New York Air National Guard 138th Attack Squadron

1 new york air national guard

1.1 air defense mission
1.2 tactical air command

1.2.1 1961 berlin federalization
1.2.2 vietnam era
1.2.3 close air support
1.2.4 operation desert storm


1.3 air combat command
1.4 mq-9 reaper , attack mission

new york air national guard

beginning on march 1, 1953, 2 air national guard units–the 138th fighter interceptor squadron syracuse, new york, pictured here. 138th placed 2 f-51d fighters , 5 pilots on air defense “runway alert” 1 hour before sunrise 1 hour after sunset. runway alert program first broad effort integrate reserve forces major air force operational mission on volunteer basis during peacetime. (gil cohen, runway alert, national guard heritage painting.)

the wartime 505th fighter squadron re-designated 138th fighter squadron, , allotted new york air national guard, on 24 may 1946. organized @ hancock field, syracuse, new york, , extended federal recognition on 28 october 1947 national guard bureau. 138th fighter squadron bestowed lineage, history, honors, , colors of 505d fighter squadron , predecessor units. first new york air national guard squadron extended federal recognition.

the squadron equipped f-47d thunderbolts , assigned new york ang 52d fighter wing, in december 1948 107th fighter group, operationally gained continental air command.

the mission of 138th fighter squadron air defense of central , northern new york. aircraft parts no problem , many of maintenance personnel world war ii veterans readiness quite high , planes better maintained usaf counterparts. in ways, postwar air national guard flying country club , pilot show @ field, check out aircraft , go flying. however, unit had regular military exercises kept proficiency , in gunnery , bombing contests score @ least or better active-duty usaf units, given fact ang pilots world war ii combat veterans.

air defense mission

in january, 1950 138th became first new york air national guard unit receive jet aircraft, obtaining f-84b thunderjets, usaf 20th fighter group @ shaw afb, south carolina.

138th fis f-94s in 1950s

with surprise invasion of south korea on 25 june 1950, , regular military s complete lack of readiness, of nation s air national guard federalized , placed on active duty. 138th retained state of new york maintain air defense mission.

in december 1950/january 1951 138th transferred several f-84bs arizona ang 197th fighter squadron @ luke afb, , @ end of 1951 remainder transferred federalized michigan ang 127th pilot training group, @ luke afb. thunderjets used jet pilot transition training pilots being deployed korea. in return, 138th received long range f-51h mustangs capable of extended air defense flights on of new york state. in 1952, 138th became 1 of first air national guard squadrons commence standing daylight runway alert. @ least 2 aircraft squadron pilots in cockpits stood alert @ end of runway 1 hour before sunrise 1 hour after sunset every day of year.

the air defense mission remained after korean war armistice , unit resumed normal peacetime training , drills. in 1954, mustang ending service life , air defense command re-equipping fighter-interceptor squadrons jet aircraft. 138th received f-94b starfires, f-94 required two-man aircrew, pilot , air observer operate radar equipment. trainees radar assignment had attend regular air force training schools, , required virtually same qualifications pilot trainees. additional recruitment of guardsmen led units having manning , capabilities problem lasted time until unit returned full readiness.

in 1956, 107th fighter-interceptor wing reorganized , re-designated 107th air defense wing. 107th fighter-interceptor group re-designated 107th fighter group (air defense) , transferred niagara falls municipal airport hancock field on 1 may, 138th fis being assigned. f-86h sabre replaced f-94b starfires in 1957.

tactical air command

a major change 107th air defense wing in 1958 transition air defense commande (adc) mission tactical air command (tac) , tactical fighter mission, 107th being re-designated tactical fighter group; , 138th being re-designated. new assignment involved change in group s training mission include high-altitude interception, air-to-ground rocketry, ground strafing , tactical bombing. 138th tfs retained f-86h sabres.

1961 berlin federalization

during summer of 1961, 1961 berlin crisis unfolded, 138th tfs notified on 16 august of pending federalization , recall active duty. on 1 october 138th federalized , assigned massachusetts ang 102d tactical fighter wing, federalized , placed on active duty @ otis air force base.

north american yf-86h-5-na sabre serial 52-2116 of 138th tactical fighter squadron/102d tactical fighter wing deployed @ phalsbourg - 1962. manufactured pre-production f-86h, aircraft modified production specifications before seeing operational service.

the mission of 102d tfw reinforce united states air forces in europe (usafe) , deploy phalsbourg-bourscheid air base, france. in france, unit provide close air support nato ground forces , air interdiction. involved keeping aircraft on 24/7 alert. between 28 , 30 october, 102d tfw departed otis afb phalsbourg. wing deployed 82 f-86h sabres. in addition 2 c-47 , 6 t-33 aircraft assigned wing support , training purposes.

starting on 5 december, 102d began deploying wheelus air base libya gunnery training. during time in europe, 102d participated in several usaf , nato exercises, including deployment leck air base, west germany near danish border. @ leck, ground , support crews both countries exchanged duties, learning how perform aircraft maintenance , operational support tasks.

on 7 may 1962, usafe seventeenth air force directed 102d tfw deploy united states during summer, , unit returned united states in july 1962. regular usaf personnel, along group of ang personnel volunteered remain on active duty formed 480th tactical fighter squadron of newly activated 366th tactical fighter wing. last of ang aircraft departing on 20 july.

vietnam era

upon return new york state control, 107th tactical fighter group transferred niagara falls, , 138th tfs authorized expand group level. 174th tactical fighter group allocated , federally recognized national guard bureau on 1 september 1962. 138th tfs became group s flying squadron. other squadrons assigned group 174th headquarters, 174th material squadron (maintenance), 174th combat support squadron, , 174th usaf dispensary.

the squadron remained equipped f-86h , continued normal peacetime training , exercises. in summer of 1965, squadron took part in exercise oneida bear ii @ fort drum, involved 6,500 soldiers of regular army, army reserve , national guard. 138th tfs aircraft syracuse provided close air support both aggressor , friendly forces during exercise, , engaged in realistic tactical air strikes. in exercise, conducted first army, second brigade of army s fifth infantry opposed aggressor force of selected army national guard , army reserve units. 174th group s pilots flew 77 sorties total of 114 hours without single abort.

138th tactical fighter squadron f-86h sabre 53-1519 1966 in vietnam war camouflage

the squadron trained @ ramey afb, puerto rico, in 1967 in service amphibious , airborne exercise. detachment of unit pilots , support personnel participated (22 officers , 69 airmen). twelve f-86h aircraft participated 3 c-130 hercules equipment , personnel support. types of tactical air missions flown. total sorties 213 total hours flown, 308. special firepowers demonstration accomplished 20 sorties delivering 40 (750 lbs.) , 2000 rounds of 20mm fired. later in 1967 operation sentry post held in august. joint air national guard - tac exercise. twelve f-86hs flown , squadron pilots worked radar flying air-to-air , air-to-ground gunnery , without fac type missions. total of 204 sorties , 245, hours flown in operation.

in 1968, 174th tfg federalized , placed on active duty. group alerted active duty on 11 april 1968, partially mobilized on 13 may , deployed cannon air force base, clovis, new mexico. mission of 174th train forward air controllers (fac) service in vietnam. fac flew light observation aircraft @ low altitudes, visually observing enemy installations , movements , providing on-the-spot directions fighters , bombers. fac dictated type of ordnance delivered, observes strike, , evaluates effectiveness. mission of 174th give fac s in training actual experience in fighter aircraft apprised of requirements of men directing in combat in south vietnam.

on arrival @ cannon afb along maryland ang 175th tactical fighter squadron, comprised 140th tactical fighter wing. based in denver, colorado, headquarters of 140th moved cannon afb deployment of 140th tactical fighter group active duty in vietnam. not members of 174th tactical fighter group mobilized, however. subsequent alert notice, change directed mobilization of group headquarters, 138th tactical fighter squadron, , 174th consolidated aircraft maintenance squadron. remaining members of 174th remained in syracuse on drill status during 8 months of mobilized service. unit inactivated on 20 december 1968, , members reverted air national guard drill status.

close air support

138th tfs cessna a-37b dragonfly 69-6423, 1974

during 1970, 174th began retiring f-86h sabres after on decade of service, 138th tactical fighter squadron flying last usaf/ang sabre sortie on 30 september. replacing sabre cessna a-37b dragonfly , newly conceived close air support tactical fighter mission in ground insurgency environment gained combat experience in vietnam.

after decade of routine peacetime exercises , training a-37, in 1979 174th began transition a-10a thunderbolt ii close air support fighter. arrival of a-10, 174th changed in status group wing on 1 july 1979. wing 1 of 3 air national guard units equipped a-10 part of total force concept equipped ang units front-line usaf aircraft. in 1980, after transition a-10 completed, 138th tfs deployed savannah air national guard base, georgia. on arrival, unit given sealed orders directing them remote, forward operational location , operate combat sorties, loaded live ordnance. not 174th s combat readiness put optimum peacetime test, unit s mobility tested fullest. in response, additional 6 a-10 s assigned it, making 138th tfs air national guard s super squadron, 24 aircraft.

with transition complete, unit deployed 8 a-10 aircraft syracuse, non-stop forward operation location in west germany. in exercise cornet sail, 138th demonstrated first time ability of air national guard or air force reserve unit deploy advanced aircraft in manner. combat readiness in west germany achieved 12 hours after departing hancock field.

with move of usaf 21st air division griffiss afb in 1984, 174th tfw became host unit @ hancock field. later year, unit deployed exercise air warrior @ national training center, fort irwin, california; three-week deployment lechfeld air base, west germany , ny ang 107th fighter-interceptor group @ goose air base, labrador.

a 138th tfs a-10a @ hancock field, 1981.

the 174th among first a-10 close support aircraft organizations provide temporary tactical air defense support howard air force base, panama when unit deployed howard in march 1985 when runway construction precluded use of a-7d corsair iis fulfilled tactical air defense duties of panama canal. shortly afterward, deployed alaska first time. 138th tfs completed 2,700 mile flight eielson afb without external navigation aids.

as in past years, continuing nato deployments west germany in late 1980s saw 174th tfw personnel training , living side-by-side west german air force counterparts in combat situation. 174th began 1988 on high note when air force announced wing convert a-10 specialized block 10 f-16a/b fighting falcone, referred f/a-16 due close air support configuration. block 10 f-16, 174th became first air force organization fly fighting falcon close air support mission.

the first f-16 aircraft started arriving in late 1988. these aircraft passed down regular usaf units upgrading f-16c/d model. during 1989 138th tfs chosen test unit close air support version of f-16. aircraft f-16s ever equipped weapon, intended use against variety of battlefield targets, including armor 30 mm gun pod. unit received usaf s outstanding maintenance squadron award year.

operation desert storm

in 1991, 138th tfs deployed persian gulf 516 members in support of operation desert storm. 138th 1 of 2 air national guard units fly combat missions during operation desert storm. close air support project proved miserable failure. precision aiming impossible several reasons: pylon mount wasn t steady a-10 s rigid mounting; f-16 flies faster a-10, giving pilots little time approaching target; firing gun shook aircraft harshly , made impossible control targeting; essential ccip (constantly computed impact point) software unavailable. pilots ended using gun area effect weapon, spraying multiple targets ammunition, producing effect rather cluster bomb. took couple of days of before gave up, unbolted gun pods, , went dropping real cluster bombs - did job more effectively.

the unit received air force outstanding unit award, v device valor, during operation desert storm; air force association outstanding unit award; , national guard association s best family support center award.

air combat command

138th tfs - general dynamics f-16a block 10 fighting falcon 79-0352

in march 1992, end of cold war, 174th adopted air force objective organization plan, , unit re-designated 174th fighter wing. organization change, 138th fighter squadron assigned new 174th operations group. in june, tactical air command inactivated part of air force reorganization after end of cold war. replaced air combat command (acc).

in 1993 174th fw started trading in old block 10 f-16 a/b models newer block 30 f-16c/d aircraft configured tactical air support. in process squadron had ‘honor’ of sending first f-16 amarc storage. happened on july 20, 1993, when f-16a (#79-0340) flown davis-monthan afb, arizona flyable storage. although these aircraft 13 years old, put storage due more modern models becoming available , block 10 wasn t needed longer usaf. general mission squadron remained unchanged transition.

also in 1993, 138th tfs became first unit have female f-16 fighter pilot, jackie parker, in 1993 after combat roles opened females.

in june 1995, unit deployed 30 days rotation incirlik air base, turkey part of operation provide comfort, assisting in enforcement no fly zone on northern iraq.

in mid-1996, air force, in response budget cuts, , changing world situations, began experimenting air expeditionary organizations. air expeditionary force (aef) concept developed mix active-duty, reserve , air national guard elements combined force. instead of entire permanent units deploying provisional in 1991 gulf war, expeditionary units composed of aviation packages several wings, including active-duty air force, air force reserve command , air national guard, married carry out assigned deployment rotation.

138th expeditionary fighter squadron f-16c 86-0249 on afghanistan in support of operation enduring freedom on november 29th, 2003

the 138th expeditionary fighter squadron (138th efs) first formed , deployed in august 1996 operation northern watch (onw). onw european command combined task force (ctf) responsible enforcing united nations mandated no-fly zone above 36th parallel in iraq. mission successor operation provide comfort entailed support iraqi kurds.

in 1997, 138th fighter squadron commemorated 50th anniversary in conjunction united states air force hosting united states air force thunderbirds aerobatics team @ syracuse air show.

during 1996-97, 174th fw deployed andøya air station, norway part of adventure express 97 nato exercise. in 1998, 174th fw deployed tyndall afb, florida, combat archer exercise , dugway proving ground, utah, participate in exercise global patriot 98 .

only 6 years later, in 1999, 138th fs changed block types once more, sending block 30s illinois ang 170th fighter squadron , receiving older block 25 f-16s texas ang 182d fighter squadron. meant changing again general electric engine pratt & whitney.

a aef deployment prince sultan air base, saudi arabia resulted in formation of 138th efs in 2000. operation southern watch operation responsible enforcing united nations mandated no-fly zone below 32d parallel in iraq. mission initiated cover attacks of iraqi forces on iraqi shi’ite muslims. squadron returned block 30 aircraft in 2004, receiving aircraft 50th tfw @ spangdahlem air base, germany shifting engine type once more.

as part of global war on terrorism, 138th efs deployed twice balad air base, iraq in 2006 , 2008

mq-9 reaper , attack mission

138th attack squadron - general atomics mq-9b reaper 09-4072.

in 2008 became apparent 138th fs going lose f-16s , hancock angb lose manned aviation role after more 60 years of operations. squadron set fly mq-9 reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (uav). unit’s transition flying f-16 fighter jets in theater operating unmanned aircraft suburbs more tactical shift. assured future of base @ hancock field. in october 2009, 174th fighter wing cut ribbon on new mq-9 reaper maintenance school, trains technicians across country, military branches.

on 6 march 2010 last 2 f-16s (#85-1561 , #85-1570) departed hancock field marking end of f-16 operations @ base. made 3 low passes assembled crowd gathered commemorate end of manned aviation @ syracuse ang base in upstate new york.

as result of mission change, two-thirds of unit’s 31 f-16 fighter pilots either transferred other units, retired or left air national guard. eleven took reaper positions within wing, swapping pilot’s seat computer chair. full-time personnel have increased, 158 186. part-time numbers have dropped, 500 437.