174th Attack Wing Names Headquarters Building in Honor of Former Commander on Sunday, Oct. 4

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Brig. Gen. Curtis Irwin ( left) during a 2009 ceremony opening the MQ-9 training facility at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE NY (10/02/2015)(readMedia)-- The 174th Attack Wing will name its headquarters building in honor of the late Brig. Gen. Curtis J. Irwin, a World War II pilot who commanded the wing from 1958 to 1973 and again from 1975 to 1977, during a ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Irwin, who died in 2011, helped organize the 138th Fighter Squadron-- the first element in the New York Air National Guard and the ancestor of the 174th Attack Wing--and went on to lead the unit through a deployment to German during the Berlin crisis of 1960.

WHO: Major General Kevin W. Bradley, a former wing commander who now serves as National Guard Assistant to the Commander of the United States Cyber Command and the Director of the National Security Agency; and Colonel Greg A. Semmel, commander of the 174th Attack Wing; Irwin's daughters Sheila Austin, Lisette Damon, and Laurinda Irwin; and members of the 174th Attack Wing.

WHAT: Ceremony renaming the wing headquarters building the "Curtis J. Irwin Headquarters Building." A plague will be unveiled and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony. Irwin's three daughters will each be presented with a photograph of the wing honor guard raising the United States flag over the building named in honor of their father. A video honoring the life of Brig. Gen. Irwin will be shown.

WHEN: 2 p.m., Sunday Oct 4, 2015. Members of the press must be at the at the Thompson Road gate of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base NO LATER THAN 1:45 p.m. for access to this secure military facility.

WHERE: Headquarters building, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, 6001 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211. Entry through Thompson Road gate.

Members of the media must contact Major Sandra Stoquert, the wing Public Affairs Officer NLT 12:30 a.m. at (315)233-2651/2408 for access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:

The ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will take place outside and the 174th Attack Wing Honor Guard will be a part of the ceremony. Ribbon cutting participants will make remarks and be available for interviews.

BACKGROUND:

Brig. Gen. Curtis J. Irwin

Born, raised, and educated in the Syracuse area, Irwin was a combat veteran having flown as a fighter pilot for the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Irwin began his military service in August 1942 and entered pilot training the following March. After winning his wings and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in May 1944, he served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations as a fighter pilot flying the P-47 Thunderbolt. During this time, he participated in the China Offensive, Western Pacific, Air Offensive of Japan and the Ryukyus Islands campaigns. As result, Irwin was awarded with the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster and four battle stars for his wartime service.

After the war, Irwin assisted in organizing the 138th Fighter Squadron which later became the 174th Fighter wing and is now known as the 174th Attack Wing. The 138th was the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State.

Irwin is credited with directing the unit's successful conversation to jet aircraft in 1950 helping it to become the first unit in New York State to operate jet aircraft.

During the Berlin Crisis in 1961, the 174th was activated and within 30 days all personnel, planes and equipment were deployed to Phalsbourg Air Base in France. This was the largest movement of jet fighter aircraft in Europe since World War II. Irwin led his unit's planes and crews island hopping across the northern Atlantic route via Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and on to the mainland of Europe. The unit was again called up during the Pueblo Crisis and was deployed to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Completing over 35 years of military service, Irwin was promoted to Brigadier General and retired in 1978.

Irwin was also an active member in the local community serving on several boards, including North Syracuse Cemetery. He organized a program of community education for planning and zoning actions compatible with aviation growth. Honors include Thompson Road through Hancock Air Base being named "General Curtis Irwin Parkway"; being awarded the Governor's Trophy in 1960, 1973 and 1976; receiving the first Department of Defense Award for Domestic Action in 1971; and being named to the North Syracuse School District Wall of Distinction in 1990.

Irwin died on Oct. 5, 2011 at age 88.

174th ATTACK WING:

Based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, the 174th Attack Wing operates the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. Airmen from the wing train MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators for the Active Air Force and Air National Guard at Wheeler Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, and Hancock Field. They also train MQ-9 maintainers at their field training detachment on Hancock Field.

The 174th Attack Wing's personnel operate MQ-9 aircraft around the world from a command and control center at the base, and also deploy around the world as part of Air Force Air Expeditionary Wings.

The wing also maintains the air-to-ground gunnery range at Fort Drum which is used by Air Force, Air Guard and Air Force Reserve units across the northeast.

Members of the 174th Attack Wing respond to state emergencies and other state domestic operations missions when called upon and maintain high-tech communications and command and control equipment that can be called upon by the governor of New York when required.

BUILDING INFORMATION:

The headquarters building was constructed in 1997 / 1998 at a cost of $6.6 million and has a square footage of 25,000 ft.