From the Waterbury Republican American:
The federal government argued Wednesday that while Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell may control the fate of the state’s Air National Guard base in East Granby, the Pentagon controls the planes.[...]
The state is asking a federal judge to block the Defense Department from removing the 15 A-10 Thunderbolts from the 103rd Fighter Wing at Bradley International Airport.[...]
State Attorney Generam Richard Blumenthal argues that the realignment is illegal because Rell, the commander in chief of the Connecticut National Guard, did not give her consent.[...]
“Equipment cannot be moved if it undermines the mission and purpose of a unit that is jointly commanded,” he said.
I’ve suspected for a while that the state is going to lose this argument, and we’ll be left relying on the Massachusetts ANG to provide air cover in the unlikely event that it’s ever needed.
It’s a shame, too. I live very close to the airport and the ANG base, and it’s cool seeing the Flying Yankees’ Warthogs periodically flying in formation in the area. Red Sox fans were treated to a similar sight at the home opener last week, actually.
On the other hand, in the days leading up to the Iraq war, we had a few very noisy nights as the A-10’s and some support aircraft overflew us at very low altitude when departing for Iraq at 2am.