Air National Guard history

1, 1950 the 67th Fighter Wing was inactivated and replaced by the 102d Fighter Wing.

In 1952 the 253d Combat Communications Group was activated while the 131st Fighter Squadron occupied new hangers and buildings at Barnes Field.

The squadrons were issued F-84Bs, however, these aircraft were recalled by the Air Force and obsolete F-51s were flown until 1954 when the F-94 replaced the Mustangs.

Following a trend that had begun in 1955 when the Air Guard had acquired its first four airlift-type units, it had changed from a predominantly fighter-attack-reconnaissance (FAR) force to one whose units were almost evenly balanced between FAR and large aircraft.

In 1956 the 102nd was re-designated as the 102nd Air Defense Wing consisting of the 102nd and 104th Fighter Groups.

The air defense mission ended in 1958 when the 102nd and its squadrons were reorganized as tactical fighter units and converted to F-86H Sabre jets.

On 30 August 1961, President John F. Kennedy had ordered 148,000 Guardsmen and Reservists to active duty in response to Soviet moves to cut off allied access to Berlin.

The 102nd Fighter Wing continued to maintain 24-hour protection of the skies of the East Coast of the United States For the first time since 1962, elements of the 102nd mobilized for overseas service and deployed to Southwest Asia.

In 1964, the 102nd converted to the F-84F; the Air Guard was always one generation of fighter aircraft behind the Air Force during this time.

The first sizable ANG airlift involvement began in 1965.

11, 1968, the 102nd Fighter Wing took part in its final review at Logan Airport.

GSD&M traces its beginnings to the campus of the University of Texas, where in 1970 six friends were tapped by the dean of students to create an orientation film.

During the next six months, about 60 Guardsmen were rotated through the latter installation on 30 to 60 day tours in Operation "Commando Buzz," Their aircraft served as flying radar stations and airborne control platforms for United States air operations in SEA until January 1971.

On June 10, 1972, the 102nd and 101st were re-designated as fighter interceptor units and the 102nd replaced an active duty wing at Otis.

The company's first big break came in 1974, when it won the account of the Austin Savings Bank (later NationsBank), which represented $1 million in media billings.

1978: The company opens an office in San Antonio to facilitate work for Pearl Beer.

The 104th Fighter Group remained as a tactical fighter unit flying the F-100 until July 1979 when it converted to the A-10A Warthog.

In 1981, the firm lost all three of its top accounts, Church's, United States Home Corp., and Pearl, which accounted for $10 million in billings and 80 percent of its business.

Through a separately-funded Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (GREA) established by the Congress in 1982, significant numbers of new C-130s had been purchased for the ANG in recent years.

By 1985 GSD&M was working for 80 different clients with combined billings of $76 million.

The company's ads were credited with a 75 percent reduction in roadside litter since they began in 1986.

1987: GSD&M begin working for Coors Beer and Wal-Mart.

The 102nd converted to the F-15 in 1988 and for the first time in many years, the Massachusetts Air Guard flew a top of the line aircraft.

Annual billings topped $150 million by 1989.

An ANG working group had been formed to study the idea in 1990.

After Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Air Guard continued to adjust to the realities of the post Cold War era and began to posture itself for the 21st century.

Also in 1992, the company won the account of Tandy Corp., owner of the Radio Shack electronics chain.

Following discussions between General Killey and senior Air Force leadership, agreement was reached to transfer the entire responsibility for 1st Air Force to the ANG. In September 1993, Secretary of Defense Les Aspin approved the transfer.

On 28 January 1994, General Killey, who had just stepped down as Air Guard Director, assumed command of 1st Air Force as directed by General Merrill A. McPeak Air Force Chief of Staff.

During March 1995, the Air Guard also began to develop a manned tactical reconnaissance capability to replace RF-4Cs that were being retired from its aircraft inventory.

However, 1st Air Force continued to face strong budgetary pressures to either eliminate or dramatically reduce dedicated ANG fighter interceptor units for the air defense and air sovereignty. It had shrunk to 20 ANG fighters at 10 alert locations for CONAR by February 1996.

The Air Guard completed the process of taking over 1st Air Force from the active force with its air defense and air sovereignty missions on 1 October 1997.

January of 1998 saw the company's owner, GGT Group, sold for $235 million to Omnicom Group of New York.

Four years later, in 1999, elements of the 104th mobilized and flew sorties over the skies of the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Also during 2000, GSD&M's newly formed publishing unit, Idea University Press, issued its first title, a children's book written by a staffer.

28, 2001, the 102nd was ordered into active federal service to support Operation Noble Eagle which provided continuous air cover over several major American cities.

TSgt Keary Miller of the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron is awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions on March 4, 2002.