Michigan Air Guard Historical Association Website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org Email: [email protected] July - September 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Taps 2 - 3 127th Wing Happenings 3-4 110th Attack Wing Happenings 5-6 This Day in History 7-10 Museum Happenings 11-28 RV Storage Area 28 Memorial Wall Brick Program 29 Michigan Activity Pass 30 Macomb County Heritage Alliance’s ‘Passport Program’ 39 MAGHA Membership Application 31 1 MANGBANG July-September 2020 TAPS NAME MI ANG SERVICE DATE OF DEATH Tracy McQueen 31 August 2020 Tracy Wallace McQueen, Sr., 1939-1920: age 81, of Jodi Lane in Irvine, passed away Monday, August 31, 2020, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center following a long illness. He was born July 25, 1939 in Estill County and was the son of the late Clay and Ethel Wells McQueen. He was a retired United States Army veteran of 34 years and 6 months who served during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a member of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Pine Hill Baptist Church and had lived in Estill County most of his life. He is survived by: His wife: Melba A. Wade McQueen,3 daughters: Dawn (Simon) Mortimer of London, Kelley Harlow of Estill Co., Susan McQueen of Estill Co., 2 sons: Tracy McQueen, Jr. of North Carolina, Patrick McQueen of Perryville, 2 half-brothers: Bobby McQueen and Michael McQueen, 8 grandchildren: William D. Harlow, Benjamin J. McQueen, Shelby D. (Derrick) Neal, Jonathan L. McQueen, Connor D. Harlow, Stephen D. McQueen, Caidan P.T. McQueen and James D. Harlow and 1 great grandchild: Lara M. Neal Friends may call between 6 and 9 PM Thursday, September 3, at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home. Private funeral services will be held with burial in the Campbell Cemetery. Pallbearers: Patrick McQueen, Tracy McQueen, Jr., William Harlow, Connor Harlow, Stephen McQueen, Benjamin McQueen, Jonathan McQueen Honorary Pallbearers: Shelby Harlow and the members of the Pine Hill Baptist Church. He was in the 127th Instrument Shop when he retired. 2 MANGBANG July-September 2020 127th Wing Happenings Airmen from the 127th Force Support Squadron operate a simulated mortuary affairs facility during an operational readiness exercise on base yesterday. FSS Airmen provide a wide range of services, to include lodging and meal service, ensuring 127th Wing personnel are ready to complete the Air Force mission to Fly, Fight and Win. Defenders from the 127th Security Forces Squadron work together to provide protection to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, during an operational readiness exercise at the base, Sept. 12, 2020. Security Forces Airmen are trained in both law enforcement and base security skills. Exercises were conducted at Selfridge Air National Guard Base Thursday through Sunday, September 10 through 13, that included the use of sirens, loudspeakers, and simulated gunfire. The members of the 127th Wing conduct training exercises on a regular basis to ensure that local Airmen are able to appropriately respond to a wide range of scenarios. The mission of the 127th Wing is to provide trained, equipped, and motivated air refueling, fighter, and support resources serving the community, state, and nation. 3 MANGBANG July-September 2020 Selfridge Air National Guard Base Hosts Air Demonstration Teams for London, Ontario, Canada Air Show A pilot from the U.S. Air Force A-10 Demonstration Team flies out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base yesterday. The A-10 aerial demonstration team is here this weekend to support the London, Ontario Air Show just across the border. The Air Combat Command A-10 Demo Team, stationed out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, brings the aircraft to air shows around the country to showcase the unique combat capabilities of the A-10 "Warthog." (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Terry L. Atwell) Flag unfurled at the Pentagon in memory of 9/11 – ‘we will never forget’. Available at Google Play Store & Apple App Store 4 MANGBANG July-September 2020 110th Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan 110th Medical Group Let's welcome Hannah Cunningham to the 110th Medical Group. Hannah's father, Lt. Col. Edward Cunningham from the 110th Operations Group, swore in his daughter in a personal ceremony at their residence this past week. Lt. Col. Cunningham has served in the military for 20 years with the support of his wife Rachel. Both parents are very proud of their daughter's decision to join the Air National Guard. Hannah is a student at Gull Lake High School, she will participate as part of student flight until she completes her Basic Military Training and Air Force Specialty Code Training (tech school). She desires to serve her country, go to college and commission in the medical field. Good luck Hannah and welcome to the 110th family. Source: https://www.facebook.com/110WGBCANG/ 5 MANGBANG July-September 2020 Greatest Generation Day By John Domol, www.woodtv.com; GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Wednesday is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ceremonies are being planned across the globe, including in West Michigan. The Greatest Generation Day Committee with the help of the Gerald Ford Museum is hosting a flyover to commemorate this day in history. One of the more prominent bombers in the war — the B-17 Flying Fortress — along with the paratrooper famous C-47 and the B-25 will take off from Ypsilanti and Yankee Air Museum in Belleville Wednesday afternoon. The flight path took the planes over the capitol in Lansing. One of the optimal viewing spaces will be from the Gillette Bridge downtown and there are plans to place some veteran portraits nearby on the west bank of the river. World War II took about 60 million lives in six years. Despite the enthusiasm to fight, the then 19-year-old Stanton Strickland says he wasn’t prepared for what came ahead. “That was a real awakening to find out what war was like. Talk about being scared,” said Stanton Strickland, a WWII Army veteran. He’s humbled that the sacrifices remain honored so many years later. “It feels great. Be relieved from it–I’m back here and still got my mind, but I never agreed to live this old,” he said. Source: https://www.facebook.com/110WGBCANG/ App is available for iPhone, iPad, and in the Google Play Store. 6 MANGBANG July-September 2020 This Day in History… July 1 1863 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - The largest land battle ever fought in North America, involving about 90,000 Union and 75,000 Confederate troops, begins by accident when a column of southerners encounters Union cavalry while looking for a supply of shoes. On this first day the Confederates push the Union defenders out of the town but stop short of routing them off the field. Among the units engaged is the 2nd Mississippi Volunteer Infantry against elements of the famous "Iron Brigade" (often referred to as the "black hats" due to the distinctive Hardee hats most of the men wore). The brigade was composed of the 2nd, 6th, 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana and 24th Michigan volunteer infantry regiments. In a sharp engagement in the woods near the McPherson's Farm, nearly half of the 2nd Wisconsin are killed, wounded or captured. By nightfall the northerners take up key positions on a series of hills south of the town. The stage is set for what proved to be the climatic engagement of the war. The lineage of the Iron Brigade is carried today jointly by the 127th and 128th Infantry regiments, Wisconsin National Guard. July 6 1962 Air traffic controllers from the 231st Mobile Communications Squadron, District of Columbia ANG, operated the control tower, ground controlled approach, and navigation aids at the Air Guard's field training site at Phelps-Collins Field, Alpena, Michigan. It was the first time that Air Guardsmen, not active duty Air Force personnel, had assumed the full responsibility for air base traffic control away from their home station during one of their annual training periods. July 8 1917 The first military flight takes place at Selfridge Field. Capt. Byron Q. Jones made the flights in a Curtiss JN-4D Jenny. July 11 2005 The Michigan National Guard helps provide a safe and secure environment for visitors during the 2005 Major League Baseball All Star Game at Comerica Park, in Detroit. The 51st Civil Support Team, an elite military unit based near Battle Creek, conducts chemical and radiological monitoring and sweeps during the week-long festivities leading up to the All-Star Game. The mission of the 51st is to provide support to civil authorities at a potential or actual domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incident. July 12 1855 The Grand Rapids Light Guard and the Grand Rapids Artillery companies are formed. These units are the direct forebears of the 126th Cavalry Regiment, Michigan National Guard. July 16 2005 Construction begins on a new $4.5 million armory in Calumet. The 27,500 square foot facility will house Michigan Army National Guard's Company, A, 107th Engineer Battalion. The armory's copper-colored 7 MANGBANG July-September 2020 standing seam metal roof represents the area's history of cooper mining while the split-block sandstone exterior matches the previous armory, built during WWII. July 18 1917 The Michigan Guard merged with members of the Wisconsin Guard to form the 32nd Infantry Division on July 18, 1917, with Michigan furnishing 8,000 troops of all arms. The Division served with great distinction in World War I. July 22 1972 The 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base takes possession of its first F-106 Delta Dart.