Misplaced Pages

163rd Attack Wing
163rd Reconnaissance Wing MQ-1 and T-41 chase plane
Active	1958 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	California
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	RPA Ground Attack
Part of	California Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California
Nickname(s)	Grizzlys
Tail Code	"CA"
Insignia
163rd Reconnaissance Wing emblem

The 163rd Attack Wing (163 ATKW) is a unit of the California Air National Guard (CA ANG), stationed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California. When activated into federal service, elements of the 163 ATKW are gained by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

Overview

The 163 ATKW is one of the first Air National Guard units to fly the MQ-1 Predator. The unit was featured in an ABC News story on 12 January 2010. The wing has since retired the MQ-1 and currently flies the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).

The mission of the 163 ATKW is to execute global unmanned aerial systems, combat support, and humanitarian missions by Air National Guard men and women.

Units

The 163rd Attack Wing consists of the following units:

• 163rd Operations Group
  • 196th Attack Squadron
  • 160th Attack Squadron (FTU)
  • 163rd Operations Support Squadron
  • 210th Weather Flight
• 163rd Mission Support Group
• 163rd Maintenance Group
• 163rd Medical Group

History

Air Defense Command

On 17 May 1958, the California Air National Guard's196th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (196 FIS) at Ontario International Airport was authorized to expand to a group level and the 163rd Fighter-Interceptor Group (163 FIG) was established with the 196 FIS became the group's flying squadron. Other units assigned into the group were the 163rd Material Squadron, 163rd Air Base Squadron, and the 163rd USAF Dispensary. The group's mobilization gaining command was Air Defense Command (ADC)

Initially flying North American F-86A Sabre day interceptors, the squadron upgraded to F-86Hs in 1959 and to Convair F-102 Delta Daggers in 1965. The F-102 was being phased out of active duty units in the early 1960s and the 163rd was one of the last ANG units to replace its F-86 Sabres. The F-102, however, was obsolescent as an interceptor by the time it was received by the 163 FIG. The Delta Daggers soldiered into the early 1970s until they were retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

Serving with distinction, the unit received two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for extended periods ending in 1964 and 1974.

Tactical Air Command

On 8 March 1975, the unit took on the challenge of a new mission and its mobilization gaining command became Tactical Air Command as the group became the 163rd Tactical Air Support Group. The 163rd received the 0-2A/B "Super Skymaster" to accomplish the unit's new role.

In October 1982, the 163rd assumed a tactical fighter role flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II. The group concurrently moved to March Air Force Base, near Riverside, into new facilities specifically built for the unit and became a tenant ANG wing at the then-Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation.

On 21 March 1987, Captain Dean Paul Martin ("Dino", son of entertainer Dean Martin), a pilot in the 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron crashed his F-4C into San Gorgonio Mountain, California shortly after departure from March AFB during a snow storm. Both Martin and his Weapons System Officer (WSO), Capt Ramon Ortiz were killed.

The 163rd transitioned to the upgraded F-4E Phantom II on 1 April 1987. This newer aircraft incorporated more sophisticated electronics and weaponry.

In July 1990, the unit once again changed missions and was redesignated the 163rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group. The 163rd was equipped with RF-4C unarmed reconnaissance model of the Phantom II aircraft and maintained a dual state/federal mission. The unit's primary mission was to provide tactical reconnaissance to all friendly forces. The unit was also actively involved in statewide missions. This was accomplished by using a system of visual, optical, electronic, and other sensors. During this time the aircrews accumulated over 30,000 hours of flying time and the unit deployed across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The 163rd deployed to Pisa Airport, Italy, in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor. While deployed, the unit flew as the lead unit in support of flight operations over Bosnia.

Air Refueling

After the end of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the phaseout of the RF-4C Phantom II with the Air National Guard was accelerated. In 1993, the RF-4s were retired to Davis-Monthan. The squadron became an air refueling group and was equipped with Boeing KC-135E Stratotankers. As a result of this change in mission and aircraft, the 163rd's mobilization gaining command became Air Mobility Command. In 1995, the group expanded and became the 163rd Air Refueling Wing. The wing later transitioned to the KC-135R Stratotanker.

In one of the highest profile military events of the year, nearly 100 members and three KC-135R aircraft from the 163rd wing deployed in support of Operation Allied Force. The 163rd flew combat missions around-the-clock refueling North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aircraft, including complex night formation sorties with the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter. 1999 also saw the 163rd's Pacer Crag conversion begin in June and complete by the end of the year. This extensive aircraft modernization project meant intensive aircrew training and was expected to extend the life of the 40-year-old Boeing jet beyond the year 2020.

The wing and its 196th Air Refueling Squadron were widely recognized for achievements in 1999 and earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the fourth time. The award covers a period during which the unit deployed 300 personnel and three aircraft to Pisa Airport, Italy in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor and also flew as the lead unit in support of flight operations over Bosnia. The 163rd Operations Support Flight, 163rd Logistics Group, 163rd Logistics Squadron, and the 196th Air Refueling Squadron also earned the Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation.

The 163rd provided support to NATO's Operation Joint Forge while deployed to Istres Air Base, France from 31 October through 3 December 2000, deploying three KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft along with nearly 210 personnel. As part of Air Expeditionary Force 9, the 163rd "Grizzlies" also sent personnel to Kuwait, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey from October through December 2000.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operations

During a ceremony 28 November 2007 at March Air Reserve Base, the 163rd Air Refueling Wing became the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, taking on the Predator mission in place of its KC-135R tankers. The wing's last KC-135R left in April 2008. The wing was the first Air National Guard unit to receive the MQ-1 Predator armed unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and was the first to become a fully functional ANG Flying Training Unit (FTU) and to operate a Field Training Detachment (FTD) for the Predator.

The wing operates its MQ-1s out of March ARB, but also uses the restricted airspace near Edwards Air Force Base in southern California for training, operating a detachment from Southern California Logistics Airport, the former George Air Force Base, northeast of March ARB in Victorville. The 163rd also flies its Predators under the service's "remote split operations" approach. This means that the aircraft and a contingent of maintainers are deployed forward, along with some pilots to handle takeoffs and landings. However, the majority of the wing's pilots remain stateside and operate the aircraft via satellite communications links.

The wing's FTU falls under Air Combat Command and previously trained pilots and sensor operators to become Predator aircrew and now trains them as MQ-9 Reaper aircrew. The FTD, which falls under Air Education and Training Command, previously trained enlisted personnel to build, maintain and repair the Predator and now performs the same training mission utilizing the Reaper.

On 28 August 2013, a Predator flew over the Rim Fire in California providing infrared video of lurking fires, after receiving emergency approval.

On 1 July 2015 the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing became the 163rd Attack Wing, and switched from flying the MQ-1 Predator to the MQ-9 Reaper

Lineage

• Constituted as the 163rd Fighter Group (Air Defense), and allotted to California ANG, 1958

Extended federal recognition and activated on 17 May 1958

• Redesignated: 163rd Fighter-Interceptor Group on 15 September 1972

Redesignated: 163rd Tactical Air Support Group on 8 March 1975

Redesignated: 163rd Tactical Fighter Group on 1 October 1982

Redesignated: 163rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 1 July 1990

Redesignated: 163rd Reconnaissance Group on 16 March 1992

Redesignated: 163rd Air Refueling Group on 1 October 1993

Redesignated: 163rd Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1995

Redesignated: 163rd Reconnaissance Wing on 28 November 2007

Redesignated: 163rd Attack Wing on 1 July 2015

Assignments

• California Air National Guard, 17 May 1958

Gained by: 27th Air Division, Air Defense Command

Gained by: Los Angeles Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960

Gained by: 27th Air Division, Air Defense Command (later Aerospace Defense Command), 1 April 1966

Gained by: 26th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, 1 January 1970

Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 8 March 1975

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992

Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 October 1993

Elements gained by: Air Combat Command, 28 November 2007

Elements gained by: Air Education and Training Command, 28 November 2007

Components

• 163rd Operations Group, 1 October 1995 – present
• 196th Fighter-Interceptor (later Tactical Air Support, Tactical Fighter, Tactical Reconnaissance, Reconnaissance, Air Refueling, Reconnaissance) Squadron, 17 May 1958 – 1 October 1995

Stations

• Ontario Municipal Airport, California, 7 May 1958
• March Air Force Base (later March Air Reserve Base), California, 1 October 1982 – Present

Elements at Southern California Logistics Airport, California, 1 June 2012 – Present

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

1. "163d Attack Wing". 63atkw.ang.af.mil.
2. Muir, David (12 January 2010). "Inside the Drone War: On The Ground and in the Virtual Cockpit with America's New Lethal Spy". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
3. "163rd RW, California Air National Guard - Home". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
4. "Units".
5. This aircraft is now on static display at Clovis Park, California.
6. Serial 63-7644. This was the type of aircraft Capt. Dean Paul Martin, was flying when he crashed.
7. "The Son Of Singer Dean Martin Killed While Flying His Military Phantom Jet." Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine avstop.com. Retrieved: 9 April 2011.
8. "163rd Attack Wing stands up at March Field". 17 July 2015.
9. Elan Head. "Unmanned future Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine" Vertical Magazine, 7 November 2013. Accessed: 21 November 2013.
10. Elan Head. "Predator aircraft makes history in Rim Fire Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine" Vertical Magazine, 1 September 2013. Accessed: 11 December 2013.
11. "163rd Attack Wing stands up at March Field". 17 July 2015.

• Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
• Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980). Archived 13 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• 163rd Attack Wing (official website)
• http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=15291
• Inside the Drone War: On The Ground and In The Virtual Cockpit with America's New Lethal Spy – ABC News Granted Exclusive Access to Drone Pilots at California Air Force Base (12 January 2010)

v t e  Air National Guard
State and territorial units Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Centers Air National Guard Readiness ANG AFRC Test ANG Weather Readiness I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education
Wings and Groups Wings Composite 108th 113th 118th 119th 127th 140th 154th 175th 176th 178th 188th Air Control 116th Airlift 103d 105th 107th 109th 120th 123d 130th 133d 136th 139th 143d 145th 146th 152d 153d 156th 164th 165th 166th 167th 172d 179th 182d 189th Air Refueling 101st 117th 121st 126th 128th 134th 137th 141st 151st 155th 157th 161st 168th 171st 185th 186th 190th Attack 110th 174th Bomb 131st Fighter 52d* 53d* 54th* 55th* 60th* 61st* 62d* 63d* 66th* 67th* 71st* 86th* 104th 106th* 111th 114th 115th 122d 124th 125th 132d 138th 142d 144th 148th 149th 150th 159th 162d 169th 173d 177th 180th 183d 187th 192d Intelligence 102d 181st 184th Reconnaissance 147th 163d Regional Support 194th Rescue 106th 129th Special Operations 150th 193d Groups Composite 170th Airlift 135th* Air Operations 102d 152d 157th Air Refueling 112th* 127th 160th* Combat Communications 162d 163d 201st 226th 252d 254th 281st* Cyberspace Engineering Installation 251st 253d Operations 140th Reconnaissance 214th
Squadrons Flying Air Command and Control 128th Airlift 109th 115th 118th 130th 135th* 137th 139th 142d 143d 144th 155th 156th 158th 164th 165th 167th 169th 180th 181st 183d 186th 187th 189th* 192d 198th* 200th 201st 204th 249th Air Refueling 106th 108th 116th 117th 126th 132d 133d 141st 145th* 146th 147th 151st 153d 166th 168th 171st 173d 174th 191st 197th 203d Attack 103d 105th 111th 124th 136th 138th 160th 162d 172d 178th 184th 196th 214th Bomb 110th Fighter 100th 104th 107th 112th 114th 119th 120th 121st 122d 123d 125th 131st 134th 148th 149th 152d 157th 159th 163d 170th* 175th 176th 179th 182d 190th 194th 195th 199th Rescue 101st 102d 103d 129th 130th 131st 188th 210th 211th 212th Special Operations 150th 185th 193d Training 154th Non-Flying Air Control 103d 109th 116th 117th 123d 128th 133d 134th 141st 176th 255th Air Operations 112th Air Support 113th ASOS 172d Air Traffic Control 243rd 245th 270th Civil Engineering 285th Civil Engineering Squadron Combat Communications 143d 147th 149th 206th 221st 222d 223d 225th 228th 231st 232d 234th 236th 239th 240th 242d 244th 256th 261st 262d 263d 264th 265th 267th 269th 271st 272d 280th 282d 283d 291st 292d 293d Command and Control 119th 127th 153d 222d Engineering Installation 130th 202d 205th 210th 211th 212th 213th 214th 215th 217th 218th 219th 220th 241st 243d 270th 272d Force Support 187th Information Warfare Aggressor 177th Intelligence 101st 117th 123d 152d 161st 194th 234th Joint Communications Support 224th 290th Logistics Readiness 187th RED HORSE 202d 203d 819th Security Forces 187th Space Control 114th Space Operations 111th 148th Space Warning 137th 213th Special Operations Communications 193d 280th Special Tactics 125th Asterisk (*) denotes an inactive unit

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

v t e State of California
Sacramento (capital)
Topics	Culture food music languages California sound sports California Dream Crime Demographics Earthquakes Economy agriculture Education Environment Geography climate ecology flora fauna Government Capitol districts governor legislature Supreme Court Healthcare Abortion History Law LGBT rights National Historic Landmarks National Natural Landmarks NRHP listings Politics congressional delegations elections People Protected areas state parks state historic landmarks Symbols Transportation Water Index of articles
Regions	Antelope Valley Big Sur California Coast Ranges Cascade Range Central California Central Coast Central Valley Channel Islands Coachella Valley Coastal California Conejo Valley Cucamonga Valley Death Valley East Bay (SF Bay Area) East County (SD) Eastern California Emerald Triangle Gold Country Great Basin Greater San Bernardino Inland Empire Klamath Basin Lake Tahoe Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles Basin Lost Coast Mojave Desert Mountain Empire North Bay (SF) North Coast North County (SD) Northern California Orange Coast Owens Valley Oxnard Plain Peninsular Ranges Pomona Valley Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta Sacramento Valley Saddleback Valley Salinas Valley San Fernando Valley San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco Peninsula San Gabriel Valley San Joaquin Valley Santa Clara Valley Santa Clara River Valley Santa Clarita Valley Santa Ynez Valley Shasta Cascade Sierra Nevada Silicon Valley South Bay (LA) South Bay (SD) South Bay (SF) South Coast Southern Border Region Southern California Transverse Ranges Tri-Valley Victor Valley Wine Country
Metro regions	Fresno–Madera Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Sacramento–Roseville Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario San Diego–Tijuana San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland
Counties	Alameda Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Del Norte El Dorado Fresno Glenn Humboldt Imperial Inyo Kern Kings Lake Lassen Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Modoc Mono Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Riverside Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Solano Sonoma Stanislaus Sutter Tehama Trinity Tulare Tuolumne Ventura Yolo Yuba
Most populous cities	Los Angeles San Diego San Jose San Francisco Fresno Sacramento Long Beach Oakland Bakersfield Anaheim
California portal

• Wings of the United States Air National Guard
• Military units and formations in California
• Military in Riverside County, California
• Attack units and formations of the United States Air Force