116th Air Control Wing

116th Air Control Wing
116th Air Control Wing E-8C Joint STARS, AF Ser. No. 96-0042
Active1950–1952; 1952–2011; 2011–present
Country United States
Allegiance Georgia (U.S. state)
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeWing
RoleCommand and Control
Part ofGeorgia Air National Guard
Garrison/HQRobins Air Force Base, Warner-Robins, Georgia
Nickname(s)Slybird Group (WW II)
Motto(s)Vincet Amor Patriae (Love of Country Shall Conquer)
Tail CodeGA
EngagementsKorean War
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
116th Air Control Wing emblem (approved 6 June 1952)[1]

The 116th Air Control Wing is a Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard/United States Air Force, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. If activated for federal service, the wing is gained by Air Combat Command.

The 116th ACW is the only Air National Guard unit operating the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), an airborne ground surveillance and battle management aircraft. Joint STARS detects, locates, classifies, tracks and targets ground movements on the battlefield, communicating real-time information through secure data links with U.S. command posts.

On 1 October 2002, the 116th ACW was established as the first (and only) Joint Air National Guard/United States Air Force Unit. The Joint Unit was inactivated on 30 September 2011 and the 116th ACW was returned to the sole jurisdiction of the Georgia Air National Guard on 1 October 2011.

  1. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 233–234