The 168th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the
Alaska Air National Guard
The Alaska Air National Guard (AK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Alaska, United States of America. It is, along with the Alaska Army National Guard, an element of the Alaska National Guard.
As state military units, the units in th ...
168th Air Refueling Wing located at
Eielson Air Force Base
Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and redes ...
, Fairbanks, Alaska. The 168th is equipped with the
KC-135R Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport ...
.
History
World War II
Activated in mid-1942 as a
B-26 Marauder medium bombardment group. Trained under
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in ...
in Louisiana; reassigned to the
European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned initially to
VIII Air Support Command
The VIII Air Support Command is a disbanded United States Army Air Forces unit. It was assigned to Eighth Air Force throughout its existence, and it was last stationed at Sunninghill Park, England, where it was disbanded on 1 December 1943.
V ...
in England in September 1942. Flew several missions over France and
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
from its base in England during October, then being reassigned to the new
Twelfth Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to ...
in Algeria.
During the
North African campaign, engaged in tactical bomb strikes of enemy targets, primarily in eastern
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
and
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
, including railroads, airfields, harbor installations, and
enemy
An enemy or a foe is an individual or a group that is considered as forcefully adverse or threatening. The concept of an enemy has been observed to be "basic for both individuals and communities". The term "enemy" serves the social function of d ...
shipping along the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa ...
Coast.
Squadron returned to
French Morocco in March 1943, then returned to combat in June 1943, attacking enemy targets on Italian island in the Mediterranean, including
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
,
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...
, and
Pantelleria
Pantelleria (; Sicilian: ''Pantiddirìa'', Maltese: ''Pantellerija'' or ''Qawsra''), the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of the Tunisi ...
. From bases in Algeria and Tunisia, the group supported the
Allied invasion of Italy, bombing bridges and
marshalling yards
A classification yard (American and Canadian English (Canadian National Railway use)), marshalling yard ( British, Hong Kong, Indian, Australian, and Canadian English (Canadian Pacific Railway use)) or shunting yard (Central Europe) is a railway ...
during the late summer and early autumn of 1943.
In November, it moved to Sardinia, to strike Axis targets in central Italy. Early in 1944, the squadron supported Allied ground forces as they advanced in the
Cassino and
Anzio
Anzio (, also , ) is a town and ''comune'' on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.
Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands ...
areas. Later in the year, the group attacked German supply lines in northern Italy, bombing bridges, marshalling yards, and roads. During the summer, it bombed bridges over the
Po River in northern Italy to block the stream of German supplies and reinforcements going southward. Supported the
invasion of southern France in August 1944 by attacking coastal
batteries, radar stations, and bridges. From Corsica, it hit railroad bridges in Northern Italy and late in the year attacked railroad lines through the
Brenner Pass that connected Germany and Austria with Italy.
In January 1945, the squadron returned to the United States, where it began to train with A-26 aircraft for operations in the
Pacific Theater. Between May and July 1945, moved by ship to
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
, and on 16 July flew its first mission against Japan. From then until the end of the fighting in early August, the squadron attacked enemy targets such as airfields and industrial centers on
Kyūshū and occupied Shanghai area of China, and shipping around the
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan: the Ōsumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima Islands (further divided into the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands), with Yona ...
and in the
East China Sea. In November and December 1945, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
Illinois Air National Guard
The wartime 437th Bombardment Squadron was re-designated as the 168th Bombardment Squadron, and was allotted to the
Illinois Air National Guard
The Illinois Air National Guard (IL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Illinois, United States of America. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard.
As state militia units, the units ...
, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at
Orchard Place Airport, Chicago, Illinois, and was extended federal recognition on 19 October 1947 by the
National Guard Bureau. The 168th Bombardment Squadron was bestowed the lineage, history, honors, and colors of the 437th Bombardment Squadron and all predecessor units. The squadron was equipped with
B-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Col ...
s and was assigned to the Illinois ANG
126th Bombardment Group
The 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Comman ...
, operationally gained by
Tactical Air Command.
Korean War activation
On 1 April 1951 the 168th was federalized and brought to active-duty due to the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
. It was initially assigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC), and moved to
Langley AFB
Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1 ...
, Virginia. At Langley, the 168th Bombardment Squadron was assigned to the federalized 126th Bombardment Group, equipped with B-26 Invaders. The 126th Bomb Group consisted of the 168th, along with the
108th and the
168th Bombardment Squadrons from the Illinois ANG. The aircraft were marked by various color bands on the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Black/Yellow/Blue for the 108th; Black/Yellow/Red for the 168th, and Black/Yellow/Green for the 180th.
After training and organization, the 126th Bombardment Wing was reassigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe and deployed to
Bordeaux-Merignac Air Base, France with the first elements arriving in November 1951. By 10 November, Bordeaux was considered an operational base and was assigned to the
12th Air Force. It flew B-26's for training and maneuvers and stayed at Bordeaux AB until being transferred
Laon-Couvron Air Base, France on 25 May 1952.
At Laon, the 126th used its B-26's for training and maneuvers until December until being relieved from active duty and transferred, without personnel and equipment, back to the United States where the unit was returned to the control of the Air National Guard on 1 January 1953.
Cold War inactivation
After returning from France, was re-equipped with
F-51D Mustang
Over twenty variants of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter were produced from 1940, when it first flew, to after World War II, some of which were employed also in the Korean War and in several other conflicts.
Allison-engined Mustangs
NA ...
s due to the limited availability of jets which were being used by the USAF in the Korean War. In early 1955, was upgraded to new
F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version. ...
jet fighters.
The squadron was ordered inactivated 31 May 1958 due to budget restrictions.
Alaska Air National Guard
In 1986 the 168th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was transferred from the Illinois ANG to the
Alaska Air National Guard
The Alaska Air National Guard (AK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Alaska, United States of America. It is, along with the Alaska Army National Guard, an element of the Alaska National Guard.
As state military units, the units in th ...
. It was re-designated as the 168th Air Refueling Squadron, extended federal recognition and reactivated on 1 October 1986. The lineage, history and honors of the 168th FIS and all previous designations were bestowed on the 168th ARS.
The reactivated squadron was assigned to the Alaska ANG
176th Composite Group
The 176th Wing (176 WG) is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Anchorage, Alaska. If activated to federal service, components of the Wing are gained by several United States Air Force Maj ...
at Elmendorf AFB. The 168th would operate as a geographically separated unit (GSU), at
Eielson Air Force Base
Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and redes ...
, Fairbanks. It was equipped with
KC-135E Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport ...
s and assumed an air refueling mission. The first commanding officer of the squadron was Ltc. William "Doug" Clinton. The first rendezvous and refueling of the squadron occurred just weeks after the arrival of the first aircraft. The pilot in command was Ltc. Tom Gresch and the navigator conducting the rendezvous was Capt. Michael R. Stack, formerly of the 126th Air Refueling Wing,
Illinois Air National Guard
The Illinois Air National Guard (IL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Illinois, United States of America. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard.
As state militia units, the units ...
. For the next four years the squadron would provide air refueling support for the
6th Strategic Wing and all other tactical and strategic units in Alaska and
PACAF
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
. In addition, because of Alaska's strategic geographical location, the 168th supported air refueling operations for
USAFE.
On 1 July 1990, the 168th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 168th Air Refueling Group established by the National Guard Bureau. The 168th AREFS becoming the group's flying squadron. It also changed equipment to the
KC-135D Stratotanker. Shortly afterward, on 9 August,
Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command (AAC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command originally established in 1942 under the United States Army Air Forces. Its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise dire ...
was inactivated and the group came under
Eleventh Air Force,
Pacific Air Forces
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
.
In 1992, the 168th Group was changed in status to a wing, the 168th Air Refueling Squadron being assigned to the new 168th Operations Group. In January 1994 and again in January 1996, the 168 ARW received the
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and was the first independent Air Force d ...
for exceptionally meritorious service both in the Alaskan and Southwest Asian theaters for the periods of 8 January 1991 to 7 January 1993 and 8 January 1993 to June 1995
Lineage
* Constituted as the 437th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
: Activated on 26 June 1942
: Redesignated 437th Bombardment Squadron, Mediumm, c. 1944
: Redesignated 437th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 February 1945
: Inactivated on 4 January 1946
* Redesignated 168th Bombardment Squadron'['', Light and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946
: Activated on 21 August 1947
: Extended federal recognition on 19 October 1947
: Federalized and ordered to active service on 1 April 1951
: Released from active service, returned to state control and redesignated 168th Fighter-Bomber Squadronon 1 January 1953
: Activated c. 1 May 1953
: Redesignated 168th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 July 1955
: Inactivated on 31 May 1958
* Withdrawn from the Illinois Air National Guard and allotted to the Alaska Air National Guard, 1986
: Redesignated 168th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1986
: Activated and extended federal recognition on 25 October 1986
: Redesignated 168th Air Refueling Squadron on 15 March 1992
Assignments
* 319th Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942
* VII Bomber Command, 18 December 1945 – 4 January 1946
*
126th Bombardment Group
The 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Comman ...
(later 126th Composite Group, 126th Bombardment Group), 19 October 1947 – 1 January 1953
* 126th Fighter Bomber Group (later 126th Fighter Interceptor Group), 1 January 1953 – 31 May 1958
* Alaska Air National Guard, 1 October 1986
[
* ]176th Composite Group
The 176th Wing (176 WG) is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Anchorage, Alaska. If activated to federal service, components of the Wing are gained by several United States Air Force Maj ...
, 25 October 1986
* 168th Air Refueling Group, 1 July 1990
* 168th Operations Group, 1 June 1992 – present
Stations
* Barksdale Field Barksdale may refer to:
Places
* Barksdale, Mississippi, an unincorporated community
* Barksdale, Texas, an unincorporated community
* Barksdale, Wisconsin, a town
** Barksdale (community), Wisconsin, an unincorporated community
*Barksdale Air Forc ...
, Louisiana, 26 June 1942
* Harding Field, Louisiana, 8–27 August 1942
* RAF Shipdham (USAAF Station 115), England, 12 September 1942
* RAF Horsham St Faith
RAF Horsham St Faith is a former Royal Air Force station near Norwich, Norfolk, England which was operational from 1939 to 1963. It was then developed as Norwich International Airport.
RAF Bomber Command use
The airfield was first developed ...
(USAAF Station 123), England, c. 4 October 1942
* Saint-Leu Airfield
Saint-Leu Airfield was a military airfield in Algeria, near the city of Bettioua, about 45 km northeast of Oran.
During World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force 319th Bombardment Group during the Nor ...
, Algeria, c. 11 November 1942
* Oran Tafaraoui Airport
Oran Tafaraoui Airport is a joint civil/military airport in Oran Province, Algeria .
History
During World War II, it was a primary mission objective of the United States Army 34th Infantry Division during the Allied Operation Torch landings on 8 ...
, Algeria, 18 November 1942
* Maison Blanche Airport
Houari Boumediene International Airport ( ar, مطار هواري بومدين الدولي, Maṭār Hawwārī Būmadyan al-Duwaliyy) , also known as Algiers Airport or Algiers International Airport, is the main international airport serving A ...
, Algeria, 24 November 1942
* Telergma Airfield, Algeria, c. 12 December 1942
* Oujda Airfield
Oujda Angads Airport () is an airport serving Oujda, a city in the Oriental region in Morocco. it is located about north of Oujda and about northeast of Casablanca, near the Algerian border.
History
During World War II, the airport was used ...
, French Morocco, 3 March 1943
* Rabat-Salé Airport
Rabat (, also , ; ar, الرِّبَاط, er-Ribât; ber, ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ, ṛṛbaṭ) is the capital city of Morocco and the country's seventh largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan populati ...
, French Morocco, 25 April 1943
* Sedrata Airfield
Ain Beida Airport (french: Aéroport de Ouargla / Ain Beida) , also known as Ouargla Airport, is an airport serving Ouargla, a city in the Ouargla Province of eastern Algeria. It is located southeast of the city. The airport is in the Sahara Dese ...
, Algeria, 1 June 1943
* Djedeida Airfield, Tunisia, 26 June 1943
* Decimomannu Airfield, Sardinia, c. 1 November 1943
* Serragia Airfield, Corsica, c. 21 September 1944 – 1 January 1945
* Bradley Field, Connecticut, 25 January 1945
* Columbia Army Air Base
Columbia Army Air Base was a World War II United States Army Air Forces base. It was primarily used for advanced combat training of B-25 Mitchell medium bomber units and replacement pilots.
It was used as a training base in early 1942 for Doo ...
, South Carolina, c. 28 February–27 April 1945
* Kadena Airfield
(IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a highly strategic United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its hi ...
, Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
, c. 2 July 1945
* Machinato-Naha Airfield, Okinawa, 21 July–21 November 1945
* Fort Lawton
Fort Lawton was a United States Army post located in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, Washington overlooking Puget Sound. In 1973 a large majority of the property, 534 acres of Fort Lawton, was given to the city of Seattle and dedicated as ...
, Washington, 17–18 December 1945
* Orchard Place Airport (Later O’Hare IAP), Illinois, 19 October 1947
* Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, c. 25 July 1951 – c. 19 November 1951
* Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base, France, November 1951
* Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, c. 25 May 1952 – 1 January 1953
* O’Hare IAP, Illinois, c. 1 May 1953 – 31 May 1958
* Eielson Air Force Base
Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and redes ...
, Alaska, 1 October 1986 – present[
]
Aircraft
* B-26 Marauder, 1942–1944
* B-25 Mitchell, 1944–1945
* A-26 Invader, 1945–1946
* B-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Col ...
, 1947–1954
* F-51D Mustang
Over twenty variants of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter were produced from 1940, when it first flew, to after World War II, some of which were employed also in the Korean War and in several other conflicts.
Allison-engined Mustangs
NA ...
, 1953–1955
* F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version. ...
, 1955–1957
* F-86L Sabre Interceptor
The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog",) was an American transonic jet fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor ...
, 1957–1958
* KC-135E Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport ...
, 1986–1990
* KC-135D Stratotanker, 1990–1995
* KC-135R Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport ...
, 1995 – present
Operations and Decorations
* Combat Operations: World War II
* Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Ryukyus; China Offensive. Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; Ryukyus
* Decorations:
: Distinguished Unit Citations: Rome, Italy, 3 Mar 1944; Florence, Italy, 11 Mar 1944
: French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Apr, May and Jun 1944.
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
*
*
External links
168th Air Refueling Wing
(official site)
Eielson Air Force Base
{{USAF air refueling units
Squadrons of the United States Air National Guard
Military units and formations in Alaska
Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force