Tactical Air Command 138th Attack Squadron

1 tactical air command

1.1 1961 berlin federalization
1.2 vietnam era
1.3 close air support
1.4 operation desert storm

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.