135th Airlift Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 135th Airlift Group is an airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base on the north side of the Martin State Airport
in Middle River, Maryland
.
. When it was organized, it was one of a handful of Air National Guard units nationwide tasked with what was at the time called the air commando mission, which included covert infiltration, resupply and exfiltration of special operations troops. It remained a special operations-type unit until 1971, when it was reorganized as a tactical air support unit. In this role, it was tasked with providing Forward Air Controllers to direct air strikes in support of troops on the ground. In 1977 it was again reorganized, this time as a tactical airlift unit. The 135th Airlift Group was inactivated for two brief periods: 1958–1962 and 1996–1999, although its subordinate units continued to function as independent squadrons.
The 135th's only federal mobilization as a group occurred on 7 April 1968, when the group was federalized during the Baltimore Riot (the unit was already in active state status at the time, but was federalized along with most of the rest of the Maryland National Guard when federal troops arrived). During the Global War on Terrorism, many members of the 135th have been mobilized as individuals or detachments, but the group itself has not been called into active federal service. Although never deployed in combat as a group per se, members of the 135th participated in most of the major military actions since the end of the Cold War
, either as individual volunteers or as members of crews and aircraft provided to in-place expeditionary units. The 135th provided personnel and aircraft for the following actions: humanitarian airlift during the Bosnian Civil War and subsequent peacekeeping mission, the Kosovo peacekeeping mission, the 1994 Haiti intervention, the Iraq War, and the Afghanistan War.
It was originally stationed at Harbor Field in Baltimore, where it flew C-46 and SA-16 aircraft. In 1960, it relocated to the south side of the Martin Company Airport (now the Martin State Airport
) in Middle River Maryland. In 1981, it moved across the field to join other Maryland Air National Guard
units based on the north side of the field. The military facilities are named Warfield Air National Guard Base
.
Background: Designed by Lt Wes Derr and approved by the Air Force for the 135th Tactical Airlift Group in 1979. Redesignated for the 135th Airlift Group in 1992. Design and description revised in 1999.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 135th Airlift Group is an airlift unit located at Warfield Air National Guard Base on the north side of the Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport is a public use airport located nine nautical miles east of the central business district of Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States...
in Middle River, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Mission
Maintains combat-ready aircrew and aircraft to mobilize, deploy and provide intratheater airlift in support of U.S. interests worldwide. Supports theater commanders' requirements for combat delivery capability through tactical airland/airdrop operations and humanitarian aeromedical evacuations.History
The 135th Airlift Group was organized as the 135th Air Resupply Group on 10 Sept. 1955, making it the oldest group-level headquarters in the Maryland Air National GuardMaryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
. When it was organized, it was one of a handful of Air National Guard units nationwide tasked with what was at the time called the air commando mission, which included covert infiltration, resupply and exfiltration of special operations troops. It remained a special operations-type unit until 1971, when it was reorganized as a tactical air support unit. In this role, it was tasked with providing Forward Air Controllers to direct air strikes in support of troops on the ground. In 1977 it was again reorganized, this time as a tactical airlift unit. The 135th Airlift Group was inactivated for two brief periods: 1958–1962 and 1996–1999, although its subordinate units continued to function as independent squadrons.
The 135th's only federal mobilization as a group occurred on 7 April 1968, when the group was federalized during the Baltimore Riot (the unit was already in active state status at the time, but was federalized along with most of the rest of the Maryland National Guard when federal troops arrived). During the Global War on Terrorism, many members of the 135th have been mobilized as individuals or detachments, but the group itself has not been called into active federal service. Although never deployed in combat as a group per se, members of the 135th participated in most of the major military actions since the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, either as individual volunteers or as members of crews and aircraft provided to in-place expeditionary units. The 135th provided personnel and aircraft for the following actions: humanitarian airlift during the Bosnian Civil War and subsequent peacekeeping mission, the Kosovo peacekeeping mission, the 1994 Haiti intervention, the Iraq War, and the Afghanistan War.
It was originally stationed at Harbor Field in Baltimore, where it flew C-46 and SA-16 aircraft. In 1960, it relocated to the south side of the Martin Company Airport (now the Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport
Martin State Airport is a public use airport located nine nautical miles east of the central business district of Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States...
) in Middle River Maryland. In 1981, it moved across the field to join other Maryland Air National Guard
Maryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
units based on the north side of the field. The military facilities are named Warfield Air National Guard Base
Warfield Air National Guard Base
Warfield Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing.-Overview:Martin State Airport, MD, is home to the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard, itself composed of the 135th Airlift Group and the 175th Fighter Group...
.
Heraldry
Symbolism: Ultramarine blue and golden yellow are the Air Force colors and symbolize that the unit is a part of the Air Force. The galloping steed, which symbolizes the ancient warrior's noble companion and represents the unit's mobility and swiftness in response to duty, is white for purity of purpose with wings to free its rider from the bonds of Earth. Above the charger, the abstract symbol for flight is a reminder of the unit's modern flight capability. The two blues behind the steed represent the duality of the unit's mission with the resolve to be ready in times of State disaster and National emergency and are bound together by a single red stripe symbolizing the lifeblood and willingness to sacrifice for both State and Country. The gold bolder around the shield speaks of value, integrity, and honor.Background: Designed by Lt Wes Derr and approved by the Air Force for the 135th Tactical Airlift Group in 1979. Redesignated for the 135th Airlift Group in 1992. Design and description revised in 1999.
Major command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1999–present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(1993–1996) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1992–1993) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(1977–1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1955–1977)
Previous designations
- 135th Airlift Group (1992 – present)
- 135th Tactical Airlift Group (1977–1992)
- 135th Tactical Air Support Group (1971–1977)
- 135th Special Operations Group (1968–1971)
- 135th Air Commando Group (1963–1968)
- 135th Troop Carrier Group (1962–1963)
- 135th Air Resupply Group (1955–1958)
Subordinate units
- 135th Airlift Squadron135th Airlift SquadronThe 135th Airlift Squadron is one of two flying units of the Maryland Air National Guard. It is based at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, Maryland. Its parent unit is the 135th Airlift Group...
(1955 – present) - 135th Maintenance Squadron
- 135th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 135th Operations Support Flight
- 135th Maintenance Operations Flight
Bases stationed
- Warfield Air National Guard Base (Martin State AirportMartin State AirportMartin State Airport is a public use airport located nine nautical miles east of the central business district of Baltimore, in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States...
), BaltimoreBaltimoreBaltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(1960–present) - Harbor Field, BaltimoreBaltimoreBaltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(1955–1960)
Aircraft Operated
- C-46D Commando (1955–1958)
- HU-16A Albatross (1956–1962) (Previous designation: SA-16A)
- HU-16B Albatross (1957–1971) (Previous designation: SA-16B)
- U-10B Super Courier (1963–1965)
- U-10D Super Courier (1967–1972)
- U-6A Beaver (1965–1967)
- O-2A Super Skymaster (1971–1977)
- C-7A Caribou (1977–1980)
- C-130B Hercules (1980–1989)
- C-130E Hercules (1989–1999)
- C-130J Hercules (1999–2011)
- C-27J Spartan (2011–present)