Emergency Procedures for Cessna 425 Corsair

valor.26 22 October 1918. 1st Lt. Martinus Stenseth, a former Minnesota National Guardsman, was credited with 3.14 aerial victories bringing his total to 6.14. He ended World War I with 6.47 kills.27 30 September 1919. When asked by the Militia Bureau for information and ideas about forming aviation units in the postwar National Guard, Maj. Gen. 4 Charles T. Menoher, an artillery officer serving as Chief of the Army’s Air Service replied that his organization had no such policies. He added that he foresaw “formidable obstacles” to such units in the Guard.28 10 February 1920. The War Department granted authority for the National Guard to organize an air unit in each of its infantry divisions.29 1 June 1920. The Militia Bureau issued its Circular No. 1 addressing the postwar organization of aviation units in the National Guard.30 26 September 1920. Encouraged by Governor Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist, three members of the Minnesota National Guard - - Capt. Ray S. Miller, Lt. Col. William Garis, the Assistant Adjutant General, and Brig. Gen. Walter Rhinow, the Adjutant General - - launched a flight to Washington, DC from St. Paul on a rented airplane to successfully lobby the Militia Bureau and the Army Air Service to form a National Guard aviation unit in their state.31 November 1920. Maj. Gen. Milton Reckord, the Adjutant General of Maryland, met with members of the American Flying Club, a civilian organization promoting the development of aviation in the U.S., to discuss the possibility of establishing a National Guard flying squadron in his state. Most of the members of the club were Army Reserve officers who were flyers. Their meeting with General Reckord was a key event leading to the creation of an observation squadron in the Maryland National Guard in 1921.32 17 January 1921. Minnesota’s 109th Squadron (redesignated the 109th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923) became the first post World War I National Guard air unit to receive federal recognition.33 29 June 1921. The 104th Squadron (redesignated the 104th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923), Maryland National Guard, received federal recognition. It emerged from a flying club active in Baltimore during 1919 and 1920. Initially, its 34 members had no uniforms or aircraft. They trained every Saturday afternoon at Logan Field in Dundalk, Maryland. Their training initially consisted of military drill and instruction about aviation topics.34 July 1921. Maryland’s 104th Squadron received several of its allotted 13 Curtiss JN-4Ds, becoming the first postwar National Guard aviation unit to obtain planes from the Army Air Service.35 1 August 1921. The 137th Squadron, Indiana National Guard, received recognition as a Corps Aviation unit. (It was redesignated the 113th Squadron and assigned to the 38th Division on 3 January 1923 and redesignated the 113th 5 Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923.)36 17 November 1921. The 102nd Squadron (redesignated the 102nd Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923), New York National Guard, received federal recognition. One of its original organizers and early commanders was Lt. Col. George A. Vaughan, a veteran combat pilot with 9.5 kills in Europe during World War I.37 18 November 1921. The 101st Squadron, Massachusetts National Guard, received federal recognition. (It was redesignated the 101st Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923.)38 4 December 1921. The 136th Squadron, Tennessee National Guard, received federal recognition as a Corps Aviation unit. (It was redesignated the 136th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923 and then the 105th Observation Squadron when assigned to the 30th Division on 16 January 1924.)39 21 January 1922. The 125th Squadron, Alabama National Guard, received federal recognition as a Corps Aviation unit. (It was redesignated the 135th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923 and then the 114th Observation Squadron when assigned to the 39th Division on 1 May 1923 and then the 106th Observation Squadron when assigned to the 31st Division on 16 January 1924.) Maj. James A. Meissner, a World War I ace who had flown with Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, led the effort to form the unit and served as its first commander.40 February 1922. The 104th Observation Squadron, Minnesota National Guard, received its first official military aircraft, nine Curtiss JN-6H’s, after it moved into permanent facilities at Speedway Field. Until that time, the unit had trained on rented civilian aircraft.41 22 May 1922. Members of the 136th Squadron, Tennessee National Guard, conducted a sham air battle for the public above the American Legion Field in Nashville.42 30 June 1922. The Militia Bureau reported that 53 Army airplanes had been issued to 6 National Guard aviation units by this date.43 July 1922. Maryland’s 104th Squadron became the first postwar National Guard flying unit to participate in an annual summer training encampment. The training was conducted at Langley Field, Virginia.44 January 1923. The National Guard sent 10 officers to Brooks Field, Texas to begin Army flight training and 8 of them subsequently graduated to become 6 junior airplane pilots.45 23 June 1923. The 110th Observation Squadron, Missouri National Guard, received federal recognition.46 27 June 1923. The 120th Observation Squadron, Colorado National Guard, received federal recognition.47 29 June 1923. The 111th Observation Squadron, Texas National Guard, received federal recognition.48 1 November 1923. The 118th Observation Squadron, Connecticut, received federal recognition.49 13 June 1924. The first aircraft (JN-4s) arrived at Brainard Field, Hartford, Connecticut, for the 118th Observation Squadron enabling active flying to begin at that location.50 16 June 1924. The 115th Observation Squadron, California National Guard, received Federal recognition.51 27 June 1924. The 103rd Observation Squadron, Pennsylvania National Guard, received federal recognition.52 6 August 1924. The 116th Observation Squadron, Washington state National Guard, received federal recognition.53 13 June 1925. In a sham air battle staged 4,000 feet over Times Square, four National Guard aircraft defeated an attack on New York City by four Army planes and then chased them back over Long Island. The clash was watched by an estimated 6,000 persons. It was also broadcast live by radio station WOR in Newark, New Jersey.54 6 July 1925. The 116th Observation Squadron, Washington state National Guard, hired its first six full-time “caretaker” personnel under the authority of the National Defense Act of 1916. They maintained the unit’s airfield and equipment between drills as well as when the unit was not conducting its annual training encampment. 55 24 October 1925. The 154th Observation Squadron, Arkansas National Guard, received federal recognition as a Corps Aviation unit.56 22 February 1926. Members of the 113th Observation Squadron joined other Indiana National Guardsmen in performing riot duty. They were released from 7 state service on 23 March 1926.57 7 May 1926. The 107th Observation Squadron, Michigan National Guard, received federal recognition.58 2 July 1926. By act of Congress, the Army Air Service became the Army Air Corps. The Air Corps was required to assist and support National Guard aviation units including training them.59 7 March 1927. Accompanied by MSgt Clyde Plank, 1st Lt Daniel F. Kearns of the Colorado National Guard’s 120th Observation Squadron flew one of the unit’s Douglas 0-2C biplanes to Silverton in the southwestern corner of the state to deliver badly needed typhoid vaccine over the 11,000 to 12,000 foot mountain peaks which ringed that community. The 120th’s first mercy mission was launched because devastating snowstorms had completely isolated Silverton from the outside world for six weeks and civil authorities feared the outbreak of a typhoid epidemic.60 18 April 1927. 10 officers and 50 enlisted members of the 154th Observation Squadron, Arkansas National Guard and their Curtiss JN-4 and JN-6 aircraft began performing relief duties during the great Mississippi River flood, one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Those Guardsmen airlifted food, medicines, and supplies to workers shoring up levees along the river. They also patrolled the levees to spot potential breaks and worked to plug gaps in those embankments. Members of the unit flew over 20,000 miles delivering serum, food and supplies across their state during the flood. The unit was released from active duty on 3 May 1927. 61 20-21 May 1927. Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, a member of the 110th Observation Squadron, Missouri National Guard, became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. For his accomplishment, he received the Medal of Honor, one of three Guard aviators to be awarded the nation’s highest military honor.62 20 June 1927. The 112th Observation Squadron, Ohio National Guard, received federal recognition. This brought the total number of National Guard aviation units to 17. They were manned by 330 officers and 1,636 enlisted men.63 June 1927. 14 of the 17 Guard aviation units began modernizing their aircraft inventories, receiving Douglas 0-2C and Curtiss 0-11 observation aircraft plus Consolidated PT-1 and Douglas BT-1 trainers. That was part of a plan approved by the Militia Bureau and the Army during Fiscal Year 1926 to phase out the Guard’s aging Curtiss JNS trainers.64 8 1 July 1927. The 108th Observation Squadron, Illinois National Guard, received federal recognition.65 24 August 1927. The War Department announced that the Douglas Airplane Company, the Keystone Aircraft Company, and the Curtis Airplane & Motor Company had won its design contest to equip National Guard squadrons with new aircraft. The department was authorized to award contracts to all or one of the firms to build three to ten planes for the Guard. If they proved successful in operational service, then the War Department planned to purchase enough of them for Guard squadrons across the nation but the total numbers that would involve were not available for announcement.66 September 1927. Tennessee’s 105th Observation Squadron burned the last JN-4 “Jennies” in U.S. military service.67 25 October 1927. The War Department announced the first contract with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company to purchase 35 new O-11 type observation planes. They would replace the antiquated and unfit JN type aircraft that had been withdrawn from National Guard service the previous month.68 October 1927. The governor of Colorado, W. H. Adams, dispatched five officers and four enlisted members plus three Douglas O-2C aircraft to Pueblo to patrol the southern part of the state which was being plagued by a series of bloody coal strikes. The aircraft patrolled the troubled coal fields during the day. The strikes then spread to the northern part of the state. Starting in November, the 120th flew daily recon flights over the northern area of disturbances. By January 1928, the confrontations had ended and the unit was relieved from active duty.69 24 May 1927. Because of an attempted prison break at July 1929. The War Department placed the first orders to purchase 1 new Douglas 0-38A and 12 new Douglas 0-38s biplanes to begin modernizing the Guard’s aircraft inventory. These aircraft models were destined to remain the standard equipment of Guard observation squadrons through much of the 1930s.70 30 January 1930. The 119th Observation Squadron, New Jersey National Guard, received federal recognition. It was the last of the original 19 air units allotted to the National Guard after World War I to be organized.71 January 1930. For three weeks during the peak of ice floods on the lower 9 Wabash River, daily patrols were flown by five aircraft and aircrews from the Indiana National Guard’s 113th Observation Squadron. The Guardsmen dropped food and clothing to cutoff refugees, ferried doctors, and provided all other possible assistance to flood victims. 72 May 1931. The National Guard provided 65 aircraft and crews from all of its 19 observation squadrons to participate in the Army Air Corps’ annual maneuvers that began at Wright Field, Ohio and then crisscrossed the United States.73 7 June 1932. An Ohio National Guard Douglas O-38 flown by 2nd Lt. Karl E. Bushong dropped 25 tear gas bombs on a group of protestors near a mine and sprayed an adjacent hillside with machine gun fire to scare them away at the request of the Guernsey County sheriff. The protestors, mostly angry women who had been stoning working miners during a coal strike, dispersed.74 30 June 1932. 2nd Lt. Karl E. Bushong dropped tear gas bombs from his Ohio National Guard Douglas 0-38 on several boatloads of West Virginia coal miners crossing the Ohio River at Powhatan to work as strike breakers in coal mines in the Buckeye state. He supported boatloads of striking Ohio coal miners who had intercepted the West Virginia miners in mid river. While the naval battle between 15 boatloads of miners armed with clubs and oars was progressing, Ohio National Guard soldiers fired machine gun tracer rounds at the far bank of the river to persuade would-be strike breakers to remain in West Virginia.75 13 February 1934. At the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Army Air Corps (AAC) took over responsibility for carrying domestic air mail from commercial airlines whose government contracts had been cancelled by the White House because of suspected collusion and fraud in the granting of those arrangements. The National Guard contributed 53 of its newest planes plus aircraft mechanics and airfields to the effort. National Guard offers to furnish some of its own pilots to the emergency effort -- many of whom were more experienced than there AAC pilots and, unlike the latter, were used to flying sophisticated commercial airliners at night and in poor weather -- were spurned by the Army. Poorly trained and ill-equipped Army flyers suffered an alarming number of fatal crashes before the responsibility for flying the air mail was returned to the airlines on 1 June 1934.76 19 February 1934. Army Air Corps pilots began flying mail on routes across the country after President Franklin D. Roosevelt cancelled all government airmail contracts with commercial airlines after he decided that they had been arranged through collusion and fraud. The National Guard loaned the Army 53 of its newest and best aircraft for the operation. It also made available Guard airfields and hangars to Army flyers at all locations along the airmail routes. 10 The Air Corps returned its last airmail run to a commercial airline on 1 June 193477 7 August 1934. During their annual training encampment, pilots of the Tennessee National Guard’s 105th Observation Squadron initiated a new type of air-to-air gunnery training replacing their machine guns with cameras and film. Their gun cameras recorded on film the time and location of theoretical bullet hits on other planes during aerial combat maneuvers.78 7-8 September 1934. Members of New Jersey’s 119th Observation Squadron, flying Douglas 0-38E biplanes, assisted the rescue of passengers and crew from the burning liner S.S. Morrow Castle off the “Garden State’s” coast. They were personally directed by their Governor, A. Harry Moore, who flew on some of the rescue missions.79 July 1936 The first of 45 brand new North American 0-47A’s were ordered for Guard aviation units by the War Department. The 0-47 was the first Guard aircraft to incorporate such modern aircraft features as retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed cockpit, and cantilever monoplane construction.80 24 January 1937. Martial law was declared in Evansville, Indiana because of a huge Ohio River flood which inundated the southern portion of the state. The entire 113th Observation Squadron of the Indiana National Guard was called into service during the emergency which lasted into the following month. Aircrews from the unit relayed information to Guardsmen on the ground and provided vital radio relay communications for the area since many telephone circuits had failed. The flood damaged property from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, left 1 million people homeless and 385 dead, and caused property losses valued at $500 million.81 30 January 1937. Personnel and aircraft from the Tennessee National Guard’s 105th Observation Squadron were ordered to Memphis from their home station at Nashville for flood relief duty. Equipped with two-way radios, they flew river patrol missions searching for high water areas and flood victims plus stranded livestock to aid rescue efforts. They returned to their home station on 10 February 1937.82 3 April 1937. The last of 46 Douglas 0-46 monoplanes were delivered to Guard units. The 0-46 was the first monoplane to become standard equipment in Guard aviation squadrons. It featured a fully enclosed cockpit while retaining fixed landing gear.83 8 July 1937. The National Guard Bureau took delivery of the Guard’s first multi-engine aircraft, the Y1C-37, 37-376, a military staff transport version of 11 a Lockheed twin-engine commercial airliner.84 22 July 1938. The National Guard took delivery of the first of 93 North American 0-47A airplanes that it had contracted for. The aircraft was an all- metal, long wing monoplane with a crew of three designed specifically for observation missions.85 3 April 1939. Congress approved an ambitious Army Air Corps expansion program due to the rapidly deteriorating international security situation. Among its provisions, the program authorized increased personnel and aircraft allotments for the 19 existing Nation Guard observation squadrons and the creation of 10 more such units.86 27 September 1939. The 153rd Observation Squadron, Mississippi National Guard, received federal recognition. It was the first of the 10 additional National Guard aviation units authorized earlier that year by Congress in the Army Air Corps’ expansion program.87 13 October 1939. The 152nd Observation Squadron, Rhode Island National Guard, received federal recognition.88 16 September 1940. The National Guard’s 105th, 116th, 119th, and 154th Observation Squadrons were mobilized for federal service to help strengthen the defenses of the continental United States as part of the nation’s pre World War II military buildup. When called to active duty, those and all subsequently mobilized National Guard observation squadrons became part of the Army Air Corps (later Army Air Forces) instead of retaining their previous assignments as National Guard divisional or Army corps aviation units.89 12 November 1940. The 126th Observation Squadron, Wisconsin National Guard, received federal recognition.90 10 February 1941. The 125th Observation Squadron, Oklahoma National Guard, received federal recognition.91 25 February 1941. The 124th Observation Squadron, Iowa National Guard, received federal recognition.92 2 March 1941. The 122nd Observation Squadron, Louisiana National Guard, received federal recognition.93 10 April 1941. The 121st Observation Squadron, District of Columbia National Guard, received federal recognition.94 12 18 April 1941. The 123rd Observation Squadron, Oregon National Guard, received federal recognition.95 1 May 1941. The 128th Observation Squadron, Georgia National Guard, received federal recognition.96 4 August 1941. The 127th Observation Squadron, Kansas National Guard, received federal recognition. It was the last of the National Guard’s 29 pre World War II aviation units to be organized.97 15 October 1941. The last of the National Guard’s 29 pre World War II aviation units, Mississippi’s 153rd Observation Squadron, was called into federal service.98 Altogether, approximately 4,800 National Guard aviation personnel, including 613 pilots, were mobilized during 1940-1941 from the Guard’s flying units.99 7 December 1941. Carrier-based Japanese aircraft attacked U.S. naval and air forces on Oahu, Hawaii sending the United States into World War II. January 1942. By the early part of that month, 17 National Guard aviation squadrons were flying antisubmarine patrols over the Atlantic Ocean off the U.S. east coast, 3 others were flying such missions over the Gulf of Mexico and 5 were patrolling off the west coast. Of the remaining four units, three were training with ground forces within the continental U.S., and the 108th Observation Squadron, formerly of the Illinois National Guard, had been dispatched to the Panama Canal Zone.100 12-13 January 1942. Ten 0-47 aircraft and crews from several Guard aviation squadrons sailed from San Francisco, California for Singapore as part of Combat Team X, a unit formed with 10 aircraft and crews from former Guard units. After Singapore fell to the Japanese, they were diverted to Australia where they briefly flew antisubmarine patrols before being transferred to other Army Air Forces units with more modern aircraft.101 22 February 1942. While flying a tow target for gunners at Fort McArthur, Orv Shelton, a pilot in the California National Guard’s mobilized 115th Observation Squadron, spotted a Japanese submarine in the channel between Catalina Island and the mainland.102 7 September 1942. The 107th, 109th, and 153rd Observation Squadrons began setting up for operations at Membury, Wiltshire in the United Kingdom as part of the Army Air Forces’ 67th Observation Group, later redesignated the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.103 13 18 October 1942. The 121st Observation Squadron from the District of Columbia National Guard was inactivated after flying antisubmarine patrols from the United States. The former Guard unit was reorganized six months later as the 121st Liaison Squadron and then was dispatched to Algeria.104 9-10 November 1942. The 111th, 122nd, and 154th Observation Squadrons arrived in Morocco to participate in Operation Torch as elements of the Army Air Force’s 68th Observation Group. They were equipped with Douglass A- 20s.105 April 1943. Flying during the Algeria-Tunisia campaign, the 154th Observation Squadron, formerly of the Arkansas National Guard, became the first Army Air Forces unit to take P-51 Mustangs, powered by Allison engines, into combat.106 7 July 1943. The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), formerly the 111th Observation Squadron of the Texas National Guard, began preparing to fly tactical reconnaissance missions from its base at Bou Fucia, Tunisia during the invasion of Sicily which was launched three days later.107 14 July 1943. The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), formerly of the Texas National Guard, began flying tactical reconnaissance missions from Sicily in direct support of advancing allied troops on that island.108 1 August 1943. Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker, an Ohio Guardsman who commanded the Army Air Forces’ 93rd Heavy Bombardment Group, perished when his B-24D was shot down during an ill-fated raid on enemy oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania. Baker and his co-pilot, Major John J. Jerstad were each posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during that mission.109 15 August 1943. Beginning on this date, the first of eight Guard air units that had been were retained in the United States were inactivated prior to the war’s end. Their personnel and equipment were distributed to other Army Air Forces units. The first unit was the 105th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment). It was followed by the 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS), 116th TRS, 120th TRS, 102nd TRS, 124th TRS, plus the 489th and 490th Fighter Squadrons (formerly the 104th and 109th Observation Squadrons).110 16 September 1943. The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), formerly the Texas National Guard’s 111th Observation Squadron, began operating from bases on the Italian mainland, seven days after the nearly disastrous invasion of Salerno by elements of Lt. Gen. Mark Clark’s U.S. Fifth Army.111 14 1 November 1943. The 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special), originally the 108th Observation Squadron, Illinois National Guard, was inactivated at Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone after serving there for 21 months.112 8 November 1943. The last 16 personnel of the Louisiana National Guard’s 122nd Observation Squadron were transferred to a new unit, the 855th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). Equipped primarily with B-17s, the 855th flew special missions, including dropping agents and supplies to partisans in occupied Europe, for the rest of the war from bases in Algeria and Italy.113 30 November 1943. The 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (formerly the 120th Observation Squadron, Colorado National Guard), which had been mobilized for service with the Army Air Forces (AAF) in World War II, was inactivated at Birmingham, Alabama. Its personnel and equipment were transferred to other AAF units.114 5 December 1943. Equipped with Bell P-39Q’s, the 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), originally the 110th Observation Squadron, Missouri National Guard, arrived in Australia. It then moved to New Guinea to support General Douglas MacArthur’s offensive against Japanese forces.115 20 December 1943. The 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 107th Observation Squadron, Michigan National Guard, commenced combat operations over France from the United Kingdom with its F-6A’s in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe.116 30 January 1944. Equipped with North American B-25s, the 106th Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the Alabama National Guard’s 106th Observation Squadron, flew its first combat sorties against the Japanese from its base on Sterling Island in the South Pacific.117 21 February 1944. SSgts Jim Nichols and Gene Salitrinik, enlisted pilots and former members of the California National Guard’s 115th Observation Squadron, were reported missing in action after they landed their light aircraft behind enemy lines to rescue the pilot of a downed P-40. After 28 days of dodging the Japanese, leeches, and mosquitoes while struggling through dense jungles, they plus the fighter pilot and an Australian jungle specialist who had been parachuted in to help them escape, were rescued by an American patrol.118 23 February 1944. The 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 107th Observation Squadron, Michigan National Guard, and other units of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance were assigned the responsibility of photographing the French coastline in preparation for the Normandy invasion, Operation Overlord.119 15 21 January 1944. The 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), formerly the 110th Observation Squadron, Missouri National Guard, began flying combat missions from New Guinea.120 28 March 1944. The 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 118th Observation Squadron, Connecticut National Guard, began flying defensive patrols in India. It was the first of five former National Guard air units to conduct combat operations in the China-Burma-India theater. The others were the 103rd and 123rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons plus the 115th and 127th Liaison Squadrons.121 12 April 1944. The 840th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), formerly the 128th Observation Squadron, Georgia National Guard, commenced combat operations with its Boeing B-17s from a base in Italy.122 6 June 1944. 1st Lt. Donald J. Smith, a prewar enlisted member of the Illinois National Guard’s 108th Observation Squadron, was shot down while piloting his B-24 on a bombing raid against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He parachuted safely from his burning aircraft, evaded capture by German forces, and escaped to allied lines in Italy months later with the aid of Yugoslav partisans. After the war, he rejoined the Illinois National Guard and rose to the rank of major general in its ANG organization.123 27 June 1944. Personnel and several F-6As from the 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 107th Observation Squadron, Michigan National Guard, became the first Army Air Forces tactical reconnaissance unit to operate from liberated France.124 June 1944. The 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 118th Observation Squadron, Connecticut National Guard, was attached to and then assigned to the 23rd Fighter Group -- heir of the Flying Tigers -- in China. It flew Curtiss P-40Ns and then North American F-6Cs.125 11 September 1944. 1st Lt. Joseph J. Maish, Jr., a prewar pilot in the Maryland National Guard’s 104th Observation Squadron, shot down two German ME-109s while flying a bomber escort mission over Europe in a P-51. For his accomplishment, he was awarded the Silver Star.126 September 1944. The 121st Liaison Squadron, formerly the 121st Observation Squadron, District of Columbia National Guard, became operational in Italy. It flew missions in Piper L-4s and Stinson L-5s supporting American ground troops in northern Italy and southern France until German forces surrendered.127 16 10 December 1944. The 127th Liaison Squadron (Commando), formerly the 127th Observation Squadron, Kansas National Guard, arrived in Bombay, India and prepared to fly missions in support of British forces in the China Burma India theater with a variety of light aircraft.128 20 February 1945. Flying a P-51 for the Army Air Forces 356th Fighter Group, Maj. Donald J. Strait, a pre war enlisted member of the New Jersey National Guard’s 119th Observation Squadron, scored the last 3 of his 13.5 kills of German aircraft during the Second World War. He was the only known pre war Guardsman to become an Army Air Forces ace during that conflict. After the war, Strait joined the New Jersey ANG and served in it until he retired in 1978 as a major general.129 February 1945. The 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly Rhode Island’s 152nd Observation Squadron, began flying missions from Italy in unarmed Lockheed F-5s.130 February 1945. From its base about 80 miles north of Calcutta, India, the 127th Liaison Squadron (Commando), formerly the Kansas National Guard’s 127th Observation Squadron, began supporting the British Army’s offensive against Japanese forces in Burma. The unit conducted communications, photographic, visual reconnaissance, personnel transport, and supply missions with it Stinson L-5s and other light aircraft until late April 1945.131 12 December 1945. The Aviation Group of the National Guard Bureau (NGB) was established to help plan and organize a new reserve component -- the Air National Guard (ANG) -- of a planned new military service, the United States Air Force. The Aviation Group, NGB consisted of three individuals headed by Col. William R. Robertson, an Army Air Forces officer.132 30 January 1946. The Army Chief of Staff, General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower, ordered the piecemeal activation of National Guard aviation units under an Army Air Forces’ plan.133 February 1946. The National Guard Bureau officially announced the plan for the postwar Air National Guard to the states.134 March 1946. The first mission given to the new Air Defense Command (ADC) of the Army Air Forces was to “organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States; . . . [and] maintain units of the Air National Guard . . . in a highly trained and operational condition of readiness; . . . . [for that mission]”135 17 15 April 1946. Lt. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, the commander of the Air Defense Command, wrote the Chief of the National Guard Bureau that “The mission of the air national security of the United States . . . has been assigned in large measure to the Air National Guard.”136 25 April 1946. General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Army Chief of Staff, approved a revised plan for a new postwar aviation organization that would be known as the Air National Guard.137 5 June 1946. The mission of the Air Defense Command with respect to Air Guard units was changed by the Army Air Forces to only training rather than holding them in a high state of operational readiness.138 30 June 1946. The 120th Fighter Squadron, Colorado National Guard, was extended federal recognition. Slated to be equipped with P-51D’s, it was the first unit to be federally recognized after World War II in what was to become a brand new reserve component in September 1947, the Air National Guard.139 13 July 1946. Permanent caretakers (technicians) were authorized for the Colorado National Guard’s flying unit which was federally recognized as the 140th Fighter Group in November of that year.140 29 July 1946. The 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 101st Observation Squadron, Massachusetts National Guard, was inactivated at March Field, California. The 39th had flown combat missions in Europe from March to May 1945. It was the last unit carrying a prewar National Guard lineage to leave active federal service after World War II.141 15 September 1946. An AT-6 trainer was delivered to Colorado’s 120th Fighter Squadron. It was the first aircraft provided to any post World War II National Guard air unit by the Army Air Forces.142 20 September 1946. The 175th Fighter Squadron, South Dakota ANG was extended federal recognition. Lt. Col. Joseph J. Foss, a Marine ace credited with destroying 26 Japanese airplanes in the Solomon Islands area of the Pacific Ocean and a Medal of Honor recipient during World War II, was instrumental in founding the unit and served as its first commander. Foss had begun his military career in October 1939 as an enlisted member of the South Dakota National Guard.143 September 1946. The Nebraska ANG received its first aircraft: 22 P-51 fighters, 7 B-26 bombers, 2 C-47 transports, and 3 T-6 trainers.144 18 September 1947. Effective this date, the National Security Act of 1947 18 created the United States Air Force (USAF) as a separate military service and established the Air National Guard as a reserve component of the USAF.145 16 June 1948. California’s 196th Fighter Squadron became the first Air Guard unit to complete its conversion to jets and was redesignated the 196th Fighter Squadron (Jet). The 196th was equipped with brand new Lockheed P- 80C Shooting Stars which had been ordered during Fiscal Year (FY) 1947 and FY 1948 to equip five ANG squadrons.146 27 July 1948. The Nebraska Air Guard’s 173rd Fighter Squadron received the first two of its allotted 25 F-80C jet fighters.147 1 October 1948. The Air Force Division, National Guard Bureau, was established as part of the Bureau's reorganization in response to the National Security Act of 1947. Maj. Gen. George G. Finch, a Georgia Air Guardsman, was appointed the first Chief of the Air Force Division.148 7 December 1948. Reflecting the fact that senior Pentagon officials viewed the Air Guard as an unusable military force, Secretary of Defense James Forrestal wrote President Harry Truman that “The situation is . . . complicated by the impracticability of attempting to organize, operate and train effective [ANG] combat forces when the components are under the control of forty-eight ‘commanders-in-chief’.”149 20 January 1949. During President Harry Truman’s inauguration parade, some 300 Air National Guard F-47s and F-51s from 25 states roared over the Capitol in a massive formation.150 January 1949. Following devastating blizzards, Air Guard C-47s began dropping hay to stranded and starving livestock throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Colorado ANG C-47s flew 17 such missions in January and February 1949 dropping tons of hay that saved thousands of cattle and wildlife. Transport aircraft from ANG fighter squadrons in Utah, Wyoming, and North Dakota were similarly employed. Colorado Air Guard F-51s and A- 26s also flew reconnaissance missions during that emergency. The Arizona Air Guard dropped food packages to villages and hospitals on the Navajo Indian Reservation during that month.151 February 1949. Congress rejected a Truman administration initiative to merge the Air National Guard into the Air Force Reserve.152 February 1949. Two Curtiss C-46F transports assigned to the Hawaii ANG’s 199th Fighter Squadron flew 76 airlift missions carrying 1,452 passengers and 180,758 pounds of cargo to provide relief to flash flood victims on the island of 19 Kauai.153 26 May 1949. As of this date, all 514 ANG units authorized in postwar plans of the War Department had been organized and federally recognized.154 30 June 1949. The ANG’s personnel end strength (Fiscal Year 1949) reached 40,995.155 October 1949. The National Guard Bureau authorized the creation of an Air section in each state National Guard headquarters.156 12 November 1949. Lt. Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead, the commander of the Continental Air Command (CONAC), wrote that “at best the Air National Guard represents aircraft in flyable storage.” CONAC was responsible for supervising the ANG for the Air Force.157 December 1949. Indiana became the first state to name a chief of the newly authorized air section of its state National Guard headquarters staff with the appointment of Brig. Gen. Oliver H. Stout to that post.158 5 January 1950. Senior officers at Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the CONAC decided that the Air Guard could not be relied upon as force that would be immediately ready to perform its air defense mission upon mobilization. Instead, they concluded that the ANG should be shifted to a tactical support mission that it could perform after additional preparations following mobilization for a general war.159 13 February 1950. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, the Air Force Chief of Staff, approved a proposal to eliminate the ANG's Mobilization-Day mission and give it less crucial responsibilities. The proposal was rejected by the Secretary of Defense primarily for budgetary reasons.160 March 1950. The National Guardsman magazine announced that, in accordance with the National Defense Act, four Air Guard officers had been called to active duty tours of four years each with Headquarters, U.S. Air Force to deal with all matters pertaining to the Air National Guard. They were: Col. Clinton A. Burrows, California; Col. Orren H. Lane, Georgia; Lt. Col. Edward H. Bradford, Massachusetts; and Lt. Col. Royal Hatch, Jr., Alabama.161 April 1950. Air National Guard teams participated in the annual U.S. Air Force Gunnery Meet for the first time, The Air Guard was authorized two teams in the competition which was held at Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah’s 191st Fighter Squadron, flying F-51s, finished fourth in the conventional aircraft class. Florida’s 159th Fighter Squadron, operating F-80s, finished eighth in the 20 jet aircraft class.162 25 June 1950. The Korean War began when the North Koreans invaded South Korea.163 30 June 1950. The Air National Guard’s personnel end strength (Fiscal Year 1950) reached 44,728 including approximately 3,600 pilots.164 20 July 1950. The Continental Air Command requested the mobilization of 20 ANG fighter squadrons to strengthen the air defenses of the United States. The request was denied by Headquarters, U.S. Air Force because the number of Air Force fighter interceptor wings were already scheduled to be increased by four during Fiscal Year 1951.165 23 July 1950. The aircraft carrier U.S.S. Boxer arrived in Tokyo with 145 F-51s aboard which had taken from ANG units for transfer to Air Force units which were gearing up for combat in Korea. 166 4 September 1950. After a debate within Headquarters, U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Division of the National Guard Bureau between those who advocated mobilizing a few highly trained ANG units and those who favored mobilizing as many Air Guard units as possible under existing budget restrictions, the latter policy was adopted.167 9 September 1950. The Kentucky ANG’s 123rd Fighter Group received public notice that it would be mobilized because of the Korean War. Just prior to its call-up in October 1950, 10 of the unit’s F-51s were shipped to the Far East.168 10 October 1950. The first ANG units were mobilized during the Korean War. This was seen as a temporary expedient by the Air Force which planned to demobilize them by April 1951.169 Flying squadrons called up on that date were the: 111th Fighter Squadron (FS), Texas; 112th Bomb Squadron (Light), Ohio; 125th FS, Oklahoma; 127th FS, Kansas; 128th FBS, Georgia; 154th FS, Arkansas; 156th FS, North Carolina; 157th FS, South Carolina; 158th FS, Georgia; 159th FS, Florida; 160th FS, Alabama; 165th FS Kentucky; 167th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), West Virginia; 182nd FS, Texas; and the 196th FBS, California.170 All of those units were assigned to the Tactical Air Command.171 11-21 October 1950. Upon mobilization because of the Korean War, the 165th Fighter Squadron (FS), Kentucky ANG, 167th FS, West Virginia ANG, and the 154th FS, North Carolina ANG, were consolidated at Goodman Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky as the 123rd Fighter Group. The unit trained F-51 21 replacement pilots for combat in Korea, provided firepower demonstrations, and performed tactical support missions for the Army.172 13 October 1950. Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks, a World War II veteran and the Adjutant General of Arkansas, became Chief, Air Force Division, and Deputy Chief, National Guard Bureau on this date.173 November 1950. Large numbers of Communist Chinese ground forces crossed the Yalu River into Korea and entered the war against the United Nations' forces led by the United States.174 1 November 1950. All ANG tactical units were reorganized under the Air Force combat wing type organization. That action increased the authorized strength of the Air Guard from 57,382 to 67,000 personnel. The Air Guard’s actual assigned strength at that time was only 49,500 personnel because of budgetary limitations.175 1 November 1950. The New York ANG’s 138th Fighter Squadron (Jet), which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 138th Fighter Bomber Squadron and converted from F-84Bs to F-51Hs.176 6 December 1950. Lt. Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead, the Continental Air Command’s commander, requested that 38 ANG fighter squadrons be mobilized to strengthen the air defenses of the U.S. during the Korean War.177 16 December 1950. After massive Chinese communist forces intervened in the Korean War, President Harry Truman declared a national emergency. Among other things, the declaration authorized the Air Force to raise its active duty manpower from approximately 539,000 in mid December 1950 to 1,061,000 no later than 30 June 1952.178 29 December 1950. Because of the deteriorating situation in Korea following the Chinese intervention in that conflict and the growing fears of another world war, the Continental Air Command requested that all 38 ANG fighter squadrons which it had asked to be mobilized earlier that month be called into federal service as soon as possible.179 January 1951. The authorized strength of all ANG units except wing and group headquarters was raised to its wartime level, approximately 80,000 personnel, from its previously authorized 67,000 personnel.180 22 1 January 1951. The Air Defense Command was reestablished as a major air command and assumed the continental U.S. air defense mission from the Continental Air Command.181 8 January 1951. To further strengthen the nation’s continental air defenses during the Korean War the Air Force mobilized a number of ANG units on this date including the: 154th Air Control & Warning Group (AC&WG), Georgia; 116th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Georgia; 117th AC&WS, Georgia; 118th AC&WS, North Carolina, and the129th AC&WS, Georgia182 22 January 1951. Responding to the Continental Air Command's requests in December 1950 to strengthen the air defenses of the U.S. during the Korean War by mobilizing 38 ANG fighter squadrons, the Air Force announced that 15 ANG fighter squadrons would be called into federal service on 1 February 1951 with 6 more to be mobilized on 1 March 1951.183 1 February 1951. ANG flying squadrons mobilized on this date because of the Korean War were the: 107th Fighter Squadron (FS) (Jet), Michigan; 113th FS, Indiana; 116th FS (Jet), Washington; 118th FS, Connecticut; 121st FS, District of Columbia; 123rd FS, Oregon; 126th FS (Jet), Wisconsin; 132nd FS, Maine; 133rd FS, New Hampshire; 134th FS, Vermont; 142nd FS (Jet), Delaware; 148th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Pennsylvania; 163rd FS, Indiana; 166th FS, Ohio; 171st FS, Michigan; 172nd FS, Michigan; 188th FS, New Mexico; 176th FS, Wisconsin; and the 197th FS, Arizona. All of these units except the 107th FS (Jet), Michigan, and 171st FS, Michigan, and 197th FS, Arizona, were assigned to the Air Defense Command to strengthen its continental US fighter interceptor force.184 1 February 1951. After being mobilized on this date because of the Korean War, the Arizona ANG’s 197th Fighter Squadron (FS) remained at Luke AFB, Arizona with its F-84B/Cs to serve in the 127th Pilot Training Wing. It later converted from F-84Bs to F-84E/Gs. The 107th FS (Jet) and the 171st FS, both of Michigan, joined the 197th in training pilots at Luke AFB as part of the 127th Wing.185 1 February 1951. After being mobilized on this date because of the Korean War, the Connecticut ANG’s 118th Fighter Squadron was moved to Suffolk County AFB, New York where its obsolete F-47Ns provided air defense for the New York/New England area until it was returned to state control on 1 December 1952.186 1 February 1951. Following its mobilization on this date because of the Korean War, the Delaware ANG’s 142nd Fighter Squadron (Jet) was retained 23 at its home station to provide air defense for the mid-Atlantic states with its F-84Cs.187 1 February 1951. Two weeks after its mobilization on this date because of the Korean War, the Pennsylvania Air Guard’s 148th Fighter Bomber Squadron was transferred to Dover AFB, Delaware where it remained until it was returned to state control on 1 November 1952. While stationed at Dover, the unit successively converted from F-51Ds to F-86As and then F-94Bs while serving in an air defense role.188 11 February 1951. After being called to active duty on 1 February 1951 because of the Korean War, the Indiana ANG’s 113th Fighter Squadron was redesignated the 113th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Flying P-51Ds, its operations were split between Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Sioux City, Iowa.189 12 February 1951. The Washington state ANG’s 116th Fighter Squadron was redesignated the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Jet).190 26 February 1951. The Air Guard reported that its units had recruited approximately 8,000 new members between 1 December 1950 and 1 January 1951.191 March 1951. The 154th Fighter Squadron, Arkansas ANG, which had been redesignated the 154th Fighter Bomber Squadron when called to active duty because of the Korean War and moved to Langley AFB, Virginia in October 1950, converted from F-51Ds to F-84Es.192 March 1951. After being mobilized on 1 February 1951 during the Korean War, the Wisconsin Air Guard’s 126th Fighter Interceptor Squadron moved to Truax Field, Madison from its home station at General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee. It remained there on air defense duty with its F-80As until returned to state control on 31 October 1952.193 1 March 1951. ANG flying squadrons mobilized on this date because of the Korean War were the: 102nd Bomb Squadron (BS) (Light), New York; 105th Fighter Squadron (FS), Tennessee; 109th FS, Minnesota; 110th FS, Missouri; 114th BS (Light), New York; 136th FS, New York; 141st Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), New Jersey; 149th FS , Virginia; 153rd FS, Mississippi; 170th FS, Illinois; 175th FS, South Dakota; 179th FS; Minnesota; 192nd FBS, Nevada; and the 195th FS, California.194 1 March 1951. After being called to active duty on this date because of the Korean War, the South Dakota ANG’s 175th Fighter Squadron was 24 redesignated the 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and assigned to air defense duty at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota with its F-51Ds.195 1 March 1951. The California ANG’s 195th Fighter Squadron, called into federal service on this date because of the Korean War, remained at its home station at Van Nuys until it was returned to state control. In October 1952, its F-51Ds were supplemented by F-51Hs.196 1 March 1951. The Oregon Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Squadron was redesignated the 123rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron. While it remained at Portland AFB during the Korean War, most of its pilots were transferred to other units. They were replaced by active duty Air Force pilots.197 1 March 1951. After being mobilized on this date because of the Korean conflict, the Tennessee ANG’s 105th Fighter Squadron remained at its home station at Nashville for 15 months. In April 1951 it converted from F-47Ds to F-51Ds and was redesignated the 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 1 May 1952. The unit was moved to McGhee Tyson Airport on 1 June 1952 and remained there until returned to state control .198 1 April 1951. ANG flying squadrons mobilized on this date because of the Korean conflict were the: 103rd Bomb Squadron (BS), (Light), Pennsylvania; 106th Tactical Reconnaissance (TRS) (Night Photo), Alabama; 108th BS (Light), Illinois; 115th BS (Light), California; 117th BS (Light), Pennsylvania; 120th Fighter Squadron (FS), Colorado; 122nd BS (Light), Louisiana; 124th FS, Iowa; 155th TRS, Tennessee; 168th BS (Light), Illinois; 173rd FS, Nebraska; 174th FS, Iowa; 178th FS, North Dakota; 180th BS (Light), Missouri; 185th TRS, Oklahoma; 186th FS, Montana; 187th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Wyoming; 190th FS, Idaho; and the 191st FBS, Utah.199 1 April 1951. Soon after its mobilization on this date during the Korean conflict, the Nebraska ANG’s 173rd Fighter Squadron transitioned from F- 80Cs back to F-51s at Bangor, Maine because none of the four ANG units flying Shooting Stars had enough of the aircraft to maintain a full fleet of them. Nebraska's F-80s were distributed to the other three units. The 173rd's new mission with F-51s at Bangor was to serve as long range fighter escorts for SAC bombers.200 1 April 1951. Mobilized on this date because of the Korean War, the Tennessee Air Guard’s 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron converted from F-51Ds to RF-51Ds at its home station in Memphis. It was subsequently reassigned to Shaw AFB, SC, arriving there on 15 January 1952.201 25 13 April 1951. The Louisiana Air Guard’s 122nd Bomb Squadron (Light) moved from New Orleans to Langley AFB, Virginia to become part of the 4400th Combat Crew Training Group. It remained there until returned to state control on 1 January 1953.202 19 April 1951. Members of the Air Guard’s 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing (FBW) were alerted for shipment to the Far East because of the Korean War. The unit consisted of the 111th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Texas, 154th FBS, Arkansas, and the 182nd FBS, Texas. Previously, the wing had been notified that it would be sent to Western Europe to reinforce the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.203 20 April 1951. The New Mexico ANG’s 188th Fighter Squadron moved from Kirtland AFB, New Mexico to Long Beach Municipal Airport, California where it served with the Air Defense Command as the 188th Fighter Interceptor Squadron until returned to state control . It was equipped with P- 51Ds.204 26 April 1951. The Washington state Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was designated to move to England on a 90-day temporary duty assignment, substituting for an Air Force fighter squadron that had been scheduled to deploy there.205 April 1951. A Fifth Air Force study revealed that approximately 80 percent of the Air Force personnel serving in Korea were recalled Guardsmen and reservists.206 April 1951. The Washington state Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Bomber Squadron began converting from F-84C to F-86A aircraft. From April through June 1951, its F-86As were only 38 percent combat ready on average and in-commission only 56.6 percent of the time. The 116th "attributed the situation to the fact that the aircraft were in poor condition when they were transferred to the unit."207 April 1951. Units of the Air Guard’s mobilized 116th Fighter Bomber Wing – Georgia’s 158th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Florida’s 159th FBS, and California’s 196th FBS -- began receiving brand new Republic F-84Es direct from the factory.208 May 1951. The Pennsylvania ANG’s 146th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), which remained under state control during the Korean War, converted from F-47Ns to F-51Hs. On 1 October 1952, it was redesignated the 146th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and then on 1 December 1952 and was redesignated the 146th FBS.209 26 1 May 1951. ANG units called into federal service on this date because of the Korean War included the: 142nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Oregon; 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group (AC&WG) Group, California; 147th AC&WS, California; 148th AC&WS, California; 149th AC&WS, California; 159th AC&WG, Colorado; 137th AC&WS; Colorado; 138th AC&WS, Colorado; 139th AC&WS, Colorado; 132nd AC&WS, Minnesota; 130th AC&WS, Utah; 160th AC&WG, Washington; 141st AC&WS, Washington; and the 143rd AC&WS, Washington.210 14 May 1951. The ANG’s 116th Fighter Bomber Wing received a warning order to prepare for a move to Europe to help shore up NATO against a possible attack by the Soviet Union.211 15 May 1951. The first contingent of the ANG’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing personnel left the United States for Japan.212 17 May 1951. The Delaware ANG’s 142nd Fighter Squadron (Jet) was redesignated the 142nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron. It had assumed air defense responsibilities for the mid-Atlantic region at its home station with its F-84Cs after being mobilized on 1 February 1951.213 18 May 1951. Personnel of the Air Guard’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing (FBW) began arriving in Japan. They reported to the 27th Fighter Escort Wing (FEW) at Itazuke AB for training and indoctrination. The 136th FBW took over F-84Es from the 27th FEW when the latter completed its final operations in July 1951.214 24 May 1951. Flying F-84Es belonging to the 27th Fighter Escort Wing, pilots of the Air Guard’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing saw their first combat action during the Korean War.215 29 May 1951. Personnel of the Oregon ANG’s 142nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron sailed for Alaska aboard the U.S.S. Beaudoin. Following their arrival, they manned three radar sites along the Bering Sea and built three more sites at other remote locations in that territory.216 19 June 1951. Congress passed the “Universal Training and Military Service Act.” Among its provisions, the legislation required each male drafted after 21 June 1951 to serve two years of active duty and then six more in a reserve component. The service secretaries were authorized to permit any man who entered organized units of the Guard or other reserve components to be released from serving in the regular armed forces.217 27 21 June 1951. Headquarters United States Air Force changed the scheduled 90-day temporary duty of the Washington state Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron to England to a permanent change of station move there.218 25 June 1951. The Air Force reported that pilots in the 111th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Texas ANG, and 154th FBS, Arkansas ANG, averaged approximately 20 hours of F-84 flying time prior to reporting to the Far East Air Forces.219 26 June 1951. Pilots of the 182nd Fighter Bomber Squadron, Texas Air Guard, flew a strike against an airfield at Yongu, North Korea from their base at Itazuke AB, Japan.220 26 June 1951. While escorting B-29s near "MiG Alley" over North Korea, 1st Lt. Arthur E. Olinger and Capt. Harry Underwood of the 182nd Fighter Bomber Squadron, Texas ANG, flying F-84s, shared credit for the Air Guard’s first jet kill, a MiG-15.221 30 June 1951. As of this date, approximately 38,000 Air Guardsmen had been called to extended active duty because of the Korean War. Of the 5,148 ANG officers mobilized, 52 percent were pilots.222 30 June 1951. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau reported that, effective this date, organizational changes, primarily adoption of the Air Force’s Wing Base Plan, had increased the ANG’s authorized personnel strength from 57,709 to 79,449.223 July 1951. The last units of the Air Guard’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing left the United States for Japan.224 July 1951. The 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Alabama ANG, was redesignated the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Photo Jet) and converted from RF-51Ds to RF-80As.225 July 1951. After replacing many of its older F-86As with newer models, the proportion of combat-ready aircraft assigned to the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Washington state ANG, rose from 38 to 77 percent while its aircraft in-commission rate increased from 56.6 to 75 percent.226 July 1951. The District of Columbia Air Guard’s 121st Fighter Interceptor Squadron converted from F-84Cs to F-94Bs at New Castle County AFB, Delaware. It remained at that location executing its air defense mission until it returned to state control.227 28 3 July 1951. Because of growing concerns in the Far East about the build up of communist air strength just north of the Yalu River in China, the Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Bomber Wing received orders transferring it to Japan instead of Europe as originally planned. The unit had already sent its 75 F- 84Es to New York for shipment to Europe and had to obtain other F-84Es from the Air Force to replace them.228 10 & 12 July 1951. The Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Bomber Wing -- consisting of the 158th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Georgia, 159th FBS, Florida, and the 196th FBS, California -- departed San Diego, California for Japan with their F-84Es aboard the aircraft carriers USS Windham Bay and USS Stikoh Bay.229 24 & 27 July 1951. The Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Bomber Wing arrived in Japan at Yokosuka Naval Base. The wing was stationed at Misawa AB, Japan. Despite extensive efforts to protect them with heavy coatings of cosmoline, nearly half of the unit's 75 F-84Es suffered either structural damage or sea-spray corrosion during the ocean crossing. Two of the wing's fighter squadrons were stationed at Misawa AB while the third was sent to Chitose.230 August 1951. The Washington state Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron arrived at its new base at Royal Air Force (RAF) Shepherds Grove in Suffolk, England with its F-86As. Its mission was to reinforce the air defense of the United Kingdom under the operational control of the RAF.231 August 1951. The Maryland Air Guard’s 104th Fighter Squadron, which was not mobilized during the Korean War, was redesignated the 104th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and converted from F-47Ds to F-51Hs.232 August 1951. The Air Guard’s 169th Fighter Squadron, which remained in state status during the Korean War, converted from F-51Ds to F-51Hs at its home station, Peoria, Illinois. On 1 July 1952, it was redesignated the 169th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Its mission changed again when it was redesignated the 169th Fighter Bomber Squadron on 1 December 1952.233 1 August 1951. ANG units called into active military service on this date included the: 105th Aircraft Control and Warning squadron (AC&WS), New Jersey; 152nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, New York; 106th AC&WS, New York; 107th AC&WS, Arizona; and the 108th AC&WS, New York.234 29 9 August 1951. Secretary of the Air Force Thomas K. Finletter approved a “Long Range Plan for Reserve Forces.” Its goal was to provide a dependable and immediately available supply of trained individuals and units for mobilization For the first time, missions and personnel strengths of the air reserve components were tied to the Air Force’s master war plan. The Air Force promised, as far as possible, to maintain the integrity of Air Reserve Components’ (ARC) units in future mobilizations. It also committed itself to providing ARC units with a full supply of first line equipment.235 13-27 August 1951. All 25 F-86As of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron moved from Geiger Field, Washington to England. The Air Guardsmen flew the aircraft in stages with the majority of delays due to bad weather.236 1 September 1951. ANG units mobilized this date because of the Korean War included the: 102nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Rhode Island; 103rd AC&WS, Connecticut; 156th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Illinois; 126th AC&WS, Illinois; 104th AC&WS, Maine; 101st Aircraft Control Squadron, Massachusetts; 151st Tactical Control Group, Massachusetts; 127th AC&WS, Michigan; and the128th AC&WS, Wisconsin.237 5 September 1951. While flying his 57th combat mission as a member of a regular Air Force unit, 1st Lt. Oliver Tandy’s F-51 was shot down. The Oregon Air Guardsman was captured by Chinese communist troops. Tandy spent the next two years as a prisoner of war.238 18 September 1951. The Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing received notice to prepare for movement from Goodman Field, Kentucky to Europe to fly the F-84s which its pilots had begun to transition to during the summer of 1950.239 September 1951. The California Air Guard’s 115th Bomb Squadron (Light) converted from B-26B/Cs to jet-powered North American B-45A Tornados while based at Langley AFB, Virginia. B-45As were the Air Force's first multi-jet bombers and its first light bombers that were equipped to deliver nuclear weapons.240 September 1951. The Delaware Air Guard’s 142nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which remained at its home base to provide air defense for the mid-Atlantic region after it was mobilized because of the Korean War, converted from F-84Cs to F-94Bs.241 30 1 October 1951. ANG units mobilized this date because of the Korean War included the: 120th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Arkansas; 158th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Texas; 134th AC&WS, Texas, the 135th AC&WS, Louisiana, and 136th AC&WS, Texas.242 12 October 1951. The Air Force ordered an advanced detachment of the Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing to move from Goodman Field, Kentucky by air to England.243 22-24 October 1951. Maj, Gen. Earl T. Ricks, Chief of the Air Force Division, NGB, reported to the annual conference of the National Guard Association of the United States that pilot procurement was a major continuing problem for the ANG. The Air Force was expanding and he expected many Guard aviators on active to stay in the Air Force once their terms of mobilized service were over. In addition, many returning ANG pilots would be over-age-in-grade. Ricks reported that the ANG only had 12 personnel currently engaged in Air Force undergraduate pilot training.244 30 October 1951. The first group of B-26s from the ANG's 126th Bomb Wing (BW) (Light) departed Langley AFB, Virginia for their new base at Bordeaux- Merignac, France. Assigned to help strengthen NATO, the wing was composed of the Illinois'108th Bomb Squadron (BS) (Light) and 168th BS (Light), and Missouri's 180th BS (Light).245 October 1951. The Air Guard’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing moved from Japan to K-2 airfield at Teague, Korea.246 October 1951. Based at RAF Shepards Grove in the United Kingdom, the Washington state Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron participated in "Exercise Pinnacle," preparing to help defend the United Kingdom against enemy air attacks.247 1 November 1951. ANG units called into federal service this date because of the Korean War included the: 110th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), South Carolina; 114th AC&WS, Florida; 155th AC&WG, Ohio; 121st AC&WS, Ohio; 122d AC&WS, Indiana; 123rd AC&WS, Ohio; 124th AC&WS, Oklahoma; 125th AC&WS, Missouri; 126th AC&WS, Missouri; 131st AC&WS, Missouri; 133d AC&WS, Iowa; 155th Aircraft Control and warning Group (AC&WG), Ohio; and the 157th AC&WG, Missouri.248 5 November 1951. Col. Albert Prendergast, commander of the Air Guard’s 136th Fighter Bomber Wing, was shot down and killed during a combat mission over Korea.249 31 10 November 1951. An advance party of the Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing arrived at Manston RAF Station in the United Kingdom from the U.S.250 15 November 1951. The main body of the Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing left Goodman Field, Kentucky for shipment overseas from the New York Port of Embarkation aboard the U.S.S. Hershey.251 16 November 1951. The Air Force transferred four ANG fighter wings -- the 131st, 146th, the 132nd, and the 108th -- from the Strategic Air Command to the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The official reason for the switch was to help fulfill TAC’s requirements to support Army ground training. The transferred units were equipped with conventionally-powered fighters.252 28 November 1951. Elements of the Florida ANG’s 159th Fighter Bomber Squadron, including 13 F-84s, arrived at Teague AB, Korea from Japan for a short combat tour and began flying combat missions that same day. They bombed rail lines near Wonsan, North Korea as part of the campaign to interdict the flow of communist supplies to the battle front.253 November 1951. The Continental Air Command reported that the Air Guard had been authorized to form cadre units to begin preparing for the return of mobilized ANG units to state service. The command had begun preparing plans for that development in July 1951. Each cadre unit would be established six months prior to the return of an Air Guard unit to its home station.254 November 1951. The Air Guard’s 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing -- consisting of the 165th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Kentucky, 156th FBS, North Carolina, and the 167th FBS, West Virginia -- took over F-84Es at its base at RAF Manston in the United Kingdom from an Air Force unit. The 167th FBS reported that less than 10 percent of its ANG personnel remained with the unit when it moved to England. The bulk of its original personnel had been either sent to Korea or transferred to Air Force units in the continental U.S..255 November 1951. The 101st Fighter Interceptor Squadron of Massachusetts, which remained under state control during the Korean War, converted from F-84Bs to F-51Hs.256 November 1951. The 131st Fighter Squadron of the Massachusetts Air Guard , which remained in state service during the Korean War, converted 32 from F-47Ds to F-51Hs and was redesignated the 131st Fighter Interceptor Squadron.257 1 December 1951. ANG units mobilized this date because of the Korean War included the: 111th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Pennsylvania; 112th AC&WS, Pennsylvania; 113th AC&WS, District of Columbia; 119th AC&WS, Tennessee; 144th AC&WS, 145th AC&WS, California; 146th AC&WS, California; 153rd Aircraft Control and Warning Group (AC&WG), Pennsylvania; and 161st AC&WG, California.258 2 December 1951. The 159th Fighter Bomber Squadron dispatched 16 F- 84Es, pilots, and support personnel from Japan to Teague AB, Korea where they flew their first combat mission that same morning.259 7 December 1951. After moving to Europe by sea, the main body of personnel and equipment of the 126th Bombardment Wing (Light) arrived at its base near Merignac, France.260 7 December 1951. The main body of the 123rd Fighter Bomber Wing arrived at Manston RAF Station, England after movement by sea from the U.S. The unit would operate F-84Es obtained from the Strategic Air Command by its advance detachment.261 December 1951. The 140th Fighter Wing of the Colorado Air Guard, mobilized for the Korean War, was transferred to Clovis AFB, New Mexico. Its leader, Brig Gen Joe C. Moffitt, became the only ANG general officer known to have commanded an Air Force tactical unit and base during that conflict.262 December 1951. North Carolina's 118th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS) was transferred from Stewart AFB, Tennessee to French Morocco to help protect SAC's bomber base at Nouasseur. It also maintained detachments in the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. Georgia's 116th AC&WS, 117th AC&WS, and 129th AC&WS served in French Morocco during the Korean War as did that state’s 154th Tactical Control Group.263 December 1951. The Utah ANG’s 191st Fighter Bomber Squadron moved to Clovis AFB, New Mexico from its home station with its F-51Ds. It remained at Clovis AFB until it returned to state control.264 December 1951. The Wyoming ANG’s 187th Fighter Bomber Squadron, equipped with F-51Ds, moved from Cheyenne to Clovis AFB, New Mexico. It remained there until it was returned to state control.265 33 January 1952. The Alabama ANG’s 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to Europe and was temporarily stationed at Furstenfeldbruck AB and Neubiberg AB in Germany pending completion of facilities at Toul-Roiseres AB, France.266 February 1952. The 116th Fighter Bomber Wing, based in Japan, was selected to be the first Air Guard unit to participate in aerial refueling under combat conditions.267 February 1952. The Air Force picked nine pilots from the Idaho Air Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron (FS) for combat duty in Korea. Eventually, 15 pilots from the 190th FS went to Korea although the unit remained in the continental US throughout its entire period of active federal service during the conflict.268 February 1952. The New Jersey ANG’s 119th Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, converted from F-47Ds to F-51Hs.269 March 1952. The Air Force established the mobilization assignment of all ANG fighter units in the continental U.S. as air defense.270 April 1952. Selected air crews from the Air Guard's 126th Bomb Wing (Light) and other Air Force units in Europe units began deploying to Korea for 60-day combat tours to improve their operational training.271 April 1952. Approximately 400 members of the Colorado ANG’s 120th Fighter Squadron participated as human guinea pigs in an atomic bomb test, "Tumbler Snapper Shot III," at Yucca Flats, Nevada while on temporary duty from Clovis AFB, New Mexico.272 April 1952. After being mobilized at its home station at Truax Field, Madison because of the Korean War, the Wisconsin Air Guard’s 176th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was partially equipped with F-89As but retained its F- 51Ds. It remained at Truax Field until it was returned to state control.273 1 May 1952. Many of the personnel of the Connecticut ANG’s 103rd Aircraft Control and warning Squadron (AC&WS) were transferred to the newly-organized 932nd AC&WS. After intensive training on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the new unit moved to Iceland that fall where it established the first radar installation on the island of Keflavik.274 34 3 May 1952. Flying an F-86 in a regular Air Force squadron, Capt. Robert J. Love, a California Air Guardsman, shot down his fifth MiG 15. With that victory, he became the first of four ANG aces during the Korean War. Love ended the conflict with six confirmed MiG kills.275 13 May 1952. Flying F-84Gs, aircraft equipped for in-flight-refueling and capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons, the Kansas ANG’s 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron deployed to Chaumont, France as part of the 137th Fighter Bomber Wing (FBW). After training Air Force pilots on the aircraft, the unit returned home two months later and its personnel were demobilized. The unit’s F-84Gs remained in France and were absorbed into the 48th FBW.276 20 May 1952. Maj. Gen. George G. Finch of Georgia, Continental Air Command's Deputy for Air National Guard Matters, proposed that small numbers of ANG pilots at strategic locations be placed on short tours of active duty to augment the Air Defense Command's runway alert program.277 28-29 May 1952. The Air Guard’s 116th Fighter Bomber Wing participated in "Operation High Tide," the first air refueling under combat conditions. After launching missions from Japan and attacking targets near Sariwon, North Korea, its F-84 fighter-bombers were refueled by KB-29 tankers on their return flights to Misawa Air Base.278 May 1952. The Air Guard’s 126th Bomb Wing (Light) of Illinois was transferred from Merignac AB, France to Laon AB, France.279 9 July 1952. Congress passed the “Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952,” also known as the “Magna Charta” of the reserve components. Designed to rejuvenate the reserve components, it divided them into three categories: ready, standby, and retired. The ready reserve was authorized a strength of 1.5 million. All ANG units were placed in the highest priority category, the ready reserve - a position that they had held in fact, if not law, since 1946. The legislation also allowed individual Guardsmen and Reservists to volunteer for active duty for routine peacetime operations and contingencies thereby avoiding the political and diplomatic risks of mobilizations.280 10 July 1952. On this date, the following ANG flying squadrons were demobilized: 111th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS), Texas; 112th Bomb Squadron (Light), Ohio; 125th Fighter Squadron (FS), Oklahoma; 127th FS, Kansas; 128th FBS, Georgia; 154th FBS, Arkansas; 156th FS, North Carolina; 157th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, South Carolina; 158th FBS, Georgia; 159th FBS, Florida; 160th TRS, Alabama; 165th FS, 35 Kentucky; 167th FS, West Virginia ; 182nd FBS, Texas; and the 196th FBS, California.281 July 1952. The Texas ANG’s 181st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, relocated from Hensley Field, Naval Air Station Dallas to Love Field, Dallas. It operated F-51H aircraft.282 8 August 1952. Capt. Clifford D. Jolley, a Utah Air Guardsman, scored his fifth victory over a MiG 15. Flying an F-86 in a regular Air Force unit, he became the second of four ANG aces during the Korean War. Jolley ended the conflict with 7 confirmed kills.283 19 August 1952. The Georgia Air Guard’s 129th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was released from active duty and returned to state control.284 15 August 1952. The Puerto Rico Air Guard’s 198th Fighter Squadron, which remained in state service during the Korean War, was redesignated the 198th Fighter Bomber Squadron and continued to fly F-47Ns. 285 August 1952. A contingent of mobilized Idaho Air Guardsmen from the 190th Fighter Bomber Squadron left George AFB, California on a classified mission to ferry 37 F-51s to Iceland for use by another Air Force unit. The operation was classified because the Icelandic public strongly opposed foreign military forces being stationed on their nation’s territory.286 1 September 1952. The New Jersey ANG’s 199th Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 119th Fighter Bomber Squadron. It continued to operate F-51Hs at home station.287 1 September 1952. The New York ANG’s 137th Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 137th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and converted from F-47Ds to F- 51Hs.288 1 September 1952. The Rhode Island Air Guard’s 152nd Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 152nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron and continued to fly F- 51D/Hs. 289 36 11 September 1952. The 107th Fighter Squadron (FS), Michigan ANG; 132nd FS, Maine ANG; 133rd FS, New Hampshire ANG; and the 188th FS, New Mexico ANG were released from active duty.290 15 September 1952. Capt. Robinson Risner, an Oklahoma Air Guardsman flying an F-86 in a regular Air Force unit, shot down his fifth MiG 15 becoming the third ANG ace of the war. Maj. Risner ended the conflict with eight confirmed kills. He remained in the active duty Air Force after the conflict and became one of the senior American POW leaders in the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War.291 15 September 1952. The 8144th Air Base Squadron was constituted at Elmendorf AFB as the first unit of the Territory of Alaska’s Air Guard. It initially consisted of 16 members and shortly afterward received its first aircraft, a T-6G Texan trainer.292 October 1952. The Ohio Air Guard’s 162nd Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 162nd Fighter Bomber Squadron. It continued to operate its F-51H aircraft.293 1 October 1952. The California ANG’s 194th Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 194th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. It retained its F-51D/Hs.294 1 October 1952. The Pennsylvania ANG’s 147th Fighter Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated the 147th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and converted from F-47Ns to F-51Hs.295 8 October 1952. The 116th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Georgia ANG ; 117th AC&WS, Georgia ANG ; 118th AC&WS, North Carolina ANG; and 154th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Georgia ANG, were released from active duty.296 15 October 1952: Air Guard flying squadrons released from active duty this date were the: 109th Fighter Squadron (FS), Minnesota; 136th FS, New York; 192nd FS, Nevada.297 16 October 1952. The Air Guard’s 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing -- consisting of Pennsylvania’s 103rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) as well as two new Air Guard-manned units, 129th SRS and 130th SRS -- converted from RB-29s to RB-36s at Fairchild AFB, Washington.298 1 November 1952. ANG flying squadrons relived from active duty on this date were the: 113th Fighter Squadron (FS), Indiana; 115th BS (Light), 37 California; 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Washington; 121st FS, District of Columbia; 134th FS, Vermont; 142nd FS, Delaware; 148th FBS, Pennsylvania; 163rd FS; Indiana; 166th FS, Ohio; 171st FS, Michigan; 172nd FS, Michigan; 175th FS, South Dakota; 176th FS, Wisconsin; and the 197th FS, Arizona.299 5 November 1952. The Ohio ANG’s 164th Fighter Squadron, which remained in state service during the Korean War, was redesignated the 164th Fighter Bomber Squadron. It continued to operate its F-51H aircraft.300 15 November 1952. The ANG flying squadrons were demobilized on this date were the: 103rd Bomb Squadron (BS) (Light), Pennsylvania; 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS), Alabama; 108th BS (Light), Illinois; 120th Fighter Squadron (FS), Colorado; 124th FS, Iowa; 155th TRS, Tennessee; 173rd FS, Nebraska; 174th FS, Iowa; 178th FS, North Dakota; 185th TRS, Oklahoma; 186th FS, Montana; 187th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Wyoming.301 15 November 1952. The 146th Fighter Bomber wing which consisted of three ANG fighter squadrons equipped with F-51s -- the 190th Fighter Bomber Squadron ( FBS), Idaho; 186th FBS, Montana; and 178th FBS, North Dakota -- was transferred from SAC to TAC. The wing remained at George AFB, California.302 19 November 1952. The Hawaii' ANG’s 199th Fighter Bomber Squadron, which remained under state control during the Korean War, was redesignated a fighter interceptor squadron. It continued flying F-47Ns from Hickam AFB.303 1 December 1952. ANG flying squadrons relieved from active duty on this date were the: 102nd Bomb Squadron (BS) (Light), New York; 105th Fighter Squadron (FS), Tennessee; 110th FS, Missouri; 123rd FS, Oregon; 141st Fighter Bomber Squadron, New Jersey; 149th FS, Virginia; 153rd FS, Mississippi; 170th FS, Illinois; and the 179th FS, Minnesota.304 1 December 1952. The 118th Fighter Squadron (FS), Connecticut ANG, and the 126th FS, Wisconsin ANG, were demobilized. 1 December 1952. The 169th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Illinois Air Guard was redesignated a fighter bomber squadron. Remaining in state service during the Korean War, it operated F-51Hs from its home station at Peoria.305 38 4 December 1952. Headquarters, U.S. Air Force authorized the Air Defense Command to place 10 ANG pilots on active duty at Hancock Field, New York and Hayward, California to test the Air Guard’s runway alert concept at those locations.306 11 December 1952. The 195th Fighter Squadron, California ANG, was released from active duty. 15 December 1952. The 137th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Colorado ANG, the 159th Aircraft Control and Warning Group (AC&WG), Colorado ANG, and the 162d AC&WG, California ANG, were returned to state control.307 1 January 1953. ANG flying squadrons demobilized on this date were the: 117th Bomb Squadron (BS) (Light), Pennsylvania; 122nd BS (Light), Louisiana; 168th BS (Light), Illinois; 180th BS (Light), Missouri; and the 190th Fighter Squadron, Idaho.308 1 February 1953. Air National Guard units released from active duty and returned to state control included: 130th Aircraft Control and Warning squadron (ACW&S), Utah; 132d AC&WS, Minnesota; 138th AC&WS, Colorado; 139th AC&WS, Colorado; 142d AC&WS, Oregon; 143d AC&WS, Washington; 147th AC&WS, California; 148th AC&WS, California; 149th AC&WS, California; and the 160th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Washington.309 1 March 1953. The 138th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Syracuse, New York and the 194th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Hayward, California began an experimental augmentation of ADC's runway alert program by Air Guard fighter units. Each unit maintained two F-51Ds and five pilots on alert from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset throughout the week. Based upon the experiment's success, continuous Air Guard participation in the runway alert program was adopted in 1954. It marked the beginning of the Air Force's total force approach to reserve component utilization and training.310 27 March 1953. Maj. James P. Hagerstrom, a Texas Air Guardsman flying an F-86 in a regular Air Force unit, shot down a MiG 15 raising his total kills to 5.5 during that war. Hagerstrom was the fourth Air Guardsman to become an ace in Korea. He ended the conflict with 8.5 confirmed kills. During World War II, Hagerstrom had downed 8 enemy aircraft in the Southwest Pacific while a member of the Army Air Forces. He remained in the active duty Air Force after the Korean War.311 39 June 1953. Lockheed’s F-94A/B Starfires first entered state service with the New York Air Guard’s 137th Fighter Interceptor Squadron replacing the unit’s F-51Hs. During their federal call-up for the Korean War, three ANG squadrons had been equipped with F-94A/Bs but lost those jet fighters when they left federal active duty.312 1 July 1953. Col. Winston P. Wilson, an Arkansas Air Guardsman, was appointed Acting Chief, Air Force Division of the NGB because of the ill health of Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks.313 27 July 1953. Representatives of China, North Korea, and the United States signed an armistice ending Korean War hostilities.314 1 August 1953. Air National Guard units demobilized and returned to state control included the: 105th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), New Jersey; 106th AC&WS, New York; 108th AC&WS, New York; and the 152d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, New York.315 1 September 1953. Air National Guard units demobilized and returned to state control included the: 101st Aircraft Control Squadron, Massachusetts; 102d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Rhode Island; 103d AC&WS, Connecticut; 104th AC&WS, Maine; 126th AC&WS, Illinois; 127th AC&WS, Michigan; 128th AC&WS, Wisconsin; 151st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (AC&WG), Massachusetts; and the 156th AC&WG, Illinois.316 1 October 1953. The 120th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Arkansas; 134th AC&WS, Texas; 135th AC&WS, Louisiana; 136th AC&WS, Texas; and the 158th Aircraft Control and warning Group, Texas were demobilized.317 1 November 1953. ANG units demobilized on this date were the: 110th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), South Carolina; 114th AC&WS, Florida; 122d AC&WS, Indiana; 123d AC&WS, Ohio; 124th AC&WS, Oklahoma; 125th AC&WS, Missouri; 131st AC&WS, Missouri; 133 AC&WS, Iowa; 155th Aircraft Control and warning Group (AC&WG), Ohio; and 157th AC&WG, Missouri.318 November 1953. Montana’s 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron became the first Air Guard unit in state service to convert to North American’s F-86 Sabre. Eventually 31 ANG squadrons were equipped with the aircraft before it was phased out of Guard service in 1960.319 40 November 1953. The number of ANG fighter squadrons under the Air Defense Command’s cognizance was increased from 52 to 70. Every fighter squadron then allotted to the Air Guard was included.320 1 December 1953. The last ANG units demobilized after their Korean War service were the: 111th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&WS), Pennsylvania; 112th AC&WS, Pennsylvania, 113th AC&WS, District of Columbia; 119th AC&WS, Tennessee; 144th AC&WS, California; 145th AC&WS, California; 146th AC&WS, California; 153d Aircraft Control and Warning Group (AC&WG), Pennsylvania; and the 161st AC&WG, California.321 4 January 1954. Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks, an Arkansas Air Guardsman assigned as the Chief of the Air Force Division and the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Bureau, died in the service of his country.322 26 January 1954. Brig. Gen. Winston P. Wilson, an Arkansas Air Guardsman, was appointed Assistant Chief, National Guard Bureau, Air, following the death of Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks. Wilson had been serving as the acting head of the Air Guard because of Ricks’ illness.323 January 1954. Pennsylvania’s 146th Fighter Bomber Squadron became the first Air Guard unit to begin converting to the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. The aircraft eventually equipped 24 ANG squadrons and performed the interceptor, nuclear weapons delivery, and tactical fighter roles until the last ones were phased out of Guard service in the first quarter of 1972.324 2 February 1954. To launch a nationwide Air Guard recruiting drive, Col. Willard W. Millikan, commander of the District of Columbia’s 113th Fighter Bomber Wing, set a Los Angeles to New York City speed record of four hours, eight minutes and five seconds in an F-86 borrowed from the Air Force.325 15 March 1954. Headquarters, U.S. Air Force rejected a campaign begun earlier that year by the Air Guard to transfer the training and inspection function for ANG units from the Continental Air Command to organizations such as the Air Defense Command that would actually use those outfits in wartime. That proposal, which became known as the “gaining command” concept of reserve forces management, was finally adopted by the Air Force in February 1960. Its basic premise was that those major air commands which would fight Guard and Reserve units during wartime would train and inspect them in peacetime.326 41 15 August 1954. Based on the success of the Air Guard’s air defense runway alert experiment in 1953, the program was implemented on a permanent basis by the Air Force. The first 8 ANG fighter squadrons began standing alert from dawn to dusk on this date.327 1 October 1954. On this date, nine additional ANG fighter squadrons joined the original eight Air Guard fighter units that had begun standing air defense runway alert on a permanent basis on 15 August 1954. Each of the squadrons provided two aircraft on five-minute alert from dawn to dusk.328 October 1954. The National Guard Association of the United States formally requested that strategic airlift units be organized in the ANG. Although that request was rejected by the Air Force, it marked the beginning of a long term effort by Guard interests to diversify its force structure because municipal airports hosting ANG units either could not or would not allow conversion to jet fighters as well as concerns that changing technology, doctrine, national security requirements, and the costs of modernizing its aging fighter and lighter bomber force would place the ANG’s flying unit force structure at risk. At that time most ANG units flew fighters. A handful operated B-26s.329 October 1954. Equipped with F-80s, a team from the Colorado Air Guard’s 140th Fighter Group won the ANG Gunnery Meet at Boise, Idaho.330 15 January 1955. 1st Lt. Thomas E. Williams, a Tuskegee Airman and a member of the 141st Fighter Bomber Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard, was killed during a routine training mission when his F-86A crashed after entering an unrecoverable spin. Having joined his unit on 7 May 1954, he was the first known African American pilot in the ANG.331 January 1955. Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Foss, a recent South Dakota ANG Chief of Staff, was inaugurated as governor of that state following his victory in the November 1954 election. Foss had been a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the Pacific during World War II where he had become an ace and a Medal of Honor recipient.332 1 February 1955. Maj. Gen. George G. Finch, a Georgia Air National Guardsmen, assumed command of 14th Air Force. He was the first Air Guardsman to head an active duty Air Force organization above the wing level.333 3 April 1955. The 129th Air Resupply Squadron (ARS) was extended federal recognition in California and equipped with Curtiss C-46D Commando aircraft. It was one of four new ANG units tasked with secret special operations missions formed that year at the request of the Air Force and the Central 42 Intelligence Agency The others were the: 130th ARS, West Virginia; 135th ARS, Maryland; and the 143rd ARS, Rhode Island. The creation of those units marked the debut of the special operations mission in the Air Guard.334 30 June 1955. The Air National Guard’s personnel end strength (Fiscal Year 1955) reached 61,306 including 3,142 pilots.335 June 1955. The National Guardsman magazine reported that Air and Army National Guard aircraft had been utilized to speed supplies of the new Salk polio vaccine, syringes, needles, and other inoculation necessities to several distribution points across the nation.336 9 August 1955. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Reserve Forces Act of 1955, Public Law 305, 84th Congress, into law. Among other provisions, the law required that all non-prior service enlisted recruits in the Air National Guard must undergo basic training by the Air Force beginning in Fiscal Year 1957.337 August 1955. Connecticut Air Guardsmen assisted state and local authorities plus federal military forces to deal with flood waters that inundated large areas of their home state as well as portions of New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, and Pennsylvania.338 25 September 1955. The Air Defense Command conducted a nationwide recall test nicknamed “Operation Stop Watch.” About 50 percent of the 73 Air Guard’s fighter squadrons which participated were combat ready within two hours of notification according to ADC.339 1 February 1956. The 150th Air Transport Squadron (Medium), New Jersey ANG, was extended federal recognition effective this date. The first pure airlift unit in the Air Guard, the squadron was equipped with Curtiss C-46D Commandos.340 1 April 1956. The National Guard Bureau published ANGR 50-07 which regulated the criteria and policies to be followed by Air Guard flying personnel for conducting the recently approved 36 additional flight training periods, beyond their annual training and monthly drill requirements.341 30 June 1956. The Air National Guard’s personnel end strength (Fiscal Year 1956) reached 63,534 including 3,451 pilots.342 1 July 1956. Members of the Hawaii Air Guard’s 169th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron and its 109th Aircraft Control and Warning Flight began manning a radar site around-the-clock, seven days a week to maintain constant 43 surveillance of the air approaches to those Pacific islands.343 1 August 1956. Capt. Norma Parsons Erb became the first female member of the National Guard in its history. She joined the New York Air Guard’s after President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation authorizing female nurses to join the Guard.344 October 1956. Secretary of the Air Force, Donald A. Quarles, designated Colorado’s “Minute Men” as the Air National Guard’s official aerial demonstration team. Supported by that federal recognition and the accompanying money, the team began per