Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base

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Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base
Near
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
6/24 2,743.5 metres (9,001 ft) asphalt/concrete
15/33 1,524.9 metres (5,003 ft) asphalt
1/19 1,524.3 metres (5,001 ft) asphalt/concrete
Airfield shared with Francis S. Gabreski Airport
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[2]

Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base is an

military installation located at civilian public-use Francis S. Gabreski Airport, located just north of Westhampton Beach, New York. It is currently the home base of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing.[3]

History

Suffolk County Army Air Field

The Suffolk County Army Air Field was built in 1943 as a United States Army Air Forces sub-base of Mitchel Field. Later assigned to First Air Force, the 437th Army Air Force Base Unit defended the New York City area and flew antisubmarine patrols. After World War II, the airfield was conveyed to Suffolk County for use as a civilian airport, but to include a reversal clause if future military use was ever needed.

Suffolk County Air Force Base

Renamed when the

23rd Fighter-Interceptor Group
(23 FIG).

In 1955, the 23 FIG was reassigned to

New York Air Defense Sector (NY ADS), the NY ADS being one of four USAF air defense sectors employing the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system.

Suffolk County AFB was also the main support base for the

launch complex for the defense of the New York City metropolitan area under the control of a missile launch control center at McGuire Air Force Base
, New Jersey.

As a result of funding shortfalls for the

military installation
was again transferred to the Suffolk County government for use as a civilian airport.

Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base

Pararescuemen from the 103d Rescue Squadron rappel from the top of a parachute drying facility to conduct confined space rescue training.

Suffolk County Airport (

F-102 Delta Daggers and became the 102d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. In 1975, the unit had another mission change and became an Aerospace Rescue and Recovery squadron, later renamed the 102nd Rescue Squadron
in 1995.

Today, the

HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters for both peacetime and combat search and rescue
.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base.[5]

United States Air Force

Air National Guard

  • New York Air National Guard
    • 106th Rescue Wing
      • 106th Operations group
      • 106th Force Support Squadron
        • 106th Honor Guard
        • 106th Personnel Flight
      • 106th Maintenance Group
        • 106th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
        • 106th Maintenance Operations Flight
        • 106th Maintenance Squadron
      • 106th Medical Group
      • 106th Mission Support Group
        • 106th Aerial Port Flight
        • 106th Civil Engineer Squadron
        • 106th Communications Squadron
        • 106th Logistics Readiness Squadron
        • 106th Security Forces Squadron
        • 106th Services Flight

In popular culture

The book The Perfect Storm and the film by the same name detail the crash of one of the 106th's HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters while conducting civilian search and rescue operations from the airport during the 1991 Perfect Storm.

References

  1. ^ "Francis S. Gabreski Airport ()". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  2. ^ "Airport Diagram – Francis S. Gabreski (FOK)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Suffolk County Looks to Enhance Air National Guard at Gabreski Airport with Submission of Application for $126,000 NYESD Grant" (press release). Suffolk "County Executive". 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2013-05-09. Stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Airport, just three miles north of the central business district of Westhampton Beach, the famed 106th Rescue Wing...Recent studies indicate that 1,146 full and part-time jobs and $89.2 million in expenditures are a direct result of Gabreski's on-airport business. ... Westhampton Business District, an industrial park on airport grounds.
  4. ^ [dead link]"Suffolk County Air Force Base (ADC) - the Cradle of Aviation Museum". Archived from the original on 2005-12-23. Retrieved 2005-10-18. Suffolk County Air Force Base (ADC)
  5. ^ "Units". 106th Rescue Wing. US Air Force. Retrieved 24 March 2020.