132nd Air Refueling Squadron: Difference between revisions
→History: edited and expanded |
|||
| Line 79: | Line 79: | ||
However, as a result of using wartime aircraft, parts were no problem and many of the maintenance personnel were World War II veterans, so readiness was quite high and the planes were often much better maintained than their USAF counterparts. In some ways, the postwar 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, the unit also had regular military exercises that kept up proficiency, and in gunnery and bombing contests they would often score at least as well or better than active-duty USAF units, given the fact that most ANG pilots were World War II combat veterans. |
However, as a result of using wartime aircraft, parts were no problem and many of the maintenance personnel were World War II veterans, so readiness was quite high and the planes were often much better maintained than their USAF counterparts. In some ways, the postwar 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, the unit also had regular military exercises that kept up proficiency, and in gunnery and bombing contests they would often score at least as well or better than active-duty USAF units, given the fact that most ANG pilots were World War II combat veterans. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
On 1 December 1947, under the command of First Air Force and Air Defense Command of the U.S. Army Air Force, the entire 101st Fighter Group was transferred to the [[Continental Air Command]] (CONAC) shortly after the U.S. Air Force was established on 18 September 1947 as a separate branch of the Armed Forces. |
On 1 December 1947, under the command of First Air Force and Air Defense Command of the U.S. Army Air Force, the entire 101st Fighter Group was transferred to the [[Continental Air Command]] (CONAC) shortly after the U.S. Air Force was established on 18 September 1947 as a separate branch of the Armed Forces. |
||
====Korean War federalization==== |
|||
The 132d replaced their F-47 Thunderbolts with jet F-80C Shooting Stars in the summer of 1948, and were re-designated with the "Jet Propelled" suffix on 1 August. With the surprise invasion of [[South Korea]] on 25 June 1950, and the regular military's complete lack of readiness, most of the Air National Guard was federalized placed on active duty. The 132d was federalized on 10 February 1951 along with its parent 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, later expanded to Wing status by Air Defense Command. |
The 132d replaced their F-47 Thunderbolts with jet F-80C Shooting Stars in the summer of 1948, and were re-designated with the "Jet Propelled" suffix on 1 August. With the surprise invasion of [[South Korea]] on 25 June 1950, and the regular military's complete lack of readiness, most of the Air National Guard was federalized placed on active duty. The 132d was federalized on 10 February 1951 along with its parent 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, later expanded to Wing status by Air Defense Command. |
||
On 6 February 1952, the 132d was transferred to the 4711th Defense Wing, Presque Isle AFB, with no change of station or mission. With the pending end of its federalization period, the squadrons F-80C jets were transferred to the active-duty 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, their replacement unit at Dow. It was released from active duty and returned to the control of the State of Maine on 1 November 1952. |
On 6 February 1952, the 132d was transferred to the 4711th Defense Wing, Presque Isle AFB, with no change of station or mission. With the pending end of its federalization period, the squadrons F-80C jets were transferred to the active-duty 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, their replacement unit at Dow. It was released from active duty and returned to the control of the State of Maine on 1 November 1952. |
||
Upon its return to Maine control, the 132d was re-equipped with F-51H Mustang prop-interceptors, however in 1954 the squadron would return to jet interceptors, the F-94A Starfire. The air defense mission for the Maine Air National Guard continued for the next twenty years, the squadron upgrading its aircraft every few years as more modern interceptors were passed down from Air Defense Command as they were replaced by new active-duty aircraft. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Upon its return to Maine control, the 132d was re-equipped with F-51H Mustang prop-interceptors, however in 1954 the squadron would return to jet interceptors, the F-94A Starfire. |
|||
The ADC radar detection stations at Brunswick, Bucks Harbor, Caswell, Charleston and Topsham were ready to make detection and calls for a [[scrambling (military)|scramble]]. Within three minutes the 13sd could be airborne and heading for a prospective rendezvous point. After identifying any intruders, the interceptor aircraft were supposed to radio back to North Truro for further instructions. Beginning in 1955, the squadron stood 24/7/365 runway alert at Dow AFB ready to respond to aircraft not readily identifiable by radar or pre-filed flight plans. |
|||
In 1968 Dow Air Force Base was closed as a result of Air Force-wide downsizing directed by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The closure was in part directed due to the desire by McNamara to reduce the size of the Air Force B-52 fleet, the increasing cost of the Vietnam War and the change to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles as the primary strategic deterrence force. |
|||
With the inactivation of Dow AFB in 1968, most of the base was purchased by the city of Bangor and reopened the following year as Bangor International Airport. That portion of Dow AFB not turned over to the city became the basis for the current Air National Guard Base and the Maine Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility. |
|||
====Air Refueling==== |
|||
===Lineage=== |
===Lineage=== |
||
Revision as of 19:52, 5 December 2012
| 132d Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
 132d Air Refueling Squadron - Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker 63-8872 | |
| Active | 1942-Present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Air Refueling |
| Part of | Maine Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Bangor Air National Guard Base, Bangor, Maine |
| Nickname(s) | Maineiacs |
| Tail Code | A white tailband with black text 'Maine' included. |
| Insignia | |
| 132d Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
The 132d Air Refueling Squadron (132 ARS) is a unit of the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing located at Bangor Air National Guard Base, Bangor, Maine. The 132d is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.
History
World War II
Trained with V-72 Vengeance aircraft. Moved to India, via Australia, July–September 1943. Assigned to Tenth Air Force. Operating from India and using A-36A Apaches. The 528th Fighter Squadron having its markings as black reverse diagonal bands painted on a yellow tail. The red nose was also a squadron marking. Many planes of the squadron had a girl's name on the nose but very few had any artwork.
The squadron supported Allied ground forces in northern Burma; covered bombers that attacked Rangoon, Insein, and other targets; bombed enemy airfields at Myitkyina and Bhamo; and conducted patrol and reconnaissance missions to help protect transport planes that flew The Hump route between India and China.
Converted to P-51C Mustangs in May 1944. Moved to Burma in July and continued to support ground forces, including Merrill's Marauders; also flew numerous sweeps over enemy airfields in central and southern Burma.
Moved to China in August 1944 and assigned to Fourteenth Air Force. Escorted bombers, flew interception missions, struck the enemy's communications, and supported ground operations, serving in combat until the end of the war. Ferried P-51's from India for Chinese Air Force in November 1945. Returned to the US in December 1945.
Inactivated in early 1946.
Maine Air National Guard
The wartime 528th Fighter Squadron was re-designated as the 132d Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Maine Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Dow Army Airfield, Bangor, Maine, and was extended federal recognition on 4 February 1947 by the National Guard Bureau. The 133th was equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts and was initially assigned to the Massachusetts ANG 67th Fighter Wing. It was later assigned to the Maine ANG 101st Fighter Group on 4 April 1947 after the Maine ANG group was recognized and activated.
The postwar era was a time of organization and expansion of the Air National Guard. The units had to be organized, federally recognized, equipped and stationed. The first several years were difficult as units had to contend with worn-out World War II aircraft while the Air Force converted to modern jet fighters. Air Guard units were under-funded and largely left to themselves to conduct training with little assistance and supervision by the Air Force.
However, as a result of using wartime aircraft, parts were no problem and many of the maintenance personnel were World War II veterans, so readiness was quite high and the planes were often much better maintained than their USAF counterparts. In some ways, the postwar 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, the unit also had regular military exercises that kept up proficiency, and in gunnery and bombing contests they would often score at least as well or better than active-duty USAF units, given the fact that most ANG pilots were World War II combat veterans.
Air Defense mission
On 1 December 1947, under the command of First Air Force and Air Defense Command of the U.S. Army Air Force, the entire 101st Fighter Group was transferred to the Continental Air Command (CONAC) shortly after the U.S. Air Force was established on 18 September 1947 as a separate branch of the Armed Forces.
The 132d replaced their F-47 Thunderbolts with jet F-80C Shooting Stars in the summer of 1948, and were re-designated with the "Jet Propelled" suffix on 1 August. With the surprise invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1950, and the regular military's complete lack of readiness, most of the Air National Guard was federalized placed on active duty. The 132d was federalized on 10 February 1951 along with its parent 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, later expanded to Wing status by Air Defense Command.
On 6 February 1952, the 132d was transferred to the 4711th Defense Wing, Presque Isle AFB, with no change of station or mission. With the pending end of its federalization period, the squadrons F-80C jets were transferred to the active-duty 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, their replacement unit at Dow. It was released from active duty and returned to the control of the State of Maine on 1 November 1952.
Upon its return to Maine control, the 132d was re-equipped with F-51H Mustang prop-interceptors, however in 1954 the squadron would return to jet interceptors, the F-94A Starfire. The air defense mission for the Maine Air National Guard continued for the next twenty years, the squadron upgrading its aircraft every few years as more modern interceptors were passed down from Air Defense Command as they were replaced by new active-duty aircraft.
The ADC radar detection stations at Brunswick, Bucks Harbor, Caswell, Charleston and Topsham were ready to make detection and calls for a scramble. Within three minutes the 13sd could be airborne and heading for a prospective rendezvous point. After identifying any intruders, the interceptor aircraft were supposed to radio back to North Truro for further instructions. Beginning in 1955, the squadron stood 24/7/365 runway alert at Dow AFB ready to respond to aircraft not readily identifiable by radar or pre-filed flight plans.
In 1968 Dow Air Force Base was closed as a result of Air Force-wide downsizing directed by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The closure was in part directed due to the desire by McNamara to reduce the size of the Air Force B-52 fleet, the increasing cost of the Vietnam War and the change to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles as the primary strategic deterrence force.
With the inactivation of Dow AFB in 1968, most of the base was purchased by the city of Bangor and reopened the following year as Bangor International Airport. That portion of Dow AFB not turned over to the city became the basis for the current Air National Guard Base and the Maine Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility.
Air Refueling
Lineage
- Constituted 382d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 28 Jan 1942.
- Activated on 2 Mar 1942
- Re-designated: 382d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 Ju1 1942
- Re-designated: 528th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 30 Sep 1943
- Re-designated: 528th Fighter Squadron on 30 May 1944
- Inactivated on 6 Jan 1946
- Re-designated: 132d Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Maine ANG, on 24 May 1946.
- Received federal recognition and activated, 4 February 1947
- Re-designated: 132d Fighter Squadron (Jet), 1 July 1948
- Federalized and ordered to active service on: 10 February 1951
- Released from active duty and returned to Maine state control, 1 November 1952
- Re-designated: 132d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 November 1952
- Re-designated: 132d Air Refueling Squadron, 1 July 1976
- Federalized and ordered to active service on: 12 October 1990
- Released from active duty and returned to Maine state control, 31 March 1991
Assignments
- 311th Bombardment (later Fighter-Bomber; Fighter) Group, 2 Mar 1942-6 Jan 1946
- 67th Fighter Wing, 4 February 1947
- 101st Fighter Group, 4 April 1947
- 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, 10 February 1951
- 4711th Defense Wing, 6 February 1952
- 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 November 1952
- 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 July 1954
- 101st Air Defense Wing, 15 April 1956
- 101st Fighter Group, 1 July 1960
- 101st Air Refueling Wing, 1 July 1976
- 101st Operations Group, 16 March 1992-Present
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
|
|
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.
External links
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |