Maine Air National Guard

Under the "Total Force" concept, Maine Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Maine ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a major command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Maine Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window. Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units the elements of the Maine ANG are subject to being activated by order of the governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense. ==Components==

The Maine Air National Guard consists of the following major unit: • 101st Air Refueling Wing : Established 4 February 1947 (as: 132d Fighter Squadron); operates: KC-135R Stratotanker : Stationed at: Bangor Air National Guard Base : Gained by: Air Mobility Command Support Unit Functions and Capabilities: • 243d Engineering and Installation Squadron • 265th Combat Communications Squadron : The 265th CBCS provides mobile/transportable communications packages complete with all personnel and support equipment in support of Air Force flying operations on a world-wide basis. The 265th responds to contingency requirements with individual packages, combinations of packages or communications systems. : Both of these units are stationed in South Portland, Maine. ==History==

On 24 May 1946, the United States Army Air Forces, in response to dramatic postwar military budget cuts imposed by President Harry S. Truman, allocated inactive unit designations to the National Guard Bureau for the formation of an Air Force National Guard. These unit designations were allotted and transferred to various State National Guard bureaus to provide them unit designations to re-establish them as Air National Guard units. The Maine Air National Guard origins date to the formation of the 132d Fighter Squadron at Dow Army Airfield, Bangor, receiving federal recognition on 4 February 1947. It was equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts and its mission was the air defense of the state. 18 September 1947, however, is considered the Maine Air National Guard's official birth, concurrent with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the United States military under the National Security Act. After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Maine has been activated in support of the global war on terrorism. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel were engaged in Operation Noble Eagle air defense overflights of major United States cities. Also, Maine ANG units have been deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as well as other locations as directed. ==See also==