Tri-Town Supports Our Troops

Past President Errico presents a donation from the Tri-Town Rotary Club to support the efforts of the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.  Present to receive the award were Colonel Mike Boulanger, based out of Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, MA.  Colonel Boulanger is a recipient of the Bronze Medal for remarkable courage, determination, and leadership during his participation in Iraqi Freedom.  Also present is Brigadier General Marie Field who was recently promoted from Commander of the 104th to assist the Surgeon General of the US Air Force.      

The 104th Fighter Wing

of  the

 Massachusetts Air National Guard

The 104th Fighter Wing, an operational flying unit assigned to the Air Combat Command, proudly claims the honor of being one of the oldest flying units within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Our heritage extends back to August of 1942 when the 333FS was activated under the U.S. Army Air Force.  On April 10, 1946 the first meeting of the 131st Fighter Squadron was held and six months later Barnes Airport, now known as Barnes Municipal Airport, was selected as the home of this unit. Today we fly A/OA-10 Warthogs from the modern runways at the Barnes Air National Guard Base as well as employ 800 traditional guardsmen and 200 AGR/Military Technicians.  These 1000 guardsmen account for an annual 19.1 million dollar payroll.

Tasked to provide operationally ready combat units, combat support units and qualified personnel for active duty, the 104th Fighter Wing supports Air Force wartime contingency requirements and performs a variety of peacetime missions required by the Air Force and compatible mobilization readiness.  Specifically, the Wing's goal is to organize, train and equip assigned personnel to provide an operationally ready squadron to the Air Combat Command that flies and fights successfully.

The 131st flies the A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" and is the operational combat arm of the 104th Fighter Wing. The Squadron provides combat ready fighter pilots to attack ground targets with conventional weapons, perform as airborne Forward Air Controllers (FACs) that directly and indirectly control fighter aircraft strikes on enemy targets, and performs Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) providing combat support for the rescue of downed airmen. These and other missions are performed by day or at night. 

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439th Airlift Wing of Westover Air Reserve Base

Colonel Wallace (Wade) W. Farris, Jr. is the commander of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover which is the country's largest reserve base, covering more than 2,500 acres and located about 10 miles north of Springfield, Mass. In addition to Air Force Reserve units, the base is also home to Army, Marines and Navy reserve units.  The 439th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Air Force Reserve Command, which has headquarters at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. Commanded by Colonel Farris, the wing operates 16 C-5s at Westover. The C-5 Galaxy is the second largest aircraft. It is capable of delivering, to any location in the world, completely equipped combat units, support forces and all types of supplies; including large and heavy weapons and vehicles and outsized cargo that can be carried by no other airplane. Without refueling, the Galaxy can airlift 50 tons of cargo for 5,940 miles or 82 tons for 5,000 miles.