Pease Air Show

The New Hampshire Air National Guard was organized on May 24, 1946 and federally recognized in 1947. It was originally located at the Grenier Air Force Base in Manchester, New Hampshire, (commonly referred to as Grenier Field), and designated as the 133rd Fighter Squadron. The Squadron was activated during the Korean Conflict from February 1951 to November 1952. In 1954 the Squadron entered into the Jet Age with the arrival of F-94 Starfires. 

In 1956 the New Hampshire Air National Guard was elevated to group status, assuming a new designation as the 101st Fighter Group. Components of the new group consisted of the 133rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 101st Group Headquarters, Medical Squadron, and a USAF Dispensary. In 1957, the Squadron began flying F-89s and F-86L Saberjets in 1958. 

A change in command and mission came in 1960 with the assignment to the Military Airlift Command, the 101st acquired C-97A Stratofrieghters and was re-designated the 157th Air Transport Group. Again, the New Hampshire Air National Guard was activated from October 1961 through August 1962 to serve during the Berlin Crisis.

In 1966, with a new title of the 157th Military Airlift Group, (under what became the Military Airlift Command), the group moved from Grenier Field to its present location at the former Pease Air Force Base, Newington, New Hampshire. In 1968, equipped with C-124 Globemaster aircraft, the 157th provided direct support for American Forces in Southeast Asia.  

In 1975 the group was re-designated as the 157th Air Refueling Unit, under the command of the Strategic Air Command.  The Guard's new mission became aerial refueling and it was selected to be among the first Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Units to convert to KC-135 Stratotankers.

In 1990 the Unit was tasked to provide support for Operation Desert Shield.  This support continued into Desert Storm and eventually Proud Return. In 1991 the active component of Pease Air Force Base was closed and the 157th assumed stand-alone status. On April 1st of that same year, the installation was formerly renamed the Pease Air National Guard Base.    

In 1992 members of the 157 deployed to Moron, Spain, to take the lead in Operation Restore Hope, an effort to provide relief to the people of Somalia. The Unit deployed two aircraft and three crews along with staff personnel to set up a Tanker Task Force Operation on what was a “Bare Base”. In the weeks and months to follow, twelve aircraft and 18 crews from different Air National Guard Bases rotated in two week increments to support the mission. In total, the Tanker Task Force flew 614 missions, flying over 2,500 hours, and off-loading over 43 million pounds of fuel to receiver aircraft. The Moron Tanker Task Force flew its last mission on February 16, 1993.

In the mid-1990s the 157th was designated as an Air Refueling Wing under the newly established Air Mobility Command. This new command replaced former commands of the Cold War era.   

Within hours after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the 157th had an aircraft in the skies over the northeast providing aerial refueling support to fighter jets. In the weeks that followed, the wing not only provided refueling support, but played a major role in coordinating all refueling operations in the northeast. The wing also participated in Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the Wing Commander, Colonel Richard P. Martell, served as the Air Expeditionary Commander Group Commander. 

In the summer of 2005 members of the 157th were deployed to New Orleans to assist with post Hurricane Katrina operations. A year later the 157th was called upon by the State of New Hampshire with flood waters resulting after a week of solid rain. In the spring of 2007 almost 150 members of the Wing were mobilized again to assist the State of New Hampshire with flood waters.      

Today the 157th Air Refueling Wing is comprised of roughly one thousand personnel and a fleet of eight KC-135R aircraft to support our Air Force and State of New Hampshire mission.

Air Force Week Background:

  • The Air Force chose New England as one of six locations throughout the United States to host “Air Force Week” in 2007.
  • Massachusetts National Guard and New Hampshire National Guard are co-sponsoring Air Force Week New England from 17-26 AUG 07.
  • Activities will include visits by senior Air Force leaders, exciting military flight demonstrations, visits to local youth groups by Airmen, messages from Air Force Airmen deployed fighting the Global War on Terror, and much, much more. 
  • Air Force week begins with the Pease Wings of Hope Air Show on Aug 18-19 and will culminate with the 2007 Cape Cod Air Show on Aug. 25-26.   
  • Spectators are scheduled to see both airborne and ground displays highlighting the remarkable men and women serving this great nation.
  • Air Force Week gives the citizens of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New England the opportunity to pause and remember there are talented, dedicated, professional Airmen serving around the world day and night to keep America safe.
  • Massachusetts and New Hampshire Airmen are your neighbors and friends and they continue to be key players in the Global War on Terror. 

FAQ's:

Q: What is an “Air Force Week”?

A: Air Force Weeks concentrates several different national assets at one location to generate more interest in the community.  It’s very rare to have very senior Air Force officers, the Thunderbirds, multiple single-ship demonstration teams, and other national acts at one location, but it is going to happen in New England. That should tell the citizens of New Hampshire and Massachusetts how important the Air Force thinks they are.

Q: What are the six AF Week locations?

A: 

Phoenix, Mar 19 – 25
Sacramento, June 4-10
St. Louis, July 2-8
New England, Aug.17-26
Hawaii, Sept. 12-15
Atlanta, Oct. 8-14

Q: Why are we doing this while we are at war?

A: The Air Force’s first priority is winning the Global War on Terror.  If there are operational requirements that dictate we alter the Air Force Week or cancel it then that is what we will do to protect America, but we are confident that we can continue to show America their Air Force without sacrificing any of our commitments overseas.