JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- (Editor's note: This article is part one of a three part series reflecting on the history of the 15 Wing’s contribution to the fight on the 25th anniversary of the Operation Desert Storm.)
On Jan. 16, 1991, air strikes against military targets on the Republic of Iraq signaled the changeover from the deterrent mission of Desert Shield to the combat mission of Desert Storm.
Television coverage of the conflict gave the world a first-hand view of the high-technology aerial warfare which devastated Saddam Hussein's regime and resulted in a decisive victory for the coalition forces.
The 15th Wing, then designated 15th Air Base Wing, supported Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in numerous and diverse ways. Support of transient aircraft began immediately at then Hickam Air Force Base, with the wing's airfield management branch serving as the focal point and coordinating agency, ensuring maximum security and top-priority handling of arriving and departing Desert Shield/Desert Storm aircraft.
This required adjustments to ongoing and planned airfield projects and activities including: ramp and taxiway repair, NASA missions, exercises, etc.
Members of the 15th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron currently 15th Maintenance Squadron, supported over 1,390 aircraft, providing parking areas, accomplishing necessary repair and calibration work, furnishing aerospace ground equipment, procuring or fabricating needed parts, and providing any other assistance required.
The 15th Services Squadron furnished over 9,000 meals for Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel deploying through Hickam AFB, in addition to providing lodging for over 5,000 transient servicemembers.
The 15th Transportation Squadron deployed a number of vehicle mechanics and operators in addition to traffic management personnel to Saudi Arabia and to Andersen AFB, Guam, where they augmented the 633d Transportation Squadron, which had been heavily tasked with Desert Shield/Storm requirements.
Squadron personnel also identified four 15 ABW vehicles and one assigned to the 619 CAMS, prepared them for desert operation, and shipped them to Saudi Arabia in time to meet the short-notice suspense imposed by higher headquarters.
The traffic management office (TMO) issued tickets to 125 Hickam personnel traveling aboard commercial aircraft to the Desert Shield/Storm area of responsibility between Sept. 10, 1990 and April 1, 1991, in addition to assisting another 40 passengers transiting through Hickam back to their home stations. Cargo processed in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm totaled more than 450 pieces, weighing just over 89 thousand pounds.
More than 40 security police defenders from the then 15th Security Forces Squadron boarded a C-141 at Hickam AFB and traveled to Travis AFB, California, then flew the rest of the way on a C-5 aircraft which carried them to their destination in Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, Hickam forces split into two sectors and shifts, bringing immediate relief to the previously deployed troops who were tired and worn from three months of steady 14-hour workdays to the Persian Gulf. During the first two weeks, the SFS experienced three Scud missile alerts every night.
With a large portion of the security personnel deployed, it became necessary to augment the remaining SFS at Hickam in order to accomplish day-to-day requirements. The wing commander authorized the tasking of units through the base detail program to furnish seven military members in the grade of staff sergeant and below to perform additional duty as security augmentees for a two-week period, rotating this among the squadrons on the base. The number of augmentees later increased to 20 every two weeks for the duration of the war. Their primary duties included visitor control and manning the Porter Avenue gate and entry control points to the flight line.
People in communities around the country, including Hawaii, welcomed Desert Storm troops home with parades and victory celebrations. Then Mayor Frank Fasi of the City and County of Honolulu sponsored a parade on May 11, 1991 in tribute to military personnel and their families.