This year the Air National Guard (ANG) is celebrating 60 years as a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force. In addition to serving their states and communities, Air Guard units have distinguished themselves in every war and virtually every contingency operation that the Air Force has participated in from Korea to the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the ANG is a product of the Cold War era, National Guard aviation traces its lineage back to 1915 when the state of New York established the first official Guard flying unit. Today the official lineage of that unit is carried by that state’s 102nd Rescue Squadron. Early Guard aviators served in both World War I and World War II. On this page you will find information on the history of the ANG and its precursors, and how we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary.