127th Wing > About 127th Wing > History & Heritage

Approximately 15,000 spectators observe aerial demonstrations during an air show at Selfridge Field, Michigan — Selfridge hosts air show in 1924

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Members of a Tuskegee Airmen unit train at Selfridge during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo) — Tuskegee Airmen

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Tuskegee Airmen in training at Selfridge Air National Guard Base during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo) — Tuskegee Airmen

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“Tuskegee Airmen” personnel review the operations of various aircraft instruments in this photo taken sometime in 1943 or 1944 at what is now called Selfridge Air National Guard Base. During World War II, Selfridge served as one of several key training sites for the all-African American units that later came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. (Air Force file photo) — Tuskegee Airmen Chronology

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Aircraft mechanics from a “Tuskegee Airmen” unit perform engine maintenance on a P-40 Warhawk at what is now called Selfridge Air National Guard Base in this photo taken likely sometime between March and September 1943, during World War II. During the war, Selfridge served as one of several key training sites for the all-African American units. (Air Force file photo) — Tuskegee Airmen Chronology

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U.S. Army Air Forces Master Sgt. John W. Westervelt is seen this image taken from a 1946 news article that reported on Westervelt’s death at age 78. He had retired from the military the previous year, at age 77. One of the oldest people to ever serve as a member of the modern U.S. military, Westervelt re-enlisted for the ninth and final time at what is now known as Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., on Aug. 9, 1941, about four months before the U.S. entered World War II. — U.S. Army Air Forces Master Sgt. John W. Westervelt

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Selfridge Air National Guard Base is one of the oldest continuously operating military airfields in the nation. The Michigan National Guard took possession of the former Joy Aviation Field on July 1, 1917. The first flight on what was then called Selfridge Field took place on July 8, 1917. The base has been in continuous use ever since and in 2017 celebrated 100 years of service.

The 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard is the host unit at Selfridge. The Wing's 107th Fighter Squadron traces its history to two key dates: an original organization as the 107th Aero Squadron on Aug. 27, 1917. That unit was disbanded following World War I and then reorganized as the 107th Observation Squadron on May 7, 1926, after beginning initial meetings in the summer of 1925. The Wing's 171st Air Refueling Squadron was first created as the 374th Fighter Squadron in 1943, during World War II. The modern configuration of the 127th Wing was created in 1996 by the merger of the 127th Fighter Wing and the 191st Airlift Group.

Through the early years of U.S. military aviation, the official publication Air Service (later Air Corps) Newsletter tracked the events, large and small, that impacted the small community of uniformed American Airmen. Through the pages of this publication, one is able to track the history and early development of what was then called Selfridge Field, as well as the units and Airmen who served there.

The Air National Guard as we know it today -- a separate reserve component of the United States Air Force -- was a product of the politics of postwar planning and interservice rivalry during World War II. The men who planned and maneuvered for an independent postwar Air Force during World War II didn't place much faith in the reserves, especially the state-dominated National Guard.

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Michigan Air National Guard
- Chronology
  The history of the Michigan Air National Guard officially dates from May 7, 1926, when the forerunner of today's 107th Fighter Squadron received federal recognition. This chronology, while not complete, lists major highlights and events tracked by the Air National Guard's Historian Office at ANG headquarters. This chronology primarily tracks the history of the three flying units that have historically been assigned to Michigan: the 107th and 171st, historically assigned to the Detroit area and now at Selfridge Air National Guard Base; and the 172nd, assigned to Battle Creek.
- Combat History
- Heritage
- A Short Story
- History
- This Date in History
  The history of the Michigan National Guard pre-dates the creation of the state of Michigan by more than a century. Units of the Michigan National Guard and its predecessor organizations played key roles at many crucial points in the history of the state and of the nation. The following link provides a look at many of the events that helped shape today's Michigan National Guard by looking at events that took place on various specific dates throughout the calendar year.

Selfridge Air National Guard Base
- Base History
  Through the early years of U.S. military aviation, the official publication Air Service (later Air Corps) Newsletter tracked the events, large and small, that impacted the small community of uniformed American Airmen. Through the pages of this publication, one is able to track the history and early development of what was then called Selfridge Field, as well as the units and Airmen who served there.
- Housing
- World War I
- World War II
  The World War II history of the Airmen, units and other personnel affiliated with Selfridge Air National Guard Base could and has filled many volumes of books. The links below offer a brief overview of three key units during that time period.
  
  Some squadrons of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the all-Black unit which helped shatter racial stereotypes during the war, were assigned to Selfridge and to the base in Oscoda, Mich. The chronology below provides an overview of their arrival, duties and departure from Selfridge. The photo above shows Tuskegee Airmen at Selfridge planning a training mission.
  
  Chronology Highlights Tuskegee Airmen History at Selfridge
  
  Both of the Michigan Air National Guard flying units currently assigned to Selfridge had a distinguished record of service in World War II. Those records are summarized at the links below. For information on the photo above, see the 107th Squadron link.
  
  107th Squadron World War II Overview
- Sept. 11, 2001