136th Airlift Wing

Republic P-47D of the 397th Fighter Squadron

The wing was established in mid-1943 as a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter group, trained under I Fighter Command on Long Island, New York and in Massachusetts before moving to England, arriving in January 1944. The unit began operations with IX Fighter Command on 14 March when the group flew a fighter sweep over the English Channel coast of France. Made strafing and bombing attacks on airfields, rail and highway bridges, trains, vehicles, flak positions, and V-weapon sites to help prepare for the invasion of France.

The group supported the landings in Normandy early in June 1944 and began operations from the Continent later the same month. It also aided in the taking of Cherbourg, participated in the air operations that prepared the way for the Allied breakthrough at St Lo on 25 July, and supported ground forces during their drive across France.

The fighter group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for support operations in the vicinity of Mons, Belgium on 3 September 1944 when the group, dispatching seven missions against the enemy on that day, not only destroyed large numbers of motor transports, horse-drawn vehicles, and troops, but also attacked enemy positions that obstructed the progress of ground forces. The groups continued to support ground forces, participated in the assault against the Siegfried Line, and took part in the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944 – January 1945) by attacking rail lines and trains, marshalling yards, roads and vehicles, armored columns, and gun positions, operating with the Allied forces that pushed across the Rhine and into Germany.

After V-E Day, the groups served with the Army of Occupation, being assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe before being inactivated in Germany on 20 August 1946.

The wartime 368th Fighter Group was re-designated as the 136th Fighter Group and was allotted to the Texas Air National Guard on 21 August 1946. It was initially organized at Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas and was extended federal recognition on 27 January 1947 by the National Guard Bureau. The 136th Fighter Group was bestowed the lineage, history, honors, and colors of the 368th Fighter Group and the group was assigned to the Texas Air National Guard's 63d Fighter Wing.

The 136th Fighter Group initially consisted of the following:

• 111th Fighter Squadron, stationed at Ellington Field, Houston.
• 181st Fighter Squadron, stationed at Love Field, Dallas.
• 182d Fighter Squadron, stationed at Brooks Field, San Antonio.

In addition, the 136th Material Squadron (Maintenance); 136th Combat Support Squadron and 136th Medical Squadron were activated and assigned to the group at Naval Air Station Dallas / Hensley Field as support elements. F-51D Mustangs were assigned to the Fighter Squadrons, and the mission of the unit was the air defense of Texas. In mid-1950 the Texas Air National Guard received its first jet aircraft, when a few F-84B Thunderjets were assigned to the 181st Fighter Squadron in June.

Republic F-84E-15-RE Thunderjet, AF Ser. No. 49-2427, of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing

As a result of the Korean War, the Texas Air National Guard was federalized and placed on active duty status on 10 October 1950, being assigned to Ninth Air Force, Tactical Air Command (TAC). TAC ordered the 136th Fighter Group to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where the unit was re-designated as a Fighter-Bomber unit and its status was changed to a Wing. At Langley, the 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing consisted of the following units:

• 111th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
• 182d Fighter-Bomber Squadron
• 154th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Arkansas ANG).

The Love Field-based 181st was also re-designated as a Fighter-Bomber Squadron, however it remained in Dallas, the squadron taking over the ANG air defense mission for the entire state of Texas. Subsequently, it was re-equipped with the Very Long Range (VLR) F-51H Mustang, which had been developed to escort B-29 Superfortress bombers in the Pacific Theater from the Mariana Islands to the Japanese Home Islands. Its F-84Bs were reassigned as they lacked the range of the Mustangs.

At Langley AFB, the 136th trained with their F-51D Mustangs. Unfortunately losing two 111th FBS pilots in a training accident on 15 December. A third pilot was killed on 27 January 1951 in another accident. In February 1951, the aged F-51Ds that the unit had been flying since its activation in 1947 were replaced by F-84E Thunderjets, and the squadron began transition training on the jet fighter-bomber. Most of the training took place at Langley, although some pilots were sent to Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Maintenance crews, all new to jet aircraft, were trained at Langley and engine specialists were sent to the Allison plant in Indianapolis. Assigned to the Arkansas ANG's 154th FBS at the time was a U.S. Navy exchange pilot, future NASA astronaut LT Walter Schirra (who happened to be the only pilot assigned to the 136th at the time who was a qualified jet pilot).

In May 1951, less than seven months later, the Wing was deployed to Japan, being attached to Far East Air Force and stationed at Itazuke Air Force Base, the first echelon of the 136th arriving on 18 May. The 136th replaced the Strategic Air Command 27th Fighter-Escort Wing, which had deployed to Far East Air Force in the early days of the Korean War. At Itazuke, the squadrons took over the F-84Es of the 27th FEW, which remained in place, its aircraft being reassigned from SAC to Far East Air Force inventory records. On 2 June, the final elements of the 136th arrived in Japan, the National Guardsmen officially relieved the 27th FBW and the SAC airmen departed for the United States. The 136th was the first Air National Guard Wing in history to enter combat.

From Japan the Wing engaged in combat operations over South Korea, however flying in the North Pacific area was a challenge to the wing, losing seven F-84Es in non-combat operations and three in combat. On 26 June, in one of the largest air-to-air battles in Korea, two 182d FBS pilots, Captain Harry Underwood and 1st Lt Arthur Olighter shot down an enemy MiG-15 that broke through an F-86 Sabre escort of four B-29s. Two other 111th FBS pilots, 1st Lt John Morse and John Marlins scored probables in the same encounter. These were the first combat victories by Air National Guard pilots. On 3 July the 136th sent their aircraft to North Korea, attacking FLAK batteries in downtown Pyongyang while other aircraft attacked North Korean airfields.

Airshow display (1964) of four Generations of 136th Airplanes. Shown, KC-97L Stratotanker; North American F-86D-60-NA Sabre, AF Ser. No. 53-1030 (F-86L) now on display at NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX; Lockheed F-80B-1-LO Shooting Star, AF Ser. No. 45-8607; North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, AF Ser. No. 44-73856, sold to private owner

However, the short-legged F-84 had limited combat time over Korea, therefore on 16 November 1951 the Wing moved to Taegu Air Force Base (K-2) in South Korea for its combat operations. In 1952, the 136th was re-equipped with the F-84G Thunderjet, designed for tactical close air support of ground forces.

During its time in combat, the 136th flew 15,515 Combat Sorties; was credited with 4 enemy aircraft destroyed; 7 probables and 72 others damaged. It was the first ANG unit to down a MiG-15; it dropped 23,749 (7,120 tons) of bombs and expended over 3 million rounds of .50 caliber ammunition; being awarded Five Korean Campaign Ribbons. The 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing was released from active duty and returned to the United States on 10 July 1952

With the Wing's return from the Korean War, the 111th and the 182d Fighter-Bomber Squadrons joined the 181st FBS with VLR F-51H Mustangs. The 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing was assigned to the Central Air Defense Force, Air Defense Command (ADC) and resumed its postwar mission of Texas air defense.

It was not until 1955 that the Texas Air National Guard received jets from ADC, receiving F-80B and F-80C Shooting Stars and the squadrons being re-designated as Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons. The 111th received F-80C-11 (modified F-80A to F-80C standards) Shooting Stars on 1 July 1955, and on 1 July 1956 the 111th FIS commenced to participate in the active ADC runway alert program at Ellington AFB. The 182d at Brooks AFB received F-80C Shooting Stars in August 1956, replacing some of the last F-51H Mustangs in the USAF inventory. The 181st at Love Field received F-80Cs in January 1955.

On 1 July 1957 the 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing was re-designated an Air Defense Wing and reorganized along Air Defense Command lines. Combat units of the-Wing were selected by the Air Defense Command to man a runway alert program on full 24-hour basis – with armed jet fighters ready to "scramble" at a moment's notice. This event brought the wing into the daily combat operational program of the USAF, placing us on "the end of the runway" alongside regular USAF-Air Defense Fighter Squadrons. The obsolescent F-80-day fighters were upgraded to the all-weather/day/night F-86D Sabre Interceptor for all three squadrons by the end of the year.

Also in 1957, the Texas ANG was authorized to expand the 111th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ellington to a group level, and the 147th Fighter-Interceptor Group was activated in Houston on 1 July. As a result, the 111th FIS was reassigned to the new 147th FIG. On 5 August 1957 the 147th was selected to organize and operate a Jet Instrument School to train Air National Guard pilots throughout the nation. On 1 March 1958 the wing was expanded to include the Louisiana ANG 159th Fighter Group (Air Defense) at New Orleans which placed the Texas Wing in command of all Tactical Air National Guard units in the States of Texas and Louisiana.[3] In July 1960, ADC began upgrading the 111th, 122d and 182d FIS to the Mach-2 F-102A Delta Dagger interceptor.

181st Air Refueling Squadron KC-97L Stratotanker. AF Ser. No. 53-0360, refueling an 81st Tactical Fighter Wing F-4E Phantom II circa 1975. This KC-97 is now in the collection of the Malmstrom Museum at Malmstrom AFB, displayed as AF Ser. No. 52-2638.

In August 1961, as part of an Air Defense Command re-organization, the Wing's assignment to the ADC Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector was terminated with the inactivation of the OCADS, and the 136th was transferred to Tactical Air Command. As part of the reorganization:

• The 136th Air Defense Group was inactivated.
• The Brooks AFB 182d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was expanded to a group level forming the 149th Fighter-Interceptor Group under the ADC 31st Air Division.
• The Ellington AFB 147th Fighter-Interceptor Group and New Orleans 159th Fighter-Interceptor Group also remained with ADC, being reassigned to the 31st Air Division.

The 136th Air Defense Wing and its 181st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were realigned to an air refueling mission, becoming the 136th Air Refueling Wing and 181st Air Refueling Squadron under the TAC Ninth Air Force. The 181st ARS was equipped with KC-97L Stratotankers, its mission becoming the air refueling of primarily Tactical Air Command fighter aircraft. Also, the 181st was moved from Dallas Love Field to Naval Air Station Dallas (Hensley Field), which ended a debate about the Texas Air National Guard operating from the expanding civilian airport.

With the transfer of the interceptors and no previously qualified aircrew or maintenance personnel assigned the 136th went through a year of transition to the new mission and to achieve operational status. They did so in eight months, the previous "normal" time for the conversion was two years. In 1966 the squadron began a rotational deployment to Ramstein Air Base in support of Operation Creek Party. which provided USAFE an air refueling capability. The Creek Party deployment rotations lasted until 1976, and over the decade the 136th saw millions of pounds of jet fuel off-loaded and millions of miles flown, all accident free. In July 1976 the KC-97s were retired and the 136th was transferred to Strategic Air Command, receiving jet KC-135A Stratotankers. Under SAC, the 181st Air Refueling Squadron mission included the air refueling of B-52 Stratofortress intercontinental bombers along with TAC and Aerospace Defense Command interceptors.

Air Force crews offload cargo as the remnants of Hurricane Rita drift away in 2005

On 1 April 1978, the 136th was reassigned from SAC to Military Airlift Command (MAC), and was realigned to a Tactical Airlift Wing, being re-equipped with C-130B Hercules transports. The new 136 TAW mission was airlift of troops, military equipment, cargo and aeromedical support.

The 136th TAW and its subordinate units participated in numerous Cold War military exercises such as Team Spirit, Volant Oak, Red Flag, and Reforger. Other Joint Chief of Staff exercises included "Ember Dawn IV" in Alaska and "Brave Shield" in Europe. In 1979, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve assumed full responsibility for airlift operations in Panama.

In mid-December 1989, and continuing for several weeks, wing aircraft, air crews, and support personnel on deployment for exercise Volant Oak at Howard AFB, Canal Zone, Panama, flew combat airlift missions for U. S. Southern Command during Operation Just Cause in Panama. More than 100 combat sorties were flown by 146th aircraft and crews, with no casualties or damage to aircraft.

181st EAS C-130 at Bagram Air Force Base, Iraq

In August 1986 the Wing received the new C-130H aircraft. In August 1990, the world was moving swiftly toward armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf. By late January 1991, the 136th Airlift Wing had provided U. S. Central Command and U. S. Air Forces in Europe personnel, voluntarily and involuntarily activated, who participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Aircraft and air crews from the 181st Airlift Squadron flew two-month-long tours of duty in Operation Volant Pine, a backfill of military airlifters to Europe by Air National Guard C-130s.

In 1997, wing members deployed supporting State and Federal missions. During the period the unit played critical roles in support of DoD missions deploying to Oman and Saudi Arabia in support of Southern Watch, and in peacetime humanitarian airlift, among the many missions accomplished by the wing during the award period.

On 1 October 1998, with the BRAC-directed closure of Naval Air Station Dallas / Hensley Field, the 136th Airlift Wing moved to the former Carswell Air Force Base, now re-designated as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth / Carswell Field pursuant to the same BRAC action that closed NAS Dallas. At this installation, the 136th was colocated with an existing Air Force Reserve Command fighter wing at Carswell and all the Naval Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve aviation units and Army Reserve aviation and ground units that had also relocated there.[2]

As part of the Global War on Terrorism, the 136 AW has deployed numerous times totaling more than 6,000 Airmen since 11 September 2001 in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Horizons, an average of six deployments per unit member.

Legacy 136th Air Defense Wing emblem

World War II 368th Fighter Group emblem

• Constituted as 368th Fighter Group on 24 May 1943

Activated on 1 June 1943

Inactivated in Germany on 20 August 1946

• Re-designated 136th Fighter Group and allocated to Texas ANG on 21 August 1946

Extended federal recognition on 27 January 1947

• Established as: 136th Fighter Wing, and allotted to Texas ANG, 31 October 1950

Organized and received federal recognition, 1 November 1950, assuming personnel and equipment of 63d Fighter Wing (Inactivated)

136th Fighter Group assigned as subordinate unit

Ordered into active service on 10 October 1950

Re-designated 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 19 April 1951

Group re-designated 136th Fighter-Bomber Group

Released from active duty and returned to Texas state control, 10 July 1952

Re-designated: 136th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, on 10 July 1952

Group re-designated 136th Fighter-Interceptor Group

Re-designated: 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 January 1953

Group re-designated 136th Fighter-Bomber Group

Re-designated: 136th Air Defense Wing, 1 July 1955

Group re-designated 136th Fighter Group (Air Defense)

Re-designated: 136th Air Refueling Wing, 1 September 1961

Group re-designated 136th Air Refueling Group

136th Air Refueling Group inactivated 30 June 1974

Re-designated: 136th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 July 1978

Re-designated: 136th Airlift Wing, 16 March 1992

Group re-activated and re-designated as 136th Operations Group

• I Fighter Command, 1 June 1943

Attached to: New York Fighter Wing, 23 August – 20 December 1943

• IX Fighter Command, 13 January 1944
• 71st Fighter Wing

Attached to: IX Tactical Air Command, 1 August 1944

• 70th Fighter Wing

Attached to: IX Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1944

• XIX Tactical Air Command, 16 January 1945
• United States Air Forces in Europe

Attached to: XII Tactical Air Command, 16 November 1945 – 20 August 1946

• 71st Fighter Wing, 27 January 1947
• 63d Fighter Wing, 23 May 1948
• Ninth Air Force, Tactical Air Command, 10 October 1950

Attached to: Far East Air Forces, 14 May 1951

Further attached to: Fifth Air Force, 19 September 1951 – 10 July 1952

• Texas Air National Guard, 10 Jul 1952–Present

Gained by: Central Air Defense Force, Air Defense Command

Gained by: Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, 1 January 1960

Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 September 1961

Gained by: Eighth Air Force, Strategic Air Command, 1 July 1976

Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 October 1993

Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 April 1997–Present

• 395th Fighter Squadron (A7): 1 June 1943 – 20 August 1946
• 396th Fighter Squadron (C2): 1 June 1943 – 20 August 1946
• 397th Fighter Squadron (D3): 1 June 1943 – 20 August 1946

• 136th Fighter-Interceptor (later Fighter-Bomber, Air Defense) Group, 10 July 1952 – 1 September 1961

Re-designated: 136th Operations Group, 16 March 1992–Present

• 147th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 1 July 1957 – 30 August 1961 (GSU Houston, TX)
• 159th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 1 March 1958 – 30 August 1961 (GSU New Orleans, LA)
• 111th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 27 January 1947 – 30 June 1957 (GSU Houston, TX)
• 122d Bombardment (later Fighter-Interceptor) Squadron, 1 November 1950 – 13 April 1951; 1 January 1953 – 1 March 1958 (GSU New Orleans, LA)
• 181st Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor, Air Refueling, Tactical Airlift, Airlift) Squadron, 27 January 1947 – Present
• 182d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 27 January 1947 – 30 August 1961 (GSU San Antonio, TX)
• 154th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 10 October 1950 – 10 July 1952 (Korean War Arkansas ANG)

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[4]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.