 From September to October, the entire wing deployed to its former base in Germany, Spangdahlem Air Base.In November 1970, as the USAF began to transfer portions of its Thunderchief inventory to the Air National Guard, the 23d Wing transferred the focus of its training mission to preparing National Guard pilots for their new aircraft.The 184th Tactical Fighter Group of the Kansas Air National Guard, which was also located at McConnell, became the first Guard unit to train on and equip with the Thunderchief.