1991-2001 Yugoslav Wars NATO Support

In April, a tanker and crew from the 203rd deployed to Keflavik, Iceland, to stand alert with the active Air Force and the Icelandic Defense Force for 17 days.

– 1994 Annual Report pp. 16

Other refueling squadron crews deployed to Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland, in April to stand alert with U.S. active-duty and Icelandic Defense Forces

– 1995 Annual Report pp. 16

In October 1995, the 203rd Air Fueling Squadron deployed with KC-135s to Pisa, Italy, to support Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia. The 203rd’s tankers refueled NATO aircraft patrolling the nofly zone of Bosnia.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 19

Four members of the HIARNG’s 117th Public Affairs Team were deployed to the former Yugoslavia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. The Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers are expected to return in early 1997. They are documenting the peacekeeping activities of the NATO Implementation Force (IF0R) in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Deployed were Sgt. 1st. Class Stephen M.W.S. Lum, Sgt. Lance M. Kamisugi, Spc. Erik B. DeRyke, and Spc. Eraina V. Andes.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 13-14

Four members of the HIARNG 117th Public Affairs Team were deployed in June 1996 to the former Yugoslavia, in support of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR/GUARD. The HIARNG journalists returned in February 1997. They documented the peacekeeping activities of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Deployed were Sgt. 1st Class Stephen M.W.S. Lum, Sgt. Lance M. Kamisugi, Spc. Erik B. DeRyke, and Spc. Eraina V. Eshelman.

– 1997 Annual Report pp. 11
FOREIGN REFUELING Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135 Statotanker refuels a German Tornado during Operation DELIBERATE GUARD in March. The 203rd Air Refueling Squadron tanker is flying out of Aviano Air Base, Italy. Sgt. Mark Sindiong photo
(Pictures from the 1998 Annual Report)

297th Air Traffic Control Squadron deployed 30 members to Taszar, Hungary, as part of Operation JOINT GUARD. The air traffic controllers, radar approach and maintenance personnel assisted with the movement of U.S. forces in Bosnia-Hezegovina. The 203rd Air Refueling Squadron deployed KC-135 tankers to Aviano Air Base, Italy, where they refueled NATO aircraft patrolling the airspace over Bosnia-Hezegovina.

– 1998 Annual Report pp. 1

In July 1997, Air Guard personnel from the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron deployed to Taszar, Hungary, to assist with the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The air traffic controllers and radar approach technicians helped direct the flow of aircraft in the area. . . Tankers from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron deployed to France and Italy in February and March to refuel NATO aircraft patrolling the airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

– 1998 Annual Report pp. 3

Operation DELIBERATE GUARD was conducted in Pisa, Italy and involved several KC- 135s.

– 1998 Annual Report pp. 16

Thirty 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron personnel conducted air traffic control operations at Taszar Air Base, Hungary in support of Operation JOINT GUARD with NATO forces

– 1998 Annual Report pp. 17
WELCOME HOME HEROES – Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson, the adjutant general, and Brig. Gen. Michael H. Tice, 154th Wing commander, greet the troops returning from the European based Operation ALLIED FORCE in March 1999. Capt. Charles J. Anthony photo
AERIAL PITSTOP A German Tornado is gassed up by a 203rd Air Refueling Squadron aircrew flying their Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135R -Stratotanker flown in support of the crisis in Kosovo during Operation ALLIED FORCE, March 1999. Staff Sgt. Mark Sindiong photo
AERIAL PITSTOP A German Tornado is gassed up by a 203rd Air Refueling Squadron aircrew flying their Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135R -Stratotanker flown in support of the crisis in Kosovo during Operation ALLIED FORCE, March 1999. Staff Sgt. Mark Sindiong photo
FINAL PRE-FLIGHT CHECK - A staff sergeant with the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron surveys the KC-135R Stratotanker before its mission in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE in March 1999. Staff Sgt. Mark Sindorig photo
FINAL PRE-FLIGHT CHECK – A staff sergeant with the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron surveys the KC-135R Stratotanker before its mission in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE in March 1999. Staff Sgt. Mark Sindorig photo
(Pictures from the 1999 Annual Report)

In March 1999, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 203rd Air Refueling Squadron became the lead refueling unit at the beginning of NATO’s Operation ALLIED FORCE. The unit’s KC-135R Stratotankers refueled fighter and bomber aircraft striking Serb targets in and around Kosovo. The Refueling Squadron performed its Kosovo duty with a 100 percent mission capable rate.

– 1999 Annual Report pp. 1

In March 1999, personnel from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron deployed to France to refuel NATO aircraft patrolling the airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina. While there, NATO began its bombing campaign to halt Serb atrocities against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. The 203rd Air Refueling Squadron was the lead refueling unit as the bombing began. The unit returned to Hawaii in March having successfully completed its mission with no injuries.

– 1999 Annual Report pp. 3

From late February to April, four KC- 135R aircraft from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, and over 200 154th maintenance and support guard members deployed to Istres Air Base, France, “to participate in Operation DELIBERATE FORCE: As real world hostilities began, the focus turned to Operation ALLIED FORCE. Seventy combat sorties were flown with a 100 percent mission success rate and zero ground/air mishaps or injuries, and over 3.9 million pounds of fuel were transferred to U.S. and NATO aircraft.

– 1999 Annual Report pp. 19

In April, another “first” for the HIANG, the 199th Fighter Squadron deployed four F-15s, f2 pilots, and 58 maintenance and support members to support the NATO alert operations alert Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland.

– 1999 Annual Report pp. 19
SEASONS GREETINGS -Capt. Marc Lawton exits Eagle Base headquarters in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegouina. During his eight-month tour as intelligence officer, Lawton was able to visit historic places such as the Srjija Hotel in Sarajeuo. The hotel is where the Archduke of Austria was assassinated, June 28, 1914, fueling the beginning of World War I.
SEASONS GREETINGS -Capt. Marc Lawton exits Eagle Base headquarters in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegouina. During his eight-month tour as intelligence officer, Lawton was able to visit historic places such as the Srjija Hotel in Sarajeuo. The hotel is where the Archduke of Austria was assassinated, June 28, 1914, fueling the beginning of World War I.
SEASONS GREETINGS -Capt. Marc Lawton exits Eagle Base headquarters in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegouina. During his eight-month tour as intelligence officer, Lawton was able to visit historic places such as the Srjija Hotel in Sarajeuo. The hotel is where the Archduke of Austria was assassinated, June 28, 1914, fueling the beginning of World War I.
SEASONS GREETINGS -Capt. Marc Lawton exits Eagle Base headquarters in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegouina. During his eight-month tour as intelligence officer, Lawton was able to visit historic places such as the Srjija Hotel in Sarajeuo. The hotel is where the Archduke of Austria was assassinated, June 28, 1914, fueling the beginning of World War I.
(Pictures from the 2000 Annual Report)

In January, an intelligence officer from the 29th Brigade returned from eight months of duty in Tuzla, Bosnia Herzegovina, as part of the Joint Task Force Eagle.

– 2000 Annual Report pp. 12

Five soldiers from the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade volunteered to train and deploy with the 25th’s Task Force Eagle for the Stabilization Force 11 mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The soldiers began individual and theater-specific training in December 2001. They deployed for their six-month Bosnia-Herzegovina rotations in early March 2002.

– 2001 Annual Report pp. 10