173rd Fighter Wing (U.S. Air Force) Color Changing Mug

The 173rd Fighter Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force (USAF). As part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, it is stationed at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts. The primary mission of the 173rd Fighter Wing is air defense of the northeastern United States, utilizing F-15 Eagle aircraft. The wing also provides combat-ready forces for worldwide deployment when needed. Its history dates back to 1946, making it one of the oldest Air National Guard units in the USAF. It has seen active service during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and more recent conflicts such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit is under the jurisdiction of the Air Combat Command (ACC).