Delaware Air National Guard
Brig. Gen. Kennard R. Wiggins Jr. (DE ANG Ret.)
They advise you to "write what you know." In my case, I had just retired from 38 years with the Delaware Air National Guard, so this was my first attempt at a book. It was about a topic I knew well and I also had access to hundreds of historic images in our files at the Delaware Military Museum.
The Delaware Air National Guard got its start when a group of World War II veterans formed a new National Guard unit composed of surplus airplanes, combat experience, a measure of hard work, camaraderie, and fun. Some called this assemblage a gentleman's flying club, but in a few short years, it was tested for the first time in the Korean War. Since then, the Delaware Air National Guard has flown and fought in almost every corner of the globe. It answered the call in Vietnam, the Middle East, the Balkans, and most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Celebrating 75 years of service, it has become a well-known local institution. The "Blue Hen Air Force" has evolved into a professional organization that shoulders a significant operational role for the U.S. Air Force and serves as a versatile emergency resource for the state of Delaware.
Little known fun fact: The Delaware Air National Guard flew an estimated 65% of the airlift missions to Vietnam, on a volunteer basis, that it would have flown if federalized for active duty.
Images
A selection of historic images from the book, "Delaware Air National Guard".
More National Guard Projects
Over my career in the National Guard (which exactly parallels the founding of the Delaware Air Guard in 1946, the year I was born) I have been involved in several commemorations and histories of the organization, as either writer, designer, or both.
Delaware Army National Guard
Delaware Army National Guard
Brig. Gen. Kennard. R. Wiggins Jr., (DE ANG Ret.)
I had completed the DelawareAir National Guard history and what would be a better topic for a follow-on book than a matching history of the Delaware Army National Guard? I am a fourth generation Delaware Guardsman and I knew a fair amount about the Army Guard history and had access to hundreds of images from the files of the Delaware Military Museum.
The Delaware National Guard traces its roots to 1655, when the Swedish Colonial government formed a militia to defend itself. That tradition carried through Dutch and then English control of the colony. The militia served in all five French and Indian Wars and then distinguished itself during the Revolutionary War as the First Delaware Regiment of the Continental Army, earning its "Blue Hen" nickname. The Delaware militia continued to serve in every major war, and currently it remains in the forefront. Images of America: Delaware Army National Guard presents images of this fabled organization that survived from the Spanish-American War to the present. The people, places, equipment, and facilities of the Delaware National Guard are illustrated in this compilation of historic photographs from the collection of the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation.
Fun fact: The Delaware National Guard has more battle streamers from all our nation's wars than almost any other state.
365.000 €
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.