194th Fighter Squadron

194th Fighter Squadron
194th Fighter Squadron Patch
Active	1943 – present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Fighter
Part of	California Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Fresno Air National Guard Base, California
Nickname(s)	Griffins

The 194th Fighter Squadron (194 FS) is a unit of the California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. The 194th is equipped with the F-16C Fighting Falcon.

History

World War II

Activated in October 1943 as the 403d Fighter Squadron at Hamilton Field, California. During World War II, the squadron was an Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipped with second-line P-39 Aircobras and P-40 Warhawks. Its mission was to train newly-graduated pilots from Training Command in combat tactics and maneuvers before being assigned to their permanent combat unit. Initially assigned to IV Fighter Command, then transferred to III Fighter Command in 1944, being re-equipped with P-51D Mustangs. It took part in air-ground maneuvers and demonstrations, participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers in the summer of 1944 and in similar activities in the US until after V-J Day.

Inactivated in November 1945.

Lineage

• Constituted 409th Fighter Squadron on 12 Oct 1943

Activated on 15 Oct 1943

Re-designated: 409th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 5 Apr 1944

Re-designated: 409th Fighter Squadron on 5 Jun 1944.

Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945

• Re-designated: 194th Fighter Squadron, and allocated to California ANG on 24 May 1946

Extended federal recognition on 25 June 1948

Re-designated: 194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 October 1952

Re-designated: 194th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 1 December 1952

Re-designated: 194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 7 July 1955

Re-designated: 194th Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992

Assignments

• 372d Fighter (Later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter) Group, 15 Oct 1943 – 7 Nov 1945
• 144th Fighter Group, 25 June 1948
• 144th Fighter Wing, 31 October 1950
• 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 October 1952
• 144th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 December 1952
• 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 7 July 1955
• 144th Operations Group, 16 March 1992-Present

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California, 15 Oct 1943
• Portland Army Air Base, Oregon, 7 Dec 1943
• Esler Army Airfield, Louisiana, 25 Mar 1944
• Pollock Army Airfield, Louisiana, 15 Apr 1944
• Esler Army Airfield, Louisiana, 9 Feb 1945

• Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, 14 Sep – 7 Nov 1945
• Naval Air Station Alameda, California, 25 June 1948
• Hayward Air National Guard Base, California, 1949
• Fresno Yosemite International Airport, California, 1954

Designated: Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, 1991-Present

Aircraft

• P-39 Aircobra, 1943–1944
• P-40 Warhawk, 1944–1945
• P-51 Mustang, 1945
• F-51 Mustang, 1948–1954
• F-86A Sabre, 1954–1958
• F-86L Sabre, 1958–1964

• F-102 Delta Dagger, 1965–1974
• F-106 Delta Dart, 1974–1983
• F-4D Phantom II, 1983–1989
• F-16A Fighting Falcon, 1989–1995
• F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1995 – present

References

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

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, AL: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.

• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/194fs.htm
• history of the 144th