FORGING THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD Read more of this series Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 Beginning in 1951, the Air Force established specific mobilization requirements for the Air Guard in its war plans for the first time. The ANG would train against those requirements and plans for the first time. ANG leaders proposed the… continue
Travelers who take side roads sometimes find themselves driving back in time to a small town bedecked with American flags, like a movie set for “The Music Man.” Such a town in western New York State bears the celestial name of Angelica. It comes complete with a town square, spired churches, antique stores and plenty… continue
FORGING THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD Read more of this series Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Despite their poor initial showing, Air Guardsmen flew 39,530 combat sorties and destroyed 39 enemy aircraft during the Korean War. But, the ANG paid a high price in Korea as 101 of its members were either killed or… continue
The 14th anniversary of 9/11 and the flags that flew as patriotism rose that day spur a question: What happened on other September 11s when American flags flapped? FOSTERING MUSIC “Oh! Susanna” is probably Stephen Foster’s most famous song, and it was first performed on 9/11 in 1847. But he also wrote the music for… continue
FORGING THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD Read more of this series Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 An excerpt adapted from Chapter II of The Air National Guard: A Short History, by Dr. Charles J. Gross, National Guard Bureau Historical Services Division, 1994 The Air National Guard as we know it today — a… continue