117th Returns After Completing Historic Mission

Ninety-eight airmen of Savannah’s 117th Air Control Squadron returned to Georgia in late May after completing an historic six-month deployment to Iraq.  The 117th, along with its sister unit, Puerto Rico’s 141st Air Control Squadron, had the unique mission responsibility of controlling all the airspace over war-torn Iraq.

The 117th ACS deployed to Iraq in January as an integral component of Air Expeditionary Force 9 and AEF 10. This marks second time the Savannah-based unit has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the past five years.

This was the first time that an Air National Guard air control squadron had complete control over all air resources – fighter, tankers and airlift – in the country.  The 117th, radar control and identification specialists were responsible for identifying and tracking every aircraft flying through Iraq’s 270,000 square mile airspace.

 “We were honored to be selected for this mission, and we’ve done it as well as anyone who’s been there,” said Lt. Col. Richard Austin, the 117th’s commander. “As commander, I can’t tell you how proud I am of the unit,” he added. 

Three Georgia Air Guard teams, numbering more than 130 people, and a smaller contingent, were positioned at three locations throughout Iraq. “At any one time, we may have 20 or 30 aircraft talking to our people on a single frequency,” Austin said. “That’s extremely congested.”