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Drops “Fighter” from official name.
A Springfield Air National Guard Base unit has changed its name to reflect its recent mission change, according to a Thursday press release.
The 178th Fighter Wing will now just be known as the 178th Wing. The change went into affect administratively July 1.
The unit will hold a ceremony recognizing the official designation from 178th Fighter Wing to 178th Wing Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Springfield Air National Guard Base.
The name change is to better reflect its recent mission change from operating fighter aircraft to conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and support missions, according to the press release.
“The change represents the completion of our successful transition which began in 2010,” Col. Gregory Schnulo said. “The support from all of our Airmen, leaders, elected officials and local community were essential in making this success possible.”
In addition to the new designation, changes also include: the Air Force ISR Agency gaining the 178th ISR Group, the 178th Maintenance Group’s official inactivation and Air Combat Command gaining the remaining 178th units from Air Education and Training Command.
The Springfield News-Sun previously reported in 2012, when the unit was undergoing changes, it planned to rename itself the 178th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.
Fighter jets started flying the Clark County skies from the base in 1955 and stopped in 2010.
Some local residents said they were confused by the name change, because the base still has the capability for fighter missions, even though that is not its primary function.
“It doesn’t make sense to me,” Joel Vance said.
In May, the wing opened up the new $11.1 million Hobson Cyberspace Communications Complex in Springfield.
That facility will house the Ohio Air National Guard’s 251st Cyber Engineering Installation Group and 269th Combat Communications Squadron, which are part of the 178th Wing.
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