Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base

Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base is located at Fort Wayne International Airport, 7.6 miles south-southwest of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Established in 1941 as Baer Army Air Base, the facility served as a training and processing center for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Early operations included the 31st Pursuit Group with P-39 Airacobras and the 78th Fighter Group with P-38 Lightnings. In 1942, jurisdiction transferred to III Bomber Command for processing B-26 Marauder medium bombers. By 1943, the I Troop Carrier Command assumed control to process C-46 Commando and C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft for overseas deployment.

Following World War II, the facility was largely transferred to the City of Fort Wayne in 1946, though the military retained specific areas for reserve and National Guard use. The 122d Fighter Group was allocated to the Indiana Air National Guard in 1946, and the 163d Fighter Squadron received federal recognition at the base in 1947. Since 1952, the installation has functioned as the home station for the 122d Fighter Wing.

The base is operated by the Indiana Air National Guard and is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command. The 122d Fighter Wing, nicknamed the "Blacksnakes," maintains a mission of operational readiness for global deployment, providing tactical units for air offense, air defense, and joint action with ground forces. The base also supports state-level rescue and relief operations under the authority of the Governor of Indiana.

Stationed units include the 122nd Operations Group, 122nd Maintenance Group, 122nd Mission Support Group, and 122nd Medical Group. The 163d Fighter Squadron operates A-10C Thunderbolt II and F-16C/D Fighting Falcon aircraft. Infrastructure includes munitions storage facilities and maintenance hangars located on the east side of the airport in a secure area separate from civil aviation facilities.