117th Air Refueling Squadron

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117th Air Refueling Squadron
Squadron KC-135E Stratotanker lands following its final mission at Forbes Field[a]
Active1942–1946; 1948–1953; 1953–1956; 1957–present
Country United States
Allegiance Kansas
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeSquadron
RoleAir refueling
Part ofKansas Air National Guard
Garrison/HQForbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas
Nickname(s)Kansas Coyotes[citation needed]
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm[1]
Insignia
117th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
440th Bombardment Squadron emblem[2]

The 117th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing located at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. The 117th is equipped with the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.

Mission[edit]

History[edit]

World War II[edit]

Organization and preparation for combat[edit]

The squadron was first activated on 26 June 1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, as the 440th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 319th Bombardment Group, a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombardment group.[1][3][4] The squadron trained for combat at Barksdale and Harding Field, in Louisiana. The air echelon began ferrying its aircraft to England via the North Atlantic route on 27 August 1942, with the squadron officially moving to RAF Shipdham on 12 September 1942. By late October to early November,[b] squadron aircraft were in place at RAF Horsham St Faith.[1][5] The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Mary on 5 September.[5]

Mediterranean Theater of Operations[edit]

Squadron B-26 Marauders taking off from Decimomannu Airfield[c]

The air echelon of the squadron departed England on 12 November 1942 for Saint-Leu Airfield, Algeria. Although this was supposed to be a simple repositioning flight, it became the squadron's introduction to combat when the 319th Group formation strayed from its planned route and flew over occupied France, where they were attacked by German aircraft.[6] Some of the ground echelon had made the amphibious landing at Arzeu beach on 8 November.[3] However, it was not until the following March that all aircraft had made the move to North Africa.[5]

The squadron began combat quickly, flying its first sorties during November. Until March 1943, it made strikes at enemy targets in Tunisia, including railroads, airfields, and harbor installations. It struck enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea to block reinforcements and supplies from reaching opposing Axis forces.[3]

In March 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and moved to Oujda Airfield, French Morocco for a period of reorganization and training. On 1 June, it moved forward to Sedrata Airfield, Algeria and resumed combat operations. It participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria, that month. The following month it provided air support for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. After Sicily fell, it directed most of its attacks on targets in Italy. It supported Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy, in September. These operations concentrated on airfields, marshalling yards airfields, viaducts, gun sites and other defense positions. In November, it moved from Africa to Decimomannu Airfield, Sardinia to shorten the range to targets in central Italy.[3]

From January to March 1944, the squadron supported Allied ground forces as they advanced in the Battle of Monte Cassino and Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio. As ground forces approached Rome, it flew interdiction missions. On 3 March 1944, the squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for an attack on rail facilities in Rome, while carefully avoiding damage to religious and cultural monuments. Eight days later, it earned a second DUC for an attack on marshalling yards in Florence, disrupting communications between Florence and Rome. Its support of French forces between April and June earned the squadron the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.[3]

A-26 at Machinato Airfield in 1945

In August and September 1944, the squadron supported Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, moving forward to Serragia Airfield, Corsica the following month. It attacked German supply lines in northern Italy, including bombing bridges over the Po River. It also attacked some targets in Yugoslavia. It continued combat operations while transitioning into the North American B-25 Mitchell from its Marauders. At the end of the year, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and returned to the United States in January 1945 to begin training with the Douglas A-26 Invader in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific.[3]

Combat in the Pacific[edit]

The squadron completed its training in the new bomber and departed to reenter combat in April 1945. It arrived on Okinawa in early July and was estblished at Machinato Airfield later that month. It flew its first mission in the Pacific on 16 July 1945.[citation needed] It flew missions in China and Japan, attacking airfields, shipping, marshalling yards, industrial centers and other targets until V-J Day. It was briefly assigned to VII Bomber Command when the 319th departed Okinawa on 21 November 1945. The squadron left in December, and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 6 January 1946.[1][3]

Pennsylvania Air National Guard[edit]

The squadron was redesignated the 117th Bombardment Squadron and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946.[1] It was organized at Philadelphia International Airport and was extended federal recognition on 17 January 1947. The squadron was again equipped with A-26 Invaders and was assigned to the 53d Fighter Wing until the 111th Bombardment Group was activated on 20 December 1948.[citation needed]

Korean War mobilization[edit]

On 1 April 1951 the 117th Bombardment Squadron was federalized and brought to active duty due to the Korean War. It moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was assigned to the 4400th Combat Crew Training Group. Its mission was training B-26 Invader aircrews in tactical bombing and night intruder air operations. The crews trained by the 117th were deployed to Far East Air Forces for combat operations with B-26s over North and South Korea or to France for service with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. On 1 January 1953 the squadron was inactivated and returned to state control , while its personnel and equipment were used to form the 423d Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.[citation needed]

Fighter operations[edit]

Returning to Philadelphia, the squadron was redesignated the117th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, receiving F-84F Thunderstreaks[clarification needed List of aircraft says F-80s]. Despite its designation and equipment, the squadron primarily trained in an air defense role, with plans to later assume a tactical mission.[7] In May 1955, the squadron's parent was redesignated the 111th Fighter-Interceptor Group, along with its other squadron, which became the [[[103rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] and began converting to Lockheed F-94 Starfires. On 1 July 1956, the group organized on the model of Air Defense Command units, becoming the 111th Fighter Group (Air Defense) with a single operational squadron. The 117th Squadron was inactivated and withdrawn from the National Guard. Most personnel were reassigned to other units.[citation needed]

Kansas Air National Guard[edit]

In early 1957, the Kansas Air National Guard received authorization to expand from one to two squadrons. The United States Air Force redesignated the squadron the 117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and allotted it to the Kansas Air National Guard, which organized it on 3 January 1957 at Naval Air Station Hutchinson. It received federal recognition on 23 February 1957. The squadron was equipped with Lockheed F-80C Shooting Stars and was assigned to the 137th Fighter-Interceptor Group located at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.[citation needed]

RB-57 Canberra era[edit]

Squadron RB-57A Canberra at Hutchinson ANGB[d]

The squadron's time as an interceptor squadron lasted little over a year, for in April 1958, it became the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and began to replace its fighters with Martin RB-57 Canberras, the reconnaissance version of the B-57. With the introduction of the Douglas RB-66 Destroyer to the active duty reconnaissance inventory, the 117th began to receive RB-57A and tandem seat RB-57B Canberra photographic reconnaissance aircraft and assumed the tactical reconnaissance mission. The RB-57s were unarmed and It was painted with a high gloss black paint which was intended to minimize detection by searchlights.[citation needed]

On 15 October 1962, the 117th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 117th TRS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 190th Headquarters, 190th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 190th Combat Support Squadron, and the 190th USAF Dispensary.

190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group B-57G Canberras 1973

The unit continued to operate its Canberras at Hutchinson ANGB until 1967, when the 190th TRG and its personnel, aircraft and equipment permanently relocated to Forbes AFB, near Topeka after Strategic Air Command vacated its facilities and transferred Forbes AFB to the Tactical Air Command. The 117th continued to operate the RB-57s until 1972 when the aged aircraft were retired and sent to AMARC at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

In return the 190th began to receive the Martin B-57G variant that were modified as night intruders for use in the Vietnam War under a project known as Tropic Moon. B-57Bs were modified with a low light level television camera plus a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) set and a laser guidance system. The laser guidance system now made it possible to carry four 500-lb "smart bombs" on the underwing pylons. With the receipt of the B-57Gs from their combat service in Thailand, the unit was re-designated as the 190th Tactical Bombardment Group on 12 June 1972. The service of the B-57Gs was short, as operation of these B-57Gs proved to be expensive, and the aircraft were hard to maintain in the field. They served until 1974, when they were consigned to storage at Davis Monthan AFB.

Forbes AFB was ordered closed by the Department of Defense as part of a post-Vietnam reduction in force on 17 April 1973. Most of the facility was turned over for civilian use, however the 190th TBG retained a small portion of the base, being renamed Forbes Field Air National Guard Base.

EB-57B Canberra 52-1500 of the 117th DSES

In April 1974, the unit converted to EB-57B Canberra electronic countermeasures aircraft and became the 190th Defense Systems Evaluation Group. The 190th deployed aircraft to bases throughout the US, Canada, and Europe providing Electronic Counter-Measure (ECM) training and evaluation services to the various Aircraft Control and Warning (Radar) Squadrons. The 117th also used the EB-57 as faker target aircraft against F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors. The 190th operated the aircraft until 1978 when they were retired as part of the draw-down of Aerospace Defense Command.

Air Refueling[edit]

In 1978, the 190th was transferred to Strategic Air Command, being equipped with the KC-135A Stratotanker and began an air refueling mission; one it retains to the present day. In 1984 the 117th was upgraded to the KC-135E and in 1990, the 190th was the first unit to arrive in Saudi Arabia in August 1990 for service during the 1991 Gulf Crisis, being assigned to the 1709th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional) at King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 117th flew air refueling missions in support of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Desert Storm; remaining in the middle east until returning to Forbes AGB in March 1991.

The 190th gaining command shifted to the Air Mobility Command (AMC) with the disestablishment of SAC in 1992, and in 1995 the Group's status was expanded to a Wing. During 1999, the 190th deployed twice to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch, refueling Allied aircraft over the northern No-Fly Zone in Iraq.

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign McConnell Air National Guard (ANG) Base by relocating the 184th Air Refueling Wing (ANG) nine KC-135R aircraft to the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field AGS, which would retire its eight assigned KC-135E aircraft. The 184th Air Refueling Wing 's operations and maintenance manpower would transfer with the aircraft to Forbes. Realigning ANG KC-135R aircraft from McConnell to Forbes would replace the 190th's aging, higher maintenance KC-135E aircraft with newer models while retaining the experienced personnel from one of the highest-ranking reserve component tanker bases.

In June 2007, the 190 ARW gained custody of all KC-135R aircraft from the 184th ARW. This action consolidated all of the Kansas ANG's KC-135R assets into a single wing located at Forbes Field. The 184 ARW was subsequently re=designated as the 184th Intelligence Wing (184 IW), a non-flying unit at McConnell AFB.

Lineage[edit]

  • Constituted as the 440th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 26 June 1942
Redesignated 440th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 1944
Redesignated 440th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 February 1945
Inactivated on 4 January 1946
  • Redesignated 117th Bombardment Squadron, Light and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946[8]
Extended federal recognition on 17 January 1947
Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951
Inactivated 1 January 1953
Relieved from active duty, redesignated 117th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, and returned to state control on 1 January 1953
Activated on 1 January 1953
Inactivated on 1 July 1956 and withdrawn from the Air National Guard
  • Redesignated 117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and Allotted to Kansas Air National Guard on 1 February 1957
Extended federal recognition and activated on 23 February 1957
Redesignated 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 April 1958
Redesignated 117th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 12 June 1972
Redesignated 117th Tactical Bombardment Squadron on 19 September 1973[9]
Redesignated 117th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron c. 6 April 1974[10]
Redesignated 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 8 July 1978[11]
Redesignated 117th Air Refueling Squadron c. 16 March 1992[12]

Assignments[edit]

  • 319th Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942
  • VII Bomber Command, 18 Dec 1945 – 4 Jan 1946[8]
  • 53d Fighter Wing, 17 January 1947
  • 111th Bombardment Group, 20 December 1948
  • 4400th Combat Crew Training Group, 1 April 1951 – 1 January 1953
  • 111th Fighter-Bomber Group 1 January 1953 – 1 July 1956
  • 137th Fighter-Interceptor Group (later 137th Fighter Group), 23 February 1957
  • 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 10 April 1958
  • [[127th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, December 1958
  • 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 190th Bombardment Group, 190th Tactical Bombardment Group, 190th Defense Systems Evaluation Group, 190th Air Refueling Group, 190th Air Refueling Wing), 15 October 1962
  • 190th Operations Group, 11 October 1995 – present

Stations[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

  • Martin B-26 Marauder, 1942–1944
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1944–1945
  • Douglas A-26 (B-26 after 1948) Invader, 1945–1946, 1947–1952<ref Name=Maurer440BS2>
  • Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star, 1953–1956;[clarification needed narrative says F-84s] 1957–1958
  • Martin RB-57A Canberra, 1958–1972
  • Martin RB-57B Canberra, 1958–1972, 1973–1978
  • Martin B-57G Canberra, 1972–1973
  • Martin RB-57E Canberra, 1973–1978
  • Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, 1978–1984
  • Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker, 1984–2006
  • Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, 2006–present

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft was originally built as Boeing KC-135A-BN, serial 58-0013. Later modified as KC-135E, Sent to Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 7 March 2007. Baugher, Joe (27 July 2023). "1958 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 4 May 2024. Picture taken on 11 September 2004.
  2. ^ The 319th Group suffered several losses on the ferry flight, as winter weather began to impact the northern ferry route. Other planes were delayed for weather or aircraft malfunctions. As a result, further deployments of B-26 units to Europe travelled over the South Atlantic route, Freeman, pp. 15, 55.
  3. ^ The 319th Group was trying these 6-plane take offs to save time forming up for missions.
  4. ^ Aircraft is RB-57A-MA Canberra, serial 52-1480. The B-57As were the only model in United States Service to retain the side by side seating of the English Electric Canberra B.3. This plane is now mounted on a pedestal outside the main gate to Forbes Field. Baugher, Joe (7 October 2023). "1952 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 544-545
  2. ^ Watkins, p. 82
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 198-199
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542-545
  5. ^ a b c Freeman, p. 265
  6. ^ Freeman, p. 55
  7. ^ See Cantwell, p. 152 (addressing reserve fighter bomber units in the 1950s).
  8. ^ a b Lineage, assignment and aircraft information through 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 544-545
  9. ^ DAF/PRM Letter 725p, 19 September 1973, Subject: Redesignation of Air National Guard Units
  10. ^ DAF/PRM Letter 764p, 8 Mar 1974, Subject: Organization Actions Affecting Certain Air National Guard Units
  11. ^ DAF/PRM Letter 170q, 21 Jun 1978, Subject: Organization Actions Affecting Certain Air National Guard Units
  12. ^ DAF/MO Letter 282r, 12 Mar 1992, Subject: Redesignation of Certain Air National Guard Units
  13. ^ a b Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
  14. ^ Station information through 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 544-545, except as noted.

Bibliography[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links[edit]

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