Smyrna Could Be New Home for TN National Guard’s 118th Wing

Editor’s Note: I had an awesome opportunity to hang out with the crews of the KC-135 and the C-17 Globemaster III at the Smyrna Airport yesterday.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a US aerial refueling aircraft that replaced the KC-97 as the USAF’s first jet-powered tanker. Derived from the Boeing 367-80, it extends fighter and bomber range in combat operations. The C-17, a strategic cargo aircraft, is operated by the 164th Airlift Wing based in Memphis, Tennessee. Many thanks to Colonel Brian Celatka and the crews for their hospitality and information during yesterday’s tour.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
The reason the event was very meaningful was due to my late father, Sgt. Sam Sparks, serving on that airport tarmac while he was stationed at the former Sewart Air Force Base. My father served in WWII, joining the Army Air Corps—which became the U.S. Air Force.​​​​​​​​​

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A few years ago my son Payton’s and I had the opportunity to take a flight on the liberty Bell, a B-17 and Payton recorded the flight. Sadly, the B-17 had to make an emergency landing due to an engine fire and burned. It was a surreal experience during the flight to think of what my father, who served a waist-gunner experienced. he was shot down once on one of his 24 bombing missions, crashed landed in a field and crash landed of the coast of Iceland.

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Smyrna may soon e New Home for TN National Guard’s 118th Wing

Smyrna is being considered as the potential new location for the Tennessee National Guard’s 118th Wing Unit, which currently operates from Nashville International Airport with a lease ending in 2045.

While discussions are still in early stages according to Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Cornelius, the economic impact could be substantial. Dr. Murat Arik from MTSU notes the move would bring over 1,000 personnel to live and spend in the area.

KC-135 Crews Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Supporting F- 15Es During Iranian Attack on Israel

Smyrna Town Manager David Santucci shared that the project would take 8-10 years to complete, with an estimated $1.93 billion in local economic impact and investment, and $5.9 billion total projected impact through 2050.

At its April 8 meeting, the Smyrna Town Council authorized Mayor Mary Esther Reed

to move forward with a traffic impact study to prepare for the upcoming relocation. The decision aligns with detailed plans that will see the Air National Guard transition from its current base at Berry Field in Nashville to Smyrna over the next four years, with the Army National Guard’s move to follow over seven years.

The 118th Wing specializes in intelligence, cyber operations, combat support, and domestic emergency response. Their presence would enhance local events like the Great Tennessee Air Show and strengthen regional emergency response capabilities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

History of Sewart Air Force Base

The War Department commissioned a Bombardment Air Base near Nashville on December 22, 1941, following America’s entry into World War II. A 3,325-acre plot along US Route 70 in Rutherford County, Tennessee was acquired by the United States Army Air Forces as a Training Command facility. Construction crews rapidly established 200 buildings and an airfield to meet military training requirements.

Smyrna Army Airfield was designated to the AAF Southeast Training Center in January 1942, activating the Army Air Force Pilot School (Specialized 4-Engine) for phase 3 pilot training. Cadets received instruction on B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Upon completion, pilots were assigned to Second Air Force for group combat training, earning Flight Officer status, with top performers commissioned as Second Lieutenants.

The 76th Flying Training Wing (Specialized 4-Engine) was constituted and activated at Smyrna on January 8, 1943, under the AAF Eastern Flying Training Command.

The base housed numerous military personnel throughout the conflict. Following the war’s conclusion, defense cutbacks led to the facility’s deactivation and caretaker status in 1947. This dormancy proved temporary, as the newly established United States Air Force reactivated the installation as Smyrna Air Force Base in 1948.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​