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Overview

As described on the Hancock  Field main website, " In 1927, Mayor and former World War I flyer Charles Hanna felt that the economic future of Syracuse would be greatly enhanced by a first class airport."

"In 1962, a new airport terminal opened in the center of the airfield to provide access to the planned Interstate 81, with Mayor William Walsh and Airport Commissioner Frank Pittenger present to dedicate the new terminal."

photo of a fighter on the runway at Hancock Field. - photo by Stephen D. Cannerelli

Syracuse Post Standard: June 25th, 2008 - A federal spending bill approved Tuesday includes $10.4 million that paves the way for a squadron of unmanned aircraft to be based in the Air National Guard Base in Mattydale. This money will be used to build and expand facilities at Hancock Field to house at least 14 of the MQ - 9 Reaper aerial drones that are due to arrive in 2010. This funding was included in a House Appropriations bill which was crafted by Congressman James T. Walsh. 

Lt. Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. visited Hancock Field ANGB on Wednesday the 17th of December to discuss the unit's future in being the first Air National Guard unit to have the MQ-9 Reaper http://www.174fw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123128907

Headquarters U.S. Air Force - MQ - 1 and MQ - 9 update: The MQ - 1 and MQ - 9 is a plan to "Ensure Military Legislative Assistance from states planning to receive Air National Guard Predators have an accurate understanding of each platform."

MQ - 1:can also be called a "Medium Altitude Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The Primary role of this aircraft is intelligence, surveillance, and reconaissance.  - the various missions the MQ - 1 is capable of is Armed Reconaissance - Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance, Interdiction, Close Air Support, and Combat Search and Rescue, and this is able to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Photo of the MQ - 1 Reaper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Twuav_13_02.jpeg

MQ - 9: is larger than the MQ - 1 and was built for increased lethality. Its main purposes is to find, fix, track, engage, and assess; prosecute critical emerging time sensitive targets; radar - based targeting with organic hard - kill capability; secondary role of intelligence, surveillance, reconaissance.

Photo of the MQ - 9 Reaper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MQ-9_Reaper_in_flight_(2007).jpg

 - The missions that the MQ - 9 is capable of performing is strategic and tactical strike, interdirection, close air support, combat search and rescue, and joint marine operations, and like the MQ - 1 has the combat capability 24/7/365

- Letter from Michael Wynne (Secretary of the Air Force) to Walsh, written by Michael Wynne regarding the status of the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field Air National Base. Walsh wanted to replace the F - 16 with the MQ - 9 Predator B. The Air Force is committed to helping Hancock Field Air National Base to address the challenges of the 21st century.

- Day Plan for the Visit by Michael Wynne, Friday February 24, 2006

- Letter to Congressman Walsh from Secretary Wynne in response to the above letter, Walsh is thanking Wynne for his visit to Hancock and is discussing what is mentioned in the above letter about the progress that is being made on the replacement of the F- 16 with the MQ - 9.

 - Hancock field MQ - 1 Role , describes the uses for the first of the fighter jets which were stored at Hancock Air Force Base.

 - Hancock field MQ - 9 Role, describes the uses for the larger and more lethal fighter jets which were stored at Hancock Air Force Base.

 - MQ - 1 and MQ - 9 Capibilities, describes the functions for both the MQ - 1 and the MQ - 9.

Hancock material located in Series 7, Box 20 (Han-Hot)

Created by Anthony DePrimo for History 419

10/15/2009

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