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====Tactical Air Command====
====Tactical Air Command====
After the Federalization, the 113th transferred its 25 F-84Fs to the active-duty USAF to fill gaps in TAC Wings; the aircraft being temporally replaced by RF-84Fs from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina that was upgrading to the RF-101 Voodoo. The squadron flew the RF-84F until May 1964 to maintain proficency but did not train in photo-reconnaissance.

On 1 October 1962, the 113th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 181st Tactical Fighter Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 113th TFS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 181st Headquarters, 181st Material Squadron (Maintenance), 181st Combat Support Squadron, and the 181st USAF Dispensary.

Re-equipped with F-84Fs, in 1965, the 181st TFG deployed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii for Tropic Lighting I, an exercise designed to assist in the training of Army ground units prior to their deployment to South Vietnam. This deployment required two over-water air refuelings in either direction. In addition, the 113th deployed to Vincent AFB, Arizona for extensive gunnery, rocketry and special weapons delivery training.

The F-84F remained with the 181st until 1971, when they were retired to AMARC and replaced by North American F-100C/D Super Sabres.




Revision as of 21:38, 2 November 2012

113th Air Support Operations Squadron
File:181st IW Indiana ANG Aircraft Group.jpg
Historical Aircraft assigned to the 113th Air Support Operations Squadron. Shown is an F-16C (1991-2008); F-4C (1979-1987); F-4E (1987-1991) and an F-84F (1958-1971)
Active26 August 1917–Present
Country United States
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeSquadron
SizeIntelligence analysis and information protection
Part ofIndiana Air National Guard
Garrison/HQTerre Haute Air National Guard Base, Indiana
Nickname(s)Racers
Tail CodeHF (1979-1991)
TH (1991-2008)
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
Insignia
113th Air Support Operations Squadron emblem

The 113th Air Support Operations Squadron (113 ASOS) is a unit of the Indiana Air National Guard 181st Intelligence Wing located at Terre Haute Air National Guard Base, Indiana. The 113d is one of four Air National Guard units equipped with the AN/GSQ-272 Sentinel Distributed Common Ground System.

The squadron is a descendant organization of the World War I 113th Aero Squadron, established on 26 August 1917. It was reformed on 1 August 1921, as the 113th 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

Was formed as 113th Aero Squadron in August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. Was assigned as an aviation unit with the Pennsylvania National Guard, however apparently performed support duties as a supply unit. Re-designated the 634th Aero Squadron in 1918 Did not deploy to France. Was demobilized in March 1919

Indiana National Guard

Re-formed and it's honor's and lineage was combined (in 1936) with those of the 137th Squadron, Indiana NG, which had activated at Fagley Field, IN during August 1921 (equipped with Curtiss Jennies). Re-designated the 113th Observation Squadron on 25th January 1923, the unit relocated to Schoen Field and then Stout Field (formerly Mars Hill), Indianapolis in October 1926. Operated a variety of Observation aircraft during the 1930's

World War II

The 113th was operating Douglas O-38Bs and North American O-47A/Bs when called to active duty on 17 January 1941 as part of the build-up of the Army Air Corps after the Fall of France. Ten days later the unit transferred to Key Field, Mississippi and began flying (assigned to the 67th Observation Group, 3rd AF) Anti-Submarine patrols with O-47s, O-49s and O-52s over the Gulf of Mexico. Between 1942 and disbandment at Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama on 30th November 1943 the 113th performed Operational Training for combat reconnaissance pilots in Bell P-39 Aircobras and other light reconnaissance aircraft.

Indiana Air National Guard

The wartime 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then re-designated as the 113th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Indiana Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana and was extended federal recognition on 9 December 1946 by the National Guard Bureau. The 113th Fighter Squadron was bestowed the lineage, history, honors, and colors of the 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and all predecessor units. The squadron was assigned to the 122d Fighter Group, Indiana Air National Guard and equipped with F-51D Mustang fighters.

The 113th and the 163d Fighter Squadron at Stout Field, Indianapolis were the operational squadrons of the 122d Fighter Group. Its mission was the air defense of Indiana. The 113th flew training missions primarily over the northern part of Indiana, while the 163d operated from Indianapolis south to the Ohio River border with Kentucky.

During the postwar years, the Air National Guard was almost like a flying country club and a pilot could often show up at the field, check out an aircraft and go flying. However, these units also had regular military exercises that kept up proficiency and in gunnery and bombing contests they would often score better than full-time USAF units.

Korean War Federalization

With the surprise invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1960, and the regular military's complete lack of readiness, most of the Air National Guard was federalized placed on active duty. The 113th Fighter Squadron and its parent 122d Fighter Group were activated on 10 February 1951.

The 113th initially remained at Stout Field, Indianapolis and the 122d Fighter Group established headquarters at Baer Field, Indianapolis along with the 163d Fighter Squadron under the Air Defense Command Eastern Air Defense Force. ADC established the 122d Fighter-Interceptor Wing with the 122d Fighter-Interceptor Group as its operational unit with a mission for the air defense of Indiana and the upper midwest as part of the Eastern Air Defense Force. Both squadrons were re-equipped with very long range (VLR) F-51H Mustangs that were developed during World War II for long distance bomber escort missions in the Pacific Theater.

On 1 May the 113th FIS was dispersed to Scott AFB, Illinois and the 163d FIS to Sious City MAP, Iowa; the 122d FIW being transferred to the Central Air Defense Force. Now assigned for the air defense of the Central United States, the squadrons flew interception missions for ADC. The 122d FIW/FIG were inactivated on 6 February 1952, the squadron being re-assigned to the 4706th Air Defense Wing. It was later transferred to the 33d Air Division on 1 April. Its period of federalization ended, the squadron was returned to Indiana State Control on 1 November 1952.

Air Defense mission

The unit was re-formed at Stout Field and continued to fly the F-51H Mustangs, returning to its pre-federalization air defense mission of Indiana. With the end of the line for the Mustang in USAF service, the United States Air Force, in an effort to upgrade to an all jet fighter force, required Air National Guard Air Defense Command units to upgrade to jet-powered aircraft. In July 1954 the Mustangs were retired and the squadron was re-equipped with F-80C Shooting Star jets that had seen combat in the Korean War. In March 1956, conversion to refurbished and reconditioned F-86A Sabres commenced, and in April 1958 new F-86F Thunderstreaks were received.

Tactical Fighters

In July 1959, the 113th was designated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron (Special Delivery), with a mission of the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons. It should be noted that although the 113th trained for the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons, it never had any actual nuclear weapons on hand, nor did the base at Terre Haute ever had nuclear weapon storage facilities. In 1959 and 1960 the squadron participated in exercises Dark Cloud and Pine Cone III, the latter taking place at Congree AFB, South Carolina. In the exercises, the squadron practiced delivery of tactical nuclear weapons in the fictitious country of "North Saladia". In 1960, the unit performed extremely well during the annual "Ricks's Trophy Race" between Georgia and Hamilton AFB, California.

1961 Berlin Crisis

On 1 October 1961 the 113th and the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing was federalized and ordered to active service asas part of Operation Tack Hammer, the United States response to the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Due to DOD budget restrictions, the 122d was instructed to deploy only a portion of its total strength and only the 163d Tactical Fighter Squadron was deployed to France, with the other two squadrons being on active duty at their home stations, ready to reinforce the 163d if necessary.

On 6 November the 26 F-84F "Thunderstreak"s arrived at Chambley, with the wings support aircraft (C-47 and T-33A's) arriving by mid-November. Due to its reduced force structure, the wing was designated the 7122d Tactical Wing while in France. By 1 December the ground support units arrived and the 7122d prepared for an estimated overseas deployment of 10 months.

Rotations of Air National Guard pilots from the stateside squadrons in Indiana was performed to train them in local flying conditions in Europe. This allowed the 163d to maintain 100 percent manning and also to relieve the boredom of the national guard pilots on active duty in CONUS and kept them connected to the overseas part of the Wing.

The mission of the 7122d was to support Seventeenth Air Force and various NATO exercises in Europe, flying up to 30 sorties a day exercising with Seventh Army units in Germany. NATO exchanges with the West German 32nd Fighter-Bomber Wing occurred in April 1962 to increase understanding of NATO air integration and terminology.

By April, the Berlin Crisis appeared to be settled and the Kennedy Administration was interested in saving money on this emergency call-up of national guard units. On 7 June the 163d was directed to return to CONUS with all personnel, however the aircraft and equipment were to remain at Chambley.

The support C-47 and T-33s were flown back to Indiana, and in July the Air National Guardsmen of the 122 TFW/163 TFS returned to CONUS. On 16 July the 7122nd Tactical Wing was deactivated with its F-84F aircraft being turned over to the new 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. The Guardsmen were released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 31 August 1962.

Tactical Air Command

After the Federalization, the 113th transferred its 25 F-84Fs to the active-duty USAF to fill gaps in TAC Wings; the aircraft being temporally replaced by RF-84Fs from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina that was upgrading to the RF-101 Voodoo. The squadron flew the RF-84F until May 1964 to maintain proficency but did not train in photo-reconnaissance.

On 1 October 1962, the 113th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 181st Tactical Fighter Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 113th TFS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 181st Headquarters, 181st Material Squadron (Maintenance), 181st Combat Support Squadron, and the 181st USAF Dispensary.

Re-equipped with F-84Fs, in 1965, the 181st TFG deployed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii for Tropic Lighting I, an exercise designed to assist in the training of Army ground units prior to their deployment to South Vietnam. This deployment required two over-water air refuelings in either direction. In addition, the 113th deployed to Vincent AFB, Arizona for extensive gunnery, rocketry and special weapons delivery training.

The F-84F remained with the 181st until 1971, when they were retired to AMARC and replaced by North American F-100C/D Super Sabres.


Lineage

1920s 113th Observation Squadron Indiana NG patch
  • Organized as 113th Aero Squadron on 26 Aug 1917
Re-designated: 634th Aero Squadron on 1 Feb 1918
Demobilized on 31 Mar 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 137th Squadron which, having been allotted to Indiana National Guard, was organized on 1 Aug 1921
Re-designated: 113th Squadron on 3 Jan 1923
Re-designated: 113th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923
Re-designated: 113th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942
Re-designated: 113th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Re-designated: 113th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 Apr 1943
Re-designated: 113th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 15 Jun 1943
Re-designated: 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943
Disbanded on 30 Nov 1943
  • Reconstituted on 21 Jun 1945
Re-designated: 113th Fighter Squadron and allotted to Indiana Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.
Extended federal recognition on 9 December 1946
Federalized and ordered to active service on: 10 February 1951
Re-designated: 113th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 10 February 1951
Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 1 November 1952
Rd-designated: 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Special Delivery), 1 July 1959
Federalized and ordered to active service on: 1 October 1961
Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 31 August 1962
Re-designated: 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1 September 1962
Re-designated: 113th Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992
Components designated as: 113th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron when deployed as part of an Air and Space Expeditionary unit after June 1996.
Re-designated: 113th Air Support Operations Squadron , 3 May 2008

Assignments

Attached to: 66th Observation Group, 12 Dec 1941-20 Jan 1942
Attached to: 7122d Tactical Wing (Special Delivery), 1 October 1961-31 August 1962

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References

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

External links

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