178th Wing

178th Wing
General Atomics MQ-1 Predator UAV 05-3141 taking off
Active1962-present
Country United States
Allegiance Ohio
Branch  Air National Guard
RoleIntelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and operations support
Part ofOhio Air National Guard
Garrison/HQSpringfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Kimberly A. Fitzgerald
Insignia
178th Wing emblem

The 178th Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport ANG complex, Springfield, Ohio. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Combat Command (ACC), with elements of the wing gained by the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA).

The 178th Wing transitioned from a Fighter Wing to an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. It supports MQ-1B Predator Unmanned Aerial Systems combat support sorties, which provide theater and national-level leadership with critical real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and air-to-ground munitions and strike capability. Also, the Air Support Operations Squadron provides terminal control for weapons employment in a close air support scenario integrating combat air and ground operations.

The Wing is under the control of the Air Combat Command. Pilots that are based in Springfield are able to fly MQ-1s on the other side of the world in Iraq or Afghanistan. The second component is under Administrative Control[1] of the Ohio Air National Guard while Operationally Controlled[1] by AFISRA Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency and Directly supporting National Air and Space Intelligence Center, (NASIC).

  1. ^ a b "AFDD 1" (PDF). E-Publishing, USAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.