The unit was allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946 and redesignated the 173rd Fighter Squadron, and was further allotted to the Nebraska Air National Guard. It was organized and federally recognized as a P-51D Mustang squadron in July 1946. It was the second Air National Guard unit established, and assigned to the Iowa ANG132d Fighter Group. It was posted to Lincoln Airport (later Lincoln Air Force Base), a former Second Air Force training field during World War II. With the long runways of the airport, the unit upgraded to Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star jet aircraft in early 1948. In 1950 the unit became the first Air National Guard organization to win the Winston P. Wilson Trophy as the outstanding jet fighter unit. It was the first of five Wilson trophies to be awarded to the Nebraska organization.
Activated to federal service during the Korean War, the unit was sent to Dow AFB, Maine. Used by TAC to train replacement pilots in F-51D Mustang ground support operations, it also deployed unit members to Japan and Korea to fly combat missions. The 132d was moved to Alexandria AFB, Louisiana in May 1952 again with F-51s replacing the federalized Oklahoma ANG137th Fighter-Bomber Wing which was deployed to France. The unit performed training as a tactical fighter unit until relieved from active service and returned to Nebraska ANG jurisdiction in January 1953.
Pilots from the 173rd Fighter Squadron, 155th Fighter Group, Nebraska Air National Guard, running to their planes during a practice alert at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska (USA), before 1953, when the unit was redesignated Fighter Interceptor Squadron.
Upon returning to Lincoln, the squadron was forced to share facilities with the new Strategic Air Command provisional 4120th Air Base Group and extensive construction enlarging the airport to support SAC bombers as Lincoln Air Force Base. In late 1953, the unit re-equipped with more-advanced F-80C Shooting Star jets and the 173d was re-designated as a Fighter-Interceptor squadron, with the Air Defense Command (ADC) becoming the gaining organization. Its new mission was the air defense of Nebraska and specifically the air defense of the new SAC facility, which was programmed to receive the Air Forces new B-47 Stratojet intercontinental jet bomber in 1954.
In 1955 the 173d was authorized new facilities. A new site was located south of the commercial air terminal adjoining the Air Force base and the unit moved to its new facilities in the fall of 1956. Two years later, the unit moved into a vacated Naval Air Reserve hangar and turned its "old" hangar over to the Nebraska Army National Guard. Since that time, additional facilities were built on the 166 acres (0.67 km2) of the Lincoln Air National Guard Base. Army aviation and other Army units remain tenants today.
The 173d transitioned to North American F-86D Sabre interceptors in 1957, and upgraded to the modified F-86L in 1959 which could be computer controlled by the ground-based SAGE guidance system to intercept target unknown aircraft. In 1960, ADC decided to expand the organization to a group level, activating the 155th Fighter-Interceptor Group at Lincoln AFB on 1 July; with jurisdiction of the 173d being transferred from the Iowa ANG 132d Fighter Group to the new 155th FIG.
The unit remained under ADC until 1964 with the planned retirement of the B-47. The unit then received Republic RF-84F Thunderflash photo-reconnaissance aircraft and became a Tactical Air Command reconnaissance squadron. In January 1965 SAC's 307th Bomb Wing began phasing down at Lincoln AFB and the base was closed on 6 June 1966; returning it to its original role of a municipal airport with a collocated Air National Guard Base.
The 173d continued to operate as a tactical reconnaissance squadron until 1993, being upgraded to the RF-4C Phantom II in 1972. With the retirement of the Phantom in the early 1990s and the end of the Cold War, the unit was re-aligned into the 173d Air Refueling Squadron, flying Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers and being activated to federal service under the Air Mobility Command.
Lineageedit
Legacy World War II 401st Fighter Squadron emblem173d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron – Emblem
Constituted 401st Fighter Squadron on 22 July 1943
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
173d Air Refueling Squadron Lineage and History
Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN1-85780-197-0
Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980). 13 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine
155th Air Refueling Wing@globalsecurity.org
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
173d, refueling, squadron, 173d, unit, nebraska, national, guard, 155th, refueling, wing, assigned, lincoln, national, guard, base, nebraska, equipped, with, boeing, stratotanker, boeing, 135r, stratotanker, serial, 1495active1943, presentcountry, united, stat. The 173d Air Refueling Squadron 173d ARS is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard 155th Air Refueling Wing It is assigned to Lincoln Air National Guard Base Nebraska and is equipped with the Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker 173d Air Refueling Squadron173d Air Refueling Squadron Boeing KC 135R Stratotanker serial no 59 1495Active1943 PresentCountry United StatesAllegiance NebraskaBranch Air National GuardTypeSquadronRoleAir RefuelingPart ofNebraska Air National GuardGarrison HQLincoln Air National Guard Base NebraskaTail CodeWhite tail stripe Nebraska in red letteringEngagementsWorld War IIInsignia173d Air Refueling Squadron emblem Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Nebraska Air National Guard 1 3 Lineage 1 4 Assignments 1 5 Stations 1 6 Aircraft 2 References 3 External linksHistory editWorld War II edit see 401st Fighter Squadron for full World War II history The 401st Fighter Squadron was established on 22 July 1943 at Westover Field Massachusetts and equipped with P 47 Thunderbolts Deployed to the European Theater of Operations ETO and assigned to Ninth Air Force in England it engaged in combat operations until May 1945 It returned to the United States during September November 1945 and was inactivated on 7 November 1945 Nebraska Air National Guard edit The unit was allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946 and redesignated the 173rd Fighter Squadron and was further allotted to the Nebraska Air National Guard It was organized and federally recognized as a P 51D Mustang squadron in July 1946 It was the second Air National Guard unit established and assigned to the Iowa ANG 132d Fighter Group It was posted to Lincoln Airport later Lincoln Air Force Base a former Second Air Force training field during World War II With the long runways of the airport the unit upgraded to Lockheed P 80A Shooting Star jet aircraft in early 1948 In 1950 the unit became the first Air National Guard organization to win the Winston P Wilson Trophy as the outstanding jet fighter unit It was the first of five Wilson trophies to be awarded to the Nebraska organization Activated to federal service during the Korean War the unit was sent to Dow AFB Maine Used by TAC to train replacement pilots in F 51D Mustang ground support operations it also deployed unit members to Japan and Korea to fly combat missions The 132d was moved to Alexandria AFB Louisiana in May 1952 again with F 51s replacing the federalized Oklahoma ANG 137th Fighter Bomber Wing which was deployed to France The unit performed training as a tactical fighter unit until relieved from active service and returned to Nebraska ANG jurisdiction in January 1953 nbsp Pilots from the 173rd Fighter Squadron 155th Fighter Group Nebraska Air National Guard running to their planes during a practice alert at Lincoln Air Force Base Nebraska USA before 1953 when the unit was redesignated Fighter Interceptor Squadron Upon returning to Lincoln the squadron was forced to share facilities with the new Strategic Air Command provisional 4120th Air Base Group and extensive construction enlarging the airport to support SAC bombers as Lincoln Air Force Base In late 1953 the unit re equipped with more advanced F 80C Shooting Star jets and the 173d was re designated as a Fighter Interceptor squadron with the Air Defense Command ADC becoming the gaining organization Its new mission was the air defense of Nebraska and specifically the air defense of the new SAC facility which was programmed to receive the Air Forces new B 47 Stratojet intercontinental jet bomber in 1954 In 1955 the 173d was authorized new facilities A new site was located south of the commercial air terminal adjoining the Air Force base and the unit moved to its new facilities in the fall of 1956 Two years later the unit moved into a vacated Naval Air Reserve hangar and turned its old hangar over to the Nebraska Army National Guard Since that time additional facilities were built on the 166 acres 0 67 km2 of the Lincoln Air National Guard Base Army aviation and other Army units remain tenants today The 173d transitioned to North American F 86D Sabre interceptors in 1957 and upgraded to the modified F 86L in 1959 which could be computer controlled by the ground based SAGE guidance system to intercept target unknown aircraft In 1960 ADC decided to expand the organization to a group level activating the 155th Fighter Interceptor Group at Lincoln AFB on 1 July with jurisdiction of the 173d being transferred from the Iowa ANG 132d Fighter Group to the new 155th FIG The unit remained under ADC until 1964 with the planned retirement of the B 47 The unit then received Republic RF 84F Thunderflash photo reconnaissance aircraft and became a Tactical Air Command reconnaissance squadron In January 1965 SAC s 307th Bomb Wing began phasing down at Lincoln AFB and the base was closed on 6 June 1966 returning it to its original role of a municipal airport with a collocated Air National Guard Base The 173d continued to operate as a tactical reconnaissance squadron until 1993 being upgraded to the RF 4C Phantom II in 1972 With the retirement of the Phantom in the early 1990s and the end of the Cold War the unit was re aligned into the 173d Air Refueling Squadron flying Boeing KC 135R Stratotankers and being activated to federal service under the Air Mobility Command Lineage edit nbsp Legacy World War II 401st Fighter Squadron emblem nbsp 173d Fighter Interceptor Squadron Emblem Constituted 401st Fighter Squadron on 22 July 1943 Activated on 25 July 1943 Inactivated on 10 November 1945 Re designated 173d Fighter Squadron and allocated to the Nebraska Air National Guard on 24 May 1946 173rd Fighter Squadron Single Engine extended federal recognition on 26 July 1946 Re designated 173d Fighter Squadron Jet in Spring 1948 Ordered into active service on 1 April 1951 Relieved from active duty and returned to Nebraska ANG on 1 January 1953 Re designated 173d Fighter Bomber Squadron on 1 January 1953 Re designated 173d Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Fall 1953 Re designated 173d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 May 1964 Re designated 173d Reconnaissance Squadron on 15 March 1992 Re designated 173d Air Refueling Squadron on 1 October 1995 Assignments edit 370th Fighter Group 25 July 1943 7 November 1945 132d Fighter Group 26 July 1946 132d Fighter Bomber Group on 1 January 1953 132d Fighter Interceptor Group 1 July 1958 155th Fighter Interceptor Group 1 July 1960 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 1 May 1964 155th Reconnaissance Group 15 March 1992 155th Air Refueling Group 1 January 1994 155th Air Refueling Wing 1 Oct 1995 present Stations edit Westover Field Massachusetts 1 July 1943 Groton AAFld Connecticut 19 October 1943 Bradley Field Connecticut 5 20 January 1944 RAF Aldermaston AAF 467 England 12 February 1944 467 RAF Andover AAF 406 England 29 February 19 July 1944 406 Cardonville Airfield A 3 France 24 July 1944 La Vieille Airfield A 19 France 15 August 1944 Lonray Airfield A 45 France 6 September 1944 Roye Amy Airfield A 73 France 11 September 1944 Florennes Juzaine Airfield A 78 Belgium 26 September 1944 Ophoven Airfield Y 32 Belgium 27 January 1945 Gutersloh Airfield Y 99 Germany 20 April 1945 AAF Station Mannheim Sandhofen Germany 27 June 1945 AAF Station Fritzlar Germany 6 August September 1945 Camp Miles Standish Massachusetts 6 7 November 1945 Lincoln Army Airfield later AFB Air National Guard Base Nebraska 26 July 1946 Present Operated from Dow AFB Maine Spring 1 April 1951 5 November 1952 Operated from Alexandria AFB Louisiana 5 November 1952 1 January 1953 Aircraft edit P 38 Lightning 1943 1945 P 51D Mustang 1945 F 51D Mustang 1946 1948 1951 1953 F 80C Shooting Star 1948 1951 1953 1957 F 86D Sabre Interceptor 1957 1959 F 86L Sabre Interceptor 1959 1964 RF 84F Thunderstreak 1964 1972 RF 4C Phantom II 1972 1993 KC 135R Stratotanker 1993 PresentReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 173d Air Refueling Squadron Lineage and History Rogers B 2006 United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978 ISBN 1 85780 197 0 Cornett Lloyd H and Johnson Mildred W A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB CO 1980 Archived 13 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine 155th Air Refueling Wing globalsecurity org History of the Nebraska Air National GuardExternal links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 173d Air Refueling Squadron amp oldid 1205402615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
