163rd Fighter Squadron

163d Fighter Squadron
163d Fighter Squadron - Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 82-0661
Active	1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Size	Close air support
Part of	Indiana Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana
Nickname(s)	Blacksnakes
Tail Code	IN
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
163rd Fighter Squadron emblem

The 163d Fighter Squadron (163d FS) is a unit of the Indiana Air National Guard 122d Fighter Wing located at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana. The 163d is equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

History

World War II

Trained in the Mid-Atlantic United States with P-40 Warhawks, 1943. While in training also used for air defense of Philadelphia area. Moved to England during September-October 1943 Equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts. Began operations on 20 December 1943 and served in combat with Eighth and, later, Ninth Air Forces until V-E Day.

Attached to Eighth Air Force, engaged in escort work until April 1944 to cover the operations of bombers that the AAF sent against targets on the Continent. Dive-bombed marshalling yards and airfields during Apr to help prepare for the invasion of Normandy.

Moved to the Continent in Jul and took part in operations that resulted in the Allied breakthrough at St Lo. Continued to fly escort, interdictory, and close-support missions during the Allied drive across France and into Germany, earning four citations before the end of the war. Reassigned to Ninth Air Force in August.

Reassigned to Second Air Force in July 1945 and programmed for deployment to Okinawa to take part in planned invasion of Japan. Equipped with long-range P-47N Thunderbolt and began training until Atomic Bomb attacks ended the Pacific War.

Inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Lineage

• Constituted 365th Fighter Squadron on 20 Dec 1942

Activated on 1 Jan 1943

Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

• Re-designated: 163d Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Indiana ANG, on 24 May 1946

Extended federal recognition on 9 December 1946

Federalized and ordered to active service on: 10 February 1951

Re-designated: 163d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 10 February 1951

Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 1 November 1952

Re-designated: 163d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1 July 1954

Re-designated: 163d 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: 163d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1 September 1962

Re-designated: 163d Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992

Assignments

• 358th Fighter Group, 1 January 1943 – 7 November 1945
• 122d Fighter Group, 9 December 1946
• 122d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 10 February 1951
• 31st Air Division, Air Defense Command, 6 February 1952
• 122d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 November 1952
• 122d Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 July 1954
• 122d Tactical Fighter Wing (Special Delivery), 1 July 1959

Attached to: 7122d Tactical Wing (Special Delivery), 1 October 1961-31 August 1962

• 122d Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 September 1992
• 122d Operations Group, 16 March 1992-Present

Stations

• Richmond Army Air Base, Va, 1 Jan 1943
• Baltimore Army Airfield, Md, 28 Apr 1943
• Millville Army Airfield, NJ, 29 May 1943
• Camp Springs Army Airfield, Md, 3 Jul 1943
• Richmond Army Air Base, Va, 16 Aug – 26 Sep 1943
• RAF Goxhill (AAF-345), England, 20 Oct 1943
• RAF Leiston (AAF-373), England, 3 Dec 1943
• RAF Raydon (AAF-157), England, 2 Feb 1944
• RAF High Halden (AAF-411), England, 13 Apr 1944
• Cretteville Airfield (A-14), France, 3 Jul 1944
• Pontorson Airfield (A-28), France, 14 Aug 1944
• Vitry-En-Artois Airfield (A-67), France, c. 15 Sep 1944

Operated from St-Dizier Airfield (A-64), France, 12-17 Oct 1944

• Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield (A-80), France, c. 17 Oct 1944
• Toul-Croix De Metz Airfield (A-90), France, c. 20 Nov 1944
• Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield (Y-79), Germany, 7 Apr 1945
• Reims, France, c. 23 Jun – 10 Jul 1945
• La Junta Army Air Field, Colo, c. 4 Aug – 7 Nov 1945
• Stout Field, Indianapolis, Indiana, 9 December 1946

Operated from: Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa, 1 May 1951-1 November 1952

• Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1 July 1954

Designated: Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, 1991-Present

Aircraft

• P-40 Warhawk, 1943
• P-47D/N Thunderbolt, 1943-1945
• F-51D Mustang, 1946-1951
• F-51H Mustang, 1951-1954
• F-80C Shooting Star, 1954-1956
• F-86A Sabre, 1956-1958
• F-84F Thunderstreak, 1958-1962; 1964-1971

• RF-84F Thunderstreak, 1962-1964
• F-100D/F Super Sabre, 1971-1979
• F-4C Phantom II, 1979-1986
• F-4E Phantom II, 1986-1991
• Block 25 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1991-2006
• Block 30 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 2006-2010
• A-10 Thunderbolt II, 2010-Present

References

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

• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.