174th Air Refueling Squadron: Difference between revisions

174th Air Refueling Squadron
174th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem
Active	1943-Present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	Iowa Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Sioux Gateway Airport
Nickname(s)	Bats

The 174th Air Refueling Squadron (174th ARS) is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard 185th Air Refueling Wing. It is assigned to Sioux City Air National Guard Base, Iowa and is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

see 401st Fighter Squadron for full World War II history

Established on 27 April 1943 at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, as the 386th Fighter Squadron, equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), and assigned to Ninth Air Force in England. Engaged in combat operations until May 1945. Returned to the United States during September 1945 and was inactivated.

Was transferred to the new Iowa Air National Guard in May 1946 and became a P-51D Mustang squadron, recieving federal recognition on 23 August 1946, one of the first Air National Guard squadrons activated. Assigned to the Sioux Gateway Regional Airport, a former training field during World War II used to train B-17 Flying Fortress aircrews. Was assigned to the Iowa ANG 132d Fighter Wing, which consisted of the 124th, along with the 123d Fighter Squadron at Des Moines, and the Nebraska ANG 173d Fighter Squadron at Lincoln, Nebraska. The initial component of the unit included 9 rated officers, 7 non-rated officers, and 46 enlisted members for a total of 62 members. Today, the 185th consists of nearly 1,000 traditional and full-time military members as well as over 300 air technicians and state contract employees. Engaged in routine training exercises, and was upgraded to F-84B Thunderjet jet aircraft in early 1948.

The squadron was called to active duty on April 1, 1951 for service during the Korean conflict and moved to Dow AFB, Bangor, Maine. Most jet pilots transferred to USAF units in Europe and the Far East and the squadron was re-equipped with the F-51D. The unit finished their tour and was transferred back to state control on December 31, 1952. In July 1953, the unit converted from the F-51D to the Lockheed F-80C “Shooting Star.”

In 1955, the 174th FS was re-designated the 174th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and was transitioned to the F-84E “Thunderstreak.” As a component of the 132nd Fighter Interceptor Wing, the unit won the ANG Gunnery Meet. They also placed third in the USAF Fighter Weapons meet that year. For their accomplishments, the 174th was awarded the Spaatz Trophy as the most outstanding Air National Guard squadron in the nation in 1956. The accolades did not stop there as the unit also was awarded the Wing Flying Safety trophy that year as well.

In 1958, the unit changed aircraft and its primary mission, becoming the 174th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and flying the RF84F “Thunderflash.” As a reconnaissance unit, the 174th was awarded the top “Operational Readiness Reconnaissance Unit” in the nation in 1960. In 1961, the unit was re-designated the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron and converted to flying the F-100C “Super Sabre.”

On October 1, 1962, the unit was reorganized and re-designated as the 185th Tactical Fighter Group, nearly doubling the authorized personnel to over 800 officers and airmen. This era would also mark the longest continuous period of flying one aircraft. The 185th flew the F-100 from 1961 until 1977, a period of 16 years.

On January 26, 1968, the 185th was recalled to active Federal service as a result of the “Pueblo Crisis.” The 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 185th, augmented by many of the other personnel from the Group, deployed with their F-100s to Phu Cat, Vietnam on May 11, 1968. During the course of the next 90 days, the balance of the 185th was deployed to six military bases in Korea and several others within the continental United States.

During their year in Vietnam, the 174th flew 6,539 combat sorties totaling 11,359 hours of combat time. One pilot was killed in action and two airmen were killed on active duty. The unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air Force Outstanding Unit award. Individually, its members were awarded 12 silver stars, 35 distinguished flying crosses, 30 bronze stars, 115 commendation medals, 325 air medals, and 1 purple heart. On May 28, 1969 the personnel and aircraft recalled with the 185th were returned to Sioux City and released from active duty. In addition, the 174th Fighter Squadron won the Outstanding Unit award with a designation of valor.

Vietnam also spawned our nickname “The Bats”. The “Bat” depicted on the tails of the aircraft and the shoulder patch of the pilots became a legendary symbol of the 185th when the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron was called to active duty in Vietnam. “Bat” was the call sign of the 174th, and the “Bats” became renowned for their outstanding performance. Day or night, the members of the 174th could be counted on to do the job.

The 185th converted to the A-7D “Corsair” in 1977. While flying the A-7s, the unit won the Spaatz trophy for the second time in 1990, recognizing them as the best Air Guard unit in the country. The Unit also was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit award five times – 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, and 1991. In addition, the 185th Logistics Group is a two-time winner of the Daedalian Trophy which recognizes the best maintenance team in the ANG. In 1989, the unit won the 12th Air Force A-7 gunnery meet for the second time, and the 185th received the Gunsmoke A-7 Maintenance Team Award for its aircraft.

National attention focused on the unit in 1989 when United Airlines Flight 232, flown by a crew led by Captain Al Haynes, was forced to crash land at the Sioux City Airport. With its key role in the crash recovery and rescue of survivors in the crash, the 185th was credited with helping save numerous lives and showed the nation the true heart of Siouxland and the unit.

On December 19, 1991, the 185th received its first F-16s. The 185th Tactical Fighter Group was re-designated the 185th Fighter Group on March 16, 1992, and was rated operational on April 15th of that year. As the Air Guard standardized its structure, the 185th was designated the 185th Fighter Wing. The F-16 “Fighting Falcon” would be the last single-seat fighter jet that the unit would fly before the conversion to KC135 tankers in 2003.

The 185th continues to be an award-winning unit. In 1994, the unit picked up the Winston P. Wilson Award as well as the Air Force Association Outstanding Air National Guard Unit Award. In 1999, Congress appropriated $6.5 million dollars for the Air National Guard Aircraft Paint Facility located on base. The facility at the 185th has become top-notch, reflecting the quality of work that has been synonymous with the unit for over 50 years.

Beginning with our active duty foundation during World War II, the involvement in Korea and Vietnam, and our present day missions, which include Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 185th has always had a history of stepping up to the task. With deployments to Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Curacao, Belgium, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Denmark, Iraq, England, Italy, Germany, and within the United States, the 185th has consistently been the tip of the sword, leading the way.

Following Desert Storm, the 185th combined forces with the 114th FW Sioux Falls, SD, and the 140th FW Denver, CO, during Operation Provide Comfort in Incirlik, Turkey to provide the necessary relief for active duty forces during Christmas of 1994. This first ever rainbow deployment was so successful it marked the beginning of the transformation of the Air Force to the Expeditionary Air Force with 10 Air Expeditionary Wings.

As we vault into the twenty-first century, the 185th will be converting to a different type of aircraft. For the first time in its 56-year history, the unit will not be flying single seat fighter jets, but will be flying KC-135 refueling tankers. The 185th embraces the challenge of an exciting new role. As an award-winning unit over half a century old, the 185th Air Refueling Wing will continue to reflect the excellence of our past as we perform new real-world missions.

• Constituted 386th Fighter Squadron on 27 Apr 1943

Activated on 15 May 1943

Inactivated on 22 Sep 1945

• Re-designated 174th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Iowa Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.

Extended Federal recognition on 23 Aug 1946

Ordered into active service on 1 April 1951

Re-designated: 174th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in June 1952

Relieved from active duty and returned to Iowa ANG, on 1 Jan 1953

Re-designated: 174th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 1 July 1955

Re-designated: 174th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 1 July 1958

Re-designated: 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron 1 July 1961

Ordered into active service, 26 Jan 1968

Relieved from active duty and returned to Iowa ANG, on 28 May 1969

Re-designated: 174th Fighter Squadron, 18 March 1992

• 365th Fighter Group, 15 May 1943-22 September 1945
• 132d Fighter Group, 23 Aug 1946
• 132d Fighter-Bomber Group, on 1 Jan 1953
• 132d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 July 1958
• 185th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 October 1962
• 37th Tactical Fighter Wing 14 May 1968 - 11 May 1969
• 185th Tactical Fighter Group, 12 May 1969
• 185th Operations Group, 18 March 1992

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

• History and Lineage 185th Air Refueling Wing]

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