style apartments for active duty, reserve, and retired military personnel to stay in. Additionally, there is a small AAFES Express shopette, a paintball course, the Marine Corps acquired approximately 1,049 acres of Bellows from the Air Force in 1999. The Marine Corps Training Area Bellows is now part of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, MCTAB adds significant training capabilities and maneuver space for non-live fire military training activities. The Marines and other services use the areas to conduct amphibious, helicopter. It is currently the only place in Hawaii where amphibious landings can transition directly into maneuver training areas for extremely military training. Recent improvements to the area over the old runway include construction of a forward operating base mock-up around the old Bldg. 700 renovations, and a military operations in urban terrain training system that consists of 74 buildings on four separate sites. Additional containers have been moved into the training area to be used as part of a combat vehicle operators course for Marines to simulate driving in real-world conditions. The 298th Regiment, Multi-Functional Training Unit, Regional Training Institute is part of the Armys Training, the headquarters and 1st and 2nd Battalions are located at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii. The Ordnance Training Company is located at the Regional Training Site Maintenance facilities in Pearl City, Hawaii World War II Army Airfields Bellows Air Force Station Homepage Bellows Air Force Station at GlobalSecurity. org
9.
Bell P-39 Airacobra
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The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered World War II. The P-39 was used by the Soviet Air Force, which scored the highest number of individual kills attributed to any U. S. fighter type in the Eastern European theatre. Other major users of the type included the Free French, the Royal Air Force, the United States Army Air Forces, and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. Designed by Bell Aircraft, it had a layout, with the engine installed in the center fuselage, behind the pilot. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage, although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the P-39 design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, preventing it from performing high-altitude work. As such it was rejected by the RAF for use over western Europe but adopted by the USSR where most air combat took place at medium, together with the derivative P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 was one of the most successful fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Bell. It was a request for a single-engine high-altitude interceptor having the mission of interception. Despite being called an interceptor, the aircrafts role was simply an extension of the traditional pursuit role, using a heavier. This was the most demanding set of fighter specifications USAAC had presented to that date and this happened because H. M. Poyer, designer for project leader Robert Woods, was impressed by the power of this weapon and pressed for its incorporation. This was unusual, because fighter design had previously driven by the intended engine. Although devastating when it worked, the T9 had very limited ammunition, a low rate of fire, a secondary benefit of the mid-engine arrangement was that it created a smooth and streamlined nose profile. Much was made of the fact that this resulted in a configuration “with as trim, entry to the cockpit was through side doors rather than a sliding canopy. There were no problems with propeller shaft failure, the XP-39 made its maiden flight on 6 April 1938. At Wright Field, Ohio, achieving 390 mph at 20,000 ft, however, the XP-39 was found to be short on performance at altitude. Flight testing had found its top speed at 20,000 feet to be lower than the 400 mph claimed in the original proposal, as originally specified by Kelsey and Saville, the XP-39 had a turbo-supercharger to augment its high-altitude performance. Bell cooled the turbo with a scoop on the side of the fuselage. Kelsey wished to shepherd the XP-39 through its early engineering teething troubles, the XP-39 project was handed over to others, and in June 1939 the prototype was ordered by General Henry H. Arnold to be evaluated in NACA wind tunnels to find ways of increasing its speed, tests were carried out, and Bell engineers followed the recommendations of NACA and the Army to reduce drag such that the top speed was increased 16%
10.
Central Pacific Area
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Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of the U. S. Navy headed the command throughout its existence. The vast majority of Allied forces in the theatre were from the U. S. Navy, U. S. Army, however units and/or personnel from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Fiji and other countries also saw active service. On 24 March 1942, the newly formed British and US Combined Chiefs of Staff issued a directive designating the Pacific theater an area of American strategic responsibility. On 30 March the US Joint Chiefs of Staff divided the Pacific theater into three areas, the Pacific Ocean Areas, the South West Pacific Area, and the Southeast Pacific Area. The JCS designated Admiral Chester W. Nimitz as Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, US strategic bomber forces in the theatre were under the direct control of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. All land forces in Alaska and Canada remained under the control of the US Armys Western Defense Command, the Joint Chiefs further divided the Pacific Ocean Areas into the North, Central and South Pacific Areas. Nimitz designated subordinate commanders for the North and South Pacific Areas but retained the Central Pacific Area, including the Hawaiian Department, from 1942-1943, three Army infantry divisions and two Marine divisions fought in the POA. From 1944-1945, five Army infantry divisions and six Marine divisions served in the POA, among allied land force formations was the 3rd New Zealand Division, which fought in the Solomon Islands campaign during 1943-44. U. S. Army Air Forces operated in the POA under the Seventh, Thirteenth, Allied air forces included units of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In the separate South West Pacific Area, General Douglas MacArthur assumed command, Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley Vice Adm. /Adm. William Halsey, Jr. Vice Adm. John H. Newton Vice Admiral William L. Calhoun Rear Adm. Robert A. Theobald Rear Adm. Thomas C, kinkaid Vice Adm. Frank J. Fletcher United States Navy in World War II Cressman, Robert J. The Official Chronology of the U. S. Navy in World War II, contemporary History Branch, Naval Historical Center. The War in the Pacific—Strategy and Command, The First Two Years, United States Army In World War II. Center Of Military History, United States Army, Nimitz, Chester W. Admiral, Steele, James M. Captain. Operational Archives, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington Navy Yard, United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC, Center Of Military History, United States Army, the Barrier and the Javelin, Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies February to June 1942. The U. S. Army Campaigns of World War II, United States Army Center of Military History
United States
Massachusetts
Air National Guard
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
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