113th Air Support Operations Squadron
113th Air Support Operations Squadron | |
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Terre Haute Air National Guard Base, Indiana | |
Nickname(s) | Racers |
Insignia | |
113th Air Support Operations Squadron emblem | ![]() |
113th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (approved 5 January 1954)[1] | ![]() |
113th Observation Squadron emblem[2] | ![]() |
Tail Codes | HF (1979–1991) TH (1991–2008) |
The 113th Air Support Operations Squadron is a unit of the
The squadron is a descendant organization of the
History
Unit was formed as 113th Aero Squadron in August 1917 at
Indiana National Guard
Re-formed and its honors and lineage was combined (in 1936) with those of the 137th Squadron, Indiana NG, which had activated at Fagley Field, Indiana during August 1921 (equipped with Curtiss Jennies). Redesignated the 113th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923, the unit relocated to Schoen Field and then Stout Field (formerly Mars Hill), Indianapolis in October 1926.
The squadron, or elements thereof, called up to perform the following state duties: aerial surveillance of labor troubles in Vanderburg and Warwick Counties 22 February-23 March 1926; flood relief duties at Hazelton-Vincennes, IN, during the Wabash River flood 15–21 January 1930; aerial mapping survey of the state of Indiana in 1930; aerial surveillance of labor troubles during a coal miners' strike at the Dixie Bee Mine August–October 1932; flood relief efforts along the Ohio River in southern Indiana during January–February 1937. Supported the training of the 7th Cavalry Brigade at various times 1934–36. Conducted summer training at Wright Field, OH, or Godman Field, 1922–40.
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
Indiana Air National Guard
The wartime 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then redesignated as the 113th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the
The 113th and the 163rd Fighter Squadron at
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 federalized on 10 February 1951.
The 113th initially remained at
On 1 May the 113th FIS was dispersed to
Air Defense mission
The unit was re-formed at
However, the facilities at Stout Field were inadequate for jet interceptor fighters and as a result the squadron was moved to
Tactical Fighters
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_2_F-84Fs_Vietnam_Camoflauge.jpg/220px-113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_2_F-84Fs_Vietnam_Camoflauge.jpg)
In July 1959, the 113th was designated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron (Special Delivery), with a mission of the delivery of
1961 Berlin crisis
On 1 October 1961 the 113th and the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing was federalized and ordered to active service as part of Operation Tack Hammer, the United States response to the
On 6 November, twenty-six
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 163rd 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
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 163rd 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 discontinued with its F-84F aircraft being turned over to the new
Tactical Air Command
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_North_American_F-100D-75-NA_Super_Sabre_56-3198.jpg/220px-113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_North_American_F-100D-75-NA_Super_Sabre_56-3198.jpg)
After the Berlin 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
On 1 October 1962, the 113th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the
Re-equipped with F-84Fs, in 1965, the 181st TFG deployed to
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_McDonnell_F-4C-20-MC_Phantom_63-7607.jpg/220px-113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_McDonnell_F-4C-20-MC_Phantom_63-7607.jpg)
The F-84F remained with the 181st until December 1971, when they were retired to AMARC and replaced by North American
In the summer of 1979 the unit had begun conversion to the
Air Combat Command
Beginning in April 1991 the unit started its conversion to ex
In 1992, the unit designation changed to 113th Fighter Squadron, 181st Fighter Group (15 March 1992) and in June its gaining command changed from Tactical Air Command to Air Combat Command (1 June 1992). On 1 October 1995 the 181st Fighter Group was changed in status to a Wing, this being part of the Air Force's One-Base, One-Wing requirement.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_25E_Fighting_Falcon_84-1313.jpg/220px-113th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_25E_Fighting_Falcon_84-1313.jpg)
In mid-1996, the Air Force, in response to budget cuts, and changing world situations, began experimenting with Air Expeditionary organizations. The Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) concept was developed that would mix Active-Duty, Reserve and Air National Guard elements into a combined force. Instead of entire permanent units deploying as "Provisional" as in the 1991 Gulf War, Expeditionary units are composed of "aviation packages" from several wings, including active-duty Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard, would be married together to carry out the assigned deployment rotation.
Since equipping with F-16s the Racers (The 113th's nickname coming from the proximity of Terre Haute to the
The 113th swapped their Block 25 F-16C/Ds for Block 30s in July/August 1995 and flew those aircraft until 2008. The units vipers were equipped with the
Global war on terrorism
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/113th_Fighter_Squadron_-_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_30C_Fighting_Falcon_86-0261.jpg/220px-113th_Fighter_Squadron_-_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_30C_Fighting_Falcon_86-0261.jpg)
On 11 September 2001, the 181st Fighter Wing wasted no time in joining the War on Terrorism as it responded after the attack on the
The 181st Fighter Wing drastically increased its operations tempo during the early 2000s to guard America's skies and protect freedom. The 181st deployed members and equipment to 19 countries to simultaneously support seven different military operations, including:
Air support operations
In 2005, the
A realignment was directed with two new Air Force missions: a Distributive Ground Station (DGS) and an Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS). On 3 May 2008 the 181st Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 181st Intelligence Wing.
The DGS is an intelligence based mission, monitoring near real time video feed from Predators, Global Hawks and other unmanned aerial vehicles hovering the skies over any military area of operation. The servicemembers will process, exploit, and disseminate the video feed, providing actionable intelligence to the ground commanders and war-fighting forces.
The ASOS will bring unity to joint forces fighting in the
Lineage
- 113th Aero Squadron
- Organized as the 113th Aero Squadron on 26 August 1917
- Redesignated: 634th Aero Squadron (Supply) on 1 February 1918
- Demobilized on 31 March 1919
- Reconstituted on 20 October 1936 and consolidated with the 113th Observation Squadron as the 113th Observation Squadron[1][4]
- 113th Air Support Operations Squadron
- Constituted in the National Guard on 25 August 1921 as the 137th Squadron (Observation)
- Organized on 1 August 1921[note 2]
- Redesignated 113th Squadron (Observation)[4] on 3 January 1923
- Redesignated 113th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923
- Consolidated with the 634th Aero Squadron on 20 October 1936[4]
- Redesignated: 113th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942
- Redesignated: 113th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Redesignated: 113th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943
- Redesignated: 113th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 15 June 1943
- Redesignated: 113th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943
- Disbanded on 30 November 1943
- Reconstituted on 21 June 1945
- Redesignated 113th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946[5]
- Extended federal recognition on 9 December 1946
- Federalized and ordered to active service on 10 February 1951[6]
- Redesignated 113th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 February 1951
- Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control on 1 November 1952[6]
- Redesignated 113th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated c. 1 February 1953
- Redesignated 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Special Delivery) on 1 July 1959
- Federalized and ordered to active service on 1 October 1961
- Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control on 31 August 1962
- Redesignated 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 September 1962
- Redesignated: 113th Fighter Squadron on 15 March 1992
- Redesignated: 113th Air Support Operations Squadron on 3 May 2008
Assignments
- Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 26 August – 15 September 1917
- Aviation General Supply Depot, 15 September 1917 – 31 March 1919
- 333d Observation Group, 1 August 1921[4]
- 38th Division Air Service (later 38th Division Aviation), 3 January 1923[7]
- Indiana National Guard (attached to the 38th Division), 15 February 1929
- 45th Observation Group, 1 October 1933 – November 1940[4]
- V Corps, 30 December 1940[1]
- 66th Observation Group, 12 December 1941 – 20 January 1942)[1]
- 77th Observation Group (later 77th Reconnaissance Group, 77th Tactical Reconnaissance Group), 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943[1]
- 122d Fighter Group (later 122d Fighter-Interceptor Group), 9 December 1946[6]
- 4706th Defense Wing, 6 February 1952[6]
- 33d Air Division, 1 April 1952[6]
- 122d Fighter-Bomber Group (later 122d Tactical Fighter Group), c. 1 February 1953
- 122d Tactical Fighter Wing(attached to 7122d Tactical Wing until 31 August 1962), 1 October 1961
- 181st Tactical Fighter Group(later 181st Fighter Group), 1 October 1962
- 181st Operations Group, 1 October 1995
- 181st Intelligence Wing, 3 May 2008 – present
Stations
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Aircraft
- Curtiss JN-6during period 1921–1933
- Curtiss JNS-1 during period 1921–1933
- Consolidated PT-1 Trusty during period 1921–1933
- Douglas BT-1during period 1921–1933
- Douglas O-2 during period 1921–1933
- Curtiss O-11during period 1921–1933
- Consolidated O-17 Courier during period 1921–1933
- Douglas O-38B, C. 1932–1941
- North American O-47, C. 1938–1942
- Stinson O-49 Vigilant, 1941–1942
- Curtiss O-52 Owl, 1941–1942
- Piper L-4 Grasshopper, 1942
- Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1943[5]
- North American P-51D Mustang(later F-51), 1946–1951
- North American F-51H Mustang, 1951–1954[6]
- Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star, 1954–1956
- North American F-86A Sabre, 1956–1958
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 1958–1962; 1964–1971
- Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, 1962–1964
- North American F-100D Super Sabre, 1971–1979
- North American F-100F Super Sabre, 1971–1979
- McDonnell F-4C Phantom II, 1979–1987
- McDonnell F-4E Phantom II, 1987–1991
- General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon, 1991–2007
- General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon, 1991–2007
See also
- List of American aero squadrons
- List of observation squadrons of the United States Army National Guard
References
- Notes
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 343–344
- ^ Hubbard, p. 720
- ^ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War[page needed]
- ^ a b c d e f Clay, p. 1446
- ^ a b c Lineage, including stations and aircraft, through 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 343–344, except as noted
- ^ a b c d e f g Cornett & Johnson, p. 122
- ^ Clay, p. 1227
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 – 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919–1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- Hubbard, Gerard (June 1943). "Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth". Vol. LXXXIII (No. 6) National Geographic, pp. 710–722
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- McLaren, David. Republic F-84 Thunderjet, Thunderstreak & Thunderflash: A Photo Chronicle. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1998. ISBN 0-7643-0444-5.
- McLaren, David (2004), Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star: A Photo Chronicle, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; First Edition, ISBN 0887409075
- Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
- Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War. Vol. 3, Part 3, Zone of the Interior- Directory of Troops (Reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. 1983 [1933]. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.