Illinois Air National Guard 108th Air Refueling Squadron

1 illinois air national guard

1.1 korean war activation
1.2 cold war
1.3 modern era

illinois air national guard

the wartime 108th reconnaissance squadron (special) re-designated 108th bombardment squadron (light), , allocated illinois air national guard on 21 june 1945. organized @ chicago municipal airport, , extended federal recognition on 29 june 1947 national guard bureau. 108th bombardment squadron bestowed history, honors, , colors of wartime 108th , predecessor units. squadron equipped b-26 invader light bombers , assigned illinois ang 126th bombardment group.

korean war activation

108th bombardment squadron - korean war activation formation, 1 april 1951

the unit ordered active service on 1 april 1951 result of korean war. unit assigned tactical air command @ langley afb, virginia. wing moved bordeaux-merignac air base, france first elements arriving in november 1951. 126th bw assigned united states air forces in europe. 10 november, bordeaux considered operational base , assigned 12th air force.

at bordeaux, 126th bw consisted of 108th, 168th , 180th bomb squadrons (light). aircraft marked various color bands on vertical stabilizer , rudder. black/yellow/blue 108th; black/yellow/red 168th, , black/yellow/green 180th. flew b-26 s training , maneuvers , stayed @ bordeaux ab until being transferred laon ab, france on 25 may 1952 remained balance of year.

cold war

108th air refueling squadron kc-97 stratotankers performing aerial refueling of f-100 super sabres during operation ready go , first united states air national guard (ang) non-stop deployment of fighter aircraft europe, 1964

after returning france, re-equipped f-51d mustangs due limited availability of jets being used usaf in korean war. in 1955, upgraded new f-84f thunderstreak jet fighters. in 1957 108th participated in ricks trophy race. in 1958, 126th re-designated 126th air defense group , transferred tac air defense command (adc). adc re-equipped 108th, fighter-interceptor squadron day/nigh/all-weather f-86l sabre interceptor aircraft, , squadron stood 24/7 air defense alert @ o hare iap.

in july 1961, 126th realigned air defense mission becoming first air national guard air refueling group under tactical air command. re-equipped kc-97 stratotankers , began worldwide aerial refueling operations. in 1963, 108th first squadron mid-air refuel elite air force thunderbirds, , in 1964, participated in operation ready go , first united states air national guard (ang) non-stop deployment of fighter aircraft europe.

in 1966 squadron began rotational deployment rhein-main air base in support of operation creek party. provided usafe air refueling capability. creek party deployment rotations lasted until 1976, , on decade 108th saw millions of pounds of jet fuel off-loaded , millions of miles flown, accident free.

in july 1976 kc-97s retired , parent 126th transferred strategic air command, receiving jet kc-135a stratotankers. these aircraft later upgraded e models in 1983 , replaced r models in 2008.

on 19 december 1990, president bush ordered 268 members of 126th air refueling wing, 108th air refueling squadron , elements of 126th consolidated aircraft maintenance squadron federalized active duty during 1991 gulf crisis. during operation desert storm, squadron performed air refueling operations part of 1709th air refueling wing (provisional), stationed @ king abdul aziz air base, jeddah, saudi arabia, until being returned illinois state control on 22 march 1991.

modern era

a 108th air refueling squadron kc-135 refueling navy f-14 tomcat during 1991 gulf war

the 126th arw relocated scott air force base in 1999 chicago s o hare international airport part of recommendations base closure made base realignment , closure commission.

as part of global war on terrorism, 126th air refueling wing has been tasked on several occasions deployment united states air forces central. elements of wing have been assembled , deployed 108th expeditionary air refueling squadron part of aef packages, providing air refueling combat aircraft in operation enduring freedom (oef) , operation iraqi freedom (oif) during 2000s.

in 2005 brac recommendations, dod recommended realign grand forks air force base, north dakota. distribute 319th air refueling wing s kc-135r aircraft 126th air refueling wing (ang), scott afb, il (12 aircraft) , several other institutions. 126th retire 8 kc-135e aircraft. scott receive kc-135r model aircraft replace older, higher maintenance kc-135e models.