153d Air Refueling Squadron

Mississippi Air National Guard unit June 2015 October 2019 August 2017 153d Air Refueling Squadron 65px|center 153d Air Refueling Squadron KC-135E 59-1446.jpg 300 153d Air Refueling Squadron KC-135E at Key Field Air National Guard BaseAircraft is Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker, serial 59-1446. 1939–1945 1946–1952 1952–present Mississippi 25px  Air National Guard Squadron Aerial refueling Mississippi Air National Guard Key Field Air National Guard Base, Mississippi European Theater of Operations Belgian Fourragère 150px 153d Air Refueling Squadron emblem 150px 153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblemApproved 15 December 1953.Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 351–52 150px 153d Observation Squadron emblemHubbard, p. 720 180px Tail stripe The 153d Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing located at Key Field Air National Guard Base, Mississippi. The 153d is equipped with the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The squadron is a descendant organization of the 153d Observation Squadron, one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II. Mission The squadrons aircraft are eight KC-135R Stratotankers. The mission of the squadron is to provide air refueling support to major commands of the United States Air Force, as well as other U.S. military forces and the military forces of allied nations. History World War II Activated as part of the Mississippi National Guard in 1939. Equipped with Douglas O-38 observation aircraft. Ordered to active service on 15 October 1940 as part of the buildup of the Army Air Corps prior to the United States entry into World War II. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, performed anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico until August 1943 when the mission was turned over to the United States Navy. Transferred to the European Theater of Operations, August 1943. Assigned to Ninth Air Force as a photographic reconnaissance unit. After the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, because a liaison and courier unit flying light aircraft until the end of the war in Europe. Inactivated during December 1945 in Germany. Mississippi Air National Guard thumb|left|Former squadron RF-101C Voodoo at the National Museum of the United States Air Force The squadron was redesignated as the 153d Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Key Field, Mississippi and was extended federal recognition on 12 September. The squadron was equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts and was allocated to the Fourteenth Air Force, Continental Air Command by the National Guard Bureau. The unit was called to active federal service on 1 March 1951. This activation temporarily resulted in the dissolution of the Mississippi Air National Guard, as members were sent to various places, including for many, duty in the Korean War. The squadron was sent to Turner Air Force Base, Georgia where it was assigned to the federalized 108th Fighter-Bomber Group with a mission to provide fighter escorts to Strategic Air Command B-50 Superfortress bombers on training missions. In December 1951 it moved to Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky where it replaced a unit deployed to England. It was released from active duty and returned to Mississippi state control on 10 November 1952. Reformed in December 1952, being equipped with RF-51D Mustang reconnaissance aircraft. Performed tactical reconnaissance for Tactical Air Command, retiring the Mustangs in 1955 and flying RF-80C Shooting Star aircraft until 1956. Re-equipped with RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft. At the height of the Cold War in 1961, the squadron was federalized as a result of tensions concerning the Berlin Wall. Part of the squadron remained at Key Field in an active-duty status for about a year before being released. thumb|153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C 66-0428 Tail Code: "KE" On 15 October 1962, the 153d was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established. The 153d becameg the group's flying squadron. Other elements assigned into the group were the 186th group headquarters, 186th Material Squadron (maintenance and supply), 186th Combat Support Squadron, and the 186th USAF Dispensary. In 1970 Tactical Air Command retired the RF-84s and they were replaced by the RF-101C Voodoo.McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo, serial 56-0166, on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, served with the 153d. The aircraft was flown directly from Key Field to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio on its final flight 27 October 1978. In 1979 the Voodoos were again replaced by RF-4C Phantom IIs. In 1990 during the Gulf Crisis, several aircraft and support personnel were activated and deployed to Doha International Airport, Qatar, being part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm. In 1992 the squadron's 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was realigned to an air refueling unit as the RF-4Cs were retired. The squadron was equipped with KC-135 Stratotankers and placed initially under Air Combat Command, later under Air Mobility Command. The 153d Air Refueling Squadron has seen worldwide duty with the KC-135s, supporting Operation Display Determination, Operation Provide Relief, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Support Justice, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lineage Designated as the 153d Observation Squadron and allotted to the Mississippi NG, on 18 August 1939 Activated on 27 September 1939 Ordered to active service on 15 October 1940 Redesignated 153d Observation Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942 Redesignated 153d Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942 Redesignated 153d Liaison Squadron on 31 May 1943 Inactivated on 15 December 1945 Redesignated 153d Fighter Squadron, and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 12 September 1946 Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 March 1951 Redesignated 153d Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 16 May 1951 Inactivated, released from active duty and returned to Mississippi state control on 1 December 1952 Redesignated 153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 December 1952 Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 October 1961 Released from active duty and returned to Mississippi state control on 31 August 1962 Redesignated 153d Air Refueling Squadron on 1 April 1992 Assignments Mississippi National Guard, 27 September 1939 Fourth Corps Area, 15 October 1940 V Army Corps, c. Dec 1940 67th Observation Group (later 67th Reconnaissance Group, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group), 1 September 1941 IX Fighter Command, 12 December 1943 (attached to First Army 4 February – 15 November 1944) Ninth Air Force, 14 March 1944 IX Tactical Air Command, 25 April 1944 (attached to Twelfth Army Group after 15 November 1944) XII Tactical Air Command, 15 July – 15 December 1945 (attached to Twelfth Army Group until 26 July 1945, Seventh Army after 26 July 1945) 116th Fighter Group, 12 September 1946 108th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 March 1951 – 30 November 1952 116th Fighter-Interceptor Group (later 116th Fighter-Bomber Group), 30 November 1952 7117th Tactical Wing, 1 October 1961 116th Fighter-Bomber Group, 31 August 1962 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 186th Air Refueling Group), 15 October 1962 186th Operations Group, 1 June 1992 – present Stations 50% Meridian, Mississippi, 27 September 1939 Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina, 16 December 1941 Key Field, Mississippi, 28 January 1942 Esler Field, Louisiana, 17 Feb – 12 August 1942 RAF Membury, England, 7 September 1942 RAF Keevil, England, 28 November 1942 RAF Membury, England, 3 October 1943 RAF Keevil, England, 28 November 1943 RAF Erlestokes, England, 13 March 1944 Vouilly, France, 18 June 1944 Canisy, France, 6 August 1944 St Pois, France, 11 August 1944 Couteme, France, 23 August 1944 Maillebois, France, 25 August 1944 St Cyr, France, 2 September 1944 Vuel, Belgium, 10 September 1944 Ham, Belgium, 12 September 1944 Stree (near Huy), Belgium, 16 September 1944 Verviers, Belgium, 20 September 1944 Spa, Belgium, 24 October 1944 50% Olne, Belgium, c. 19 December 1944 (operated from Liege, Belgium, 18–23 Dec 1944) Tongres, Belgium, 22 December 1944 Rutten (Russon), Belgium, 8 January 1945 Operated from Tongres, Belgium, 18 January 1945 Duren, Germany, 9 Man 1945 Euskirchen, Germany, 16 March 1945 Bad Godesberg, Germany, 30 March 1945 Marburg, Germany, 5 April 1945 Bad Wildungen, Germany, 15 April 1945 Weimar, Germany, 24 April 1945 Brunswick, Germany, 20 May 1945 Augsburg, Germany, 4 June 1945 Heidelberg, Germany, 25 Jul – 15 December 1945 Key Field, Mississippi, 12 September 1946 Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, March 1951 Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, 11 December 1951 Key Field (later Meridian Regional Airport, Key Field Air National Guard Base), Mississippi, 1 December 1952 – present Aircraft 50% Douglas O-38, 1939–1941 In addition to North American O-47, 1940–1942, and O-49 and Curtiss O-52 Owl, 1941–1942 Included F-3A Havoc and F-6A Mustang in 1942; in addition to L-4 Sentinel, 1942–1944, and F-3A Havoc, 1943–1944 Included Spitfire PR XI, 1942–1943, and DB-7 Boston, 1943 L-5 Sentinel, 1944–1945 F-47 Thunderbolt, 1946–1952 RF-51D Mustang, 1952–1955 50% RF-80 Shooting Star, 1955–1956 RF-84F Thunderflash, 1956–1970 RF-101C Voodoo, 1970–1979 RF-4C Phantom II, 1978–1991 KC-135 Stratotanker, 1992–2011 C-26 Metroliner, 2007–present C-27J Spartan, 2011–2013 KC-135R Stratotanker, 2013–present See also Mississippi List of observation squadrons of the United States Army National Guard References Notes Explanatory notes Citations 30em Bibliography Hubbard, Gerard (June 1943). "Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth". Vol. LXXXIII (No. 6) National Geographic, pp. 710–722 Maurer, Maurer Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II 1969 http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf dead 20 December 2016 reprint 1982 Office of Air Force History Washington, DC 0-405-12194-6 72556 70605402 Maurer, Maurer Air Force Combat Units of World War II 1961 http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf dead 20 December 2016 17 December 2016 reprint 1983 Office of Air Force History Washington, DC 0-912799-02-1 61060979 Rogers Brian. United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978 2005 Midland Publications Hinkley, UK 1-85780-197-0 External links 186th Air Refueling Wing History and Lineage 186th Air Refueling Wing homepage 186th Air Refueling Wing@globalsecurity.org Category:Squadrons of the United States Air National Guard Category:Meridian, Mississippi Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force Category:Military units and formations in Mississippi