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===World War II===
===World War II===
After war broke out in Europe in 1939, preparedness for war increased in the United States. As part of the preparedness program, 4,800 members of the 33 Division, including the 108th Squadron, mobilized in 1940. The unit reequipped with the North American O-47 biplanes.
After war broke out in Europe in 1939, preparedness for war increased in the United States. As part of the preparedness program, 4,800 members of the 33 Division, including the 108th Squadron, mobilized February 1941. The unit reequipped with the North American O-47 biplanes and initially trained at Midway Airport in Chicago. Remained at Midway until 14 January 1942 when it was assigned to the Caribbean Air Force after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and arrived at Río Hato Army Air Base, Panama. The stay at Rio Hato was brief, however, as the squadron was moved to Howard Field in the Canal Zone on 19 January.

At Howard Field, the squadron was kept very busy on a myriad of patrol and communications flights along the Atlantic and Pacific Panamanian coast lines and within the far-flung Command. The 108th also acquired several Stinson L-1's during this period along with a P-36A, one A-18, two L- l's and two L-4A's all based at Howard Field.
One of the L-4A's was transferred to the dedicated Tow Target Squadron at Howard Field on 28 February 1943, while the rare Curtiss A-18, to the relief of the hard-pressed maintenance crews, was transferred to the Technical School at Rio Hato on 3 April 1943. This was almost certainly the only A-18 to serve operationally with a line combat unit during World War II.

The units first Douglas B-18 was added in February 1943. Interestingly, the squadron conducted one operational mission, with this aircraft, along the "Pacific coast of Colombia" on 24 February. By 25 June 1943, by which time the designation had been changed to a more realistic 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special), the mission handed the Squadron were ever more complex and demanding, and the alterations to the equipment reflected this. Another Douglas B-18 (36-275) hac been added in May 1943, the Squadron also gained small numbers of Piper L-4A's, Curtiss 0-52's (undocumented but recalled by Squadron members), and four Bell P-39N's.

In November 1943, the threat to the Panama Canal had decreased sufficiently that the 108th Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated in Panama, and the personnel were reassigned to other units in one of the combat theaters.


===Illinois Air National Guard===
===Illinois Air National Guard===
Line 69: Line 76:
* Issoudun, France, 21 Feb 1918-c. Apr 1919
* Issoudun, France, 21 Feb 1918-c. Apr 1919
* Mitchel Field, NY, c. 27 May-11 Jun 1919
* Mitchel Field, NY, c. 27 May-11 Jun 1919
* Chicago, Ill, 1 Jul 1927-28 Dec 1941
* Midway Airport, Chicago, Ill, 1 Jul 1927-28 Dec 1941
* Rio Hato, Panama, 14 Jan 1942
* Rio Hato, Panama, 14 Jan 1942
* Howard Field, Canal Zone, 19 Jan 1942-1 Nov 1943
* Howard Field, Canal Zone, 19 Jan 1942-1 Nov 1943

Revision as of 14:41, 22 October 2012

108th Air Refueling Squadron
108th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem
Active1917-Present
CountryUnited States
BranchAir National Guard
TypeSquadron
RoleAir Refueling
Part ofIllinois Air National Guard
Garrison/HQScott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois
Nickname(s)"Mid America Militia"

The 108th Air Refueling Squadron (108 ARS) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing located at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois. The 108th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.

The squadron is a descendant organization of the World War I 108th Aero Squadron, established on 27 August 1917. It was reformed on 1 July 1927, as the 108th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.

History

World War I

Formed at Kelly Field, Texas on 27 August 1917. Trained in Texas and was deployed to France in December 1917 as an aircraft maintenance squadron as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Served in the Zone of Advance of the Western Front, France, 1918-1919. Returned to the United States, May 1919, was assigned to Mitchell Field, New York, and immediately de-activated.

Illinois National Guard

In June 1927 the 108th Aero Squadron was re-activated, and designated the 108th Observation Squadron, 33rd Division Aviation. Chicago, Illinois. In July 1927 the unit received federal recognition; the squadron was authorized 16 officers, 74 enlisted and was assigned PT-1 Trusty aircraft. During the ensueing years, membership in the 108th Observation Squadron was a coveted assignment. Applicants were said to have been on waiting lists for as much as 4 years prior to being called.

In 1930, Douglas O-2H biplanes were assigned to the 108th Observation Squadron, followed by Douglas O-38 biplanes in 1935. No less than George C. Marshall was a member of the 33 Division from November 1933 to August 1936 as a Senior Instructor. During the next 10 years, the 108th performed outstanding civic service to the State of Illinois, dropping medicine and relief supplies to many of the towns in central and southern Illinois that were isolated by floodwaters, tornados, and fires. Captain Wilson V. Newhall, later to become the first Chief of Staff of the Illinois Air National Guard was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during flood duty, in 1937, as a member of the 108th Observation Squadron.

World War II

After war broke out in Europe in 1939, preparedness for war increased in the United States. As part of the preparedness program, 4,800 members of the 33 Division, including the 108th Squadron, mobilized February 1941. The unit reequipped with the North American O-47 biplanes and initially trained at Midway Airport in Chicago. Remained at Midway until 14 January 1942 when it was assigned to the Caribbean Air Force after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and arrived at Río Hato Army Air Base, Panama. The stay at Rio Hato was brief, however, as the squadron was moved to Howard Field in the Canal Zone on 19 January.

At Howard Field, the squadron was kept very busy on a myriad of patrol and communications flights along the Atlantic and Pacific Panamanian coast lines and within the far-flung Command. The 108th also acquired several Stinson L-1's during this period along with a P-36A, one A-18, two L- l's and two L-4A's all based at Howard Field. One of the L-4A's was transferred to the dedicated Tow Target Squadron at Howard Field on 28 February 1943, while the rare Curtiss A-18, to the relief of the hard-pressed maintenance crews, was transferred to the Technical School at Rio Hato on 3 April 1943. This was almost certainly the only A-18 to serve operationally with a line combat unit during World War II.

The units first Douglas B-18 was added in February 1943. Interestingly, the squadron conducted one operational mission, with this aircraft, along the "Pacific coast of Colombia" on 24 February. By 25 June 1943, by which time the designation had been changed to a more realistic 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special), the mission handed the Squadron were ever more complex and demanding, and the alterations to the equipment reflected this. Another Douglas B-18 (36-275) hac been added in May 1943, the Squadron also gained small numbers of Piper L-4A's, Curtiss 0-52's (undocumented but recalled by Squadron members), and four Bell P-39N's.

In November 1943, the threat to the Panama Canal had decreased sufficiently that the 108th Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated in Panama, and the personnel were reassigned to other units in one of the combat theaters.

Illinois Air National Guard

Lineage

  • Organized as 108th Aero Squadron on 27 Aug 1917
Re-designated 802d Aero Squadron on 1 Feb 1918
Demobilized on 11 Jun 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 108th Observation Squadron which, having been allotted to Illinois NG, was activated on 1 Jul 1927
Ordered to active service on 3 Feb 1941
Re-designated: 108th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942
Re-designated: 108th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Re-designated: 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special) on 25 Jun 1943
Inactivated on 1 Nov 1943
  • Re-designated 108th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allotted to Illinois ANG, on 24 May 1946.

Assignments

  • Unknown, 27 Aug 1917-Feb 1918
  • Third Aviation Instruction Center, Feb 1918-Apr 1919
  • Unknown, Apr-11 Jun 1919
  • Illinois NG (divisional aviation, 33d Division), 1 Jul 1927
  • Second Army, 3 Feb 1941
  • II Air Support Command, 1 Sep 1941
  • 72d Observation (later Reconnaissance) Group, 26 Sep 1941-1 November 1943

Stations

  • Kelly Field, Tex, 27 Aug 1917
  • Garden City, NY, 1 Nov-7 Dec 1917
  • St Maixent, France, 2 Jan 1918
  • Issoudun, France, 21 Feb 1918-c. Apr 1919
  • Mitchel Field, NY, c. 27 May-11 Jun 1919
  • Midway Airport, Chicago, Ill, 1 Jul 1927-28 Dec 1941
  • Rio Hato, Panama, 14 Jan 1942
  • Howard Field, Canal Zone, 19 Jan 1942-1 Nov 1943

Aircraft

See also

References

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

  • Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5


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