NY Air Guard's 174th Attack Wing buries time capsule at Syracuse base on Sunday, Dec. 4

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK (12/03/2022) (readMedia)-- Airmen from the 174th Attack Wing will honor it's 75-year old history by burying a time capsule at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base on Sunday, Dec. 4.

The time capsule, containing items contributed by wing members is due to be opened on the wing's 100th anniversary on October 28, 2047. Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Col. William McCrink, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing, current wing members and alumni of the wing.

WHAT: A ceremony during which a time capsule will be buried outside of the dining facility to mark the wing's 75th anniversary.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.

WHERE: Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, 6001 E. Molloy Road, Syracuse

Reporters who wish to cover the event must contact Master Sgt Barbara Olney at (315) 743-1032 for access to this secure military facility by close of business on Saturday, December 3.

Coverage opportunities:

Reporters will have the opportunity to attend the time capsule ceremony, view the event, as well as speak with Airmen and alumni participating in the event. Photographs of the contents and an inventory will be available to reporters.

BACKGROUND:

The 174th Time Capsule. A time capsule was buried by wing Airmen in 1987 to mark the 40th anniversary of the wing. In October the time capsule was recovered, 30 years later, on the 75th anniversary of the wing's founding. The time capsule being buried on Sunday. Dec. 4 will be opened to commemorate the wing's 100th anniversary in 25 years.

The 174th Attack Wing was founded in 1947 flying the F-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II fighter-bomber, as the 138th Fighter Squadron. It was the first Air Guard unit in New York.

In 1953 the squadron, which then flew the F-51 Mustang, another World War II fighter, was the first Air National Guard unit to maintain fighters on alert to defend American airspace.

Since then the wing changed designations and aircraft, flying the F84 Thunderjet, the F86 Sabre, the A-37 Dragonfly ground attack aircraft, the A-10 Thunderbolt, and the F-16 C Falcon.

The wing currently flies the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft on missions around the world from a control facility at Hancock Field.

The wing also trains all MQ-9 maintenance technicians for the Air Force, Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve and conducts qualification training for MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators.

At the same time the wing deploys members oversees to support MQ-9 operations and other Air Force commitments.

The wing also maintains the air-to-ground gunnery range at Fort Drum, used by Air Force, Air National 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.