Hempy,
The 509th/131st BW is an associate unit program, so no regular unit had to disband. The 131st moved from Lambert Field STL over to Whiteman AFB. The 131st probably lost some positions in the reorganization move. The 131st pilots, MX & other support troops work along side the regulars on the unit aircraft....both the B-2s & the proficiency support T-38s as well as the admin & intel side. Most of the support structure here comes from the regular side just like the associate Virginia ANG F-22 unit at Langley. To my mind not as good a deal as F-15s at Lambert but better than drones.
An autonomous ANG unit, particularly ones located at 'podunk' civil airports (there are still a bunch) provide the bulk of their own support structure.
What did the STL unit do to deserve this?
Probably the airline traffic count trend at Lambert didn't help....or maybe USAF was still mad about the time one of thei STL F-100s on a 'dry pass' dropped its drop tanks on a barge on the Mississippi. Direct hit. (Barge Captain radioed to his company that he was under attack.)
