| 174th Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
 174th Air Refueling Squadron – KC-135R Stratotankers at Sioux City AGB IA | |
| Active | 1943 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Iowa |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Iowa Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Sioux City Air National Guard Base, Iowa |
| Nickname | "Bats" |
| Tail Code | Yellow tail stripe "Sioux City" |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Insignia | |
| 174th Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
The174th Air Refueling Squadron (174th ARS) is a unit of theIowa Air National Guard185th Air Refueling Wing. It is assigned toSioux City Air National Guard Base, Iowa and is equipped with theKC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.
Established on 27 April 1943 atRichmond Army Air Base, Virginia, as the386th Fighter Squadron, equipped withP-47 Thunderbolts. Deployed to theEuropean Theater of Operations (ETO), and assigned toNinth Air Force in England. Arrived atRAF Gosfield, Essex on 23 December 1943. Their first combat air field training resumed for two months. On 22 February 1944, the squadron flew their first combat mission and over the next one to two months gradually converting from escortingEighth Air Force heavy bombers to their fighter-bomber mode underNinth Air Force that continued to the war's end.
The squadron was instrumental in determining the maximum bomb loads for the P-47. Two one-thousand pound bombs and an external fuel tank on the Billy Rack. They were the first group to fly a dive-bombing mission with that bomb load. Their firepower was eight fifty caliber machine guns and their total arsenal included rockets and napalm. This armament was standard for all thirteen P-47 fighter-bomber groups shortly after the D-Day Invasion on 6 June 1944.
Assigned to theIX Tactical Air Command, the squadron flew in direct support of General Hodges First Army. Their mission was two-fold. Protect the ground forces from enemy air attack and destroy any and all obstacles on the ground that prevented our forces from advancing. On two occasions to support Patton's Third Army. The first was shortly after 1 August 1944. The second was during the last months of the Battle of the Bulge. The squadron was active against specific targets on D-Day before, during and following. This was the first company breakthrough in theBattle of the Bulge in taking Germany. The squadron was part of the first group to move into Germany on 17 March 1945 at Aachen and the first to fly a combat mission off a German soil.
The 386th Fighter Squadron flew combat from 22 February 1944 through 4 May 1945, totalling 14.5 months. They flew combat from eleven air fields or air strips moving more times than any other fighter-bomber group in the Ninth Air Force.
Was transferred to the newIowa Air National Guard in May 1946 and became aP-51D Mustang squadron, receiving 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 trainB-17 Flying Fortress aircrews. Was assigned to the Iowa ANG132d Fighter Wing, which consisted of the 124th, along with the123d Fighter Squadron at Des Moines, and theNebraska ANG173d Fighter Squadron atLincoln, 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 toF-84B Thunderjet jet aircraft in early 1948.
Activated to Federal Service during theKorean War, sent toDow AFB, Maine Used by TAC to train replacement pilots in F-51D Mustang ground support operations, also deployed unit members to Japan and Korea to fly combat missions. The 132d was moved toAlexandria AFB, Louisiana in May 1952 again with F-51s replacing the federalizedOklahoma ANG137th Fighter-Bomber Wing which was deployed toFrance. Performed training as a tactical fighter unit until relieved from active service and returned to Iowa ANG jurisdiction in January 1953.
In July 1953, the unit converted from the F-51D to the LockheedF-80C Shooting Star.
In 1955, the 174th FS was reassigned toAir Defense Command and re-designated the 174th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and was transitioned to theF-84E Thunderstreak. As a component of the 132d 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 US in 1956. The unit also was awarded the Wing Flying Safety trophy that year as well.
In 1958, the unit changed aircraft and its primary mission, being reassigned back toTactical Air Command. It was re-designated the 174th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and flying theRF-84F Thunderflash. As a reconnaissance unit, the 174th was awarded the top "Operational Readiness Reconnaissance Unit" in the US in 1960. In 1961, the unit was re-designated the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron and converted to flying nuclear-capableF-100C Super Sabre aircraft.[1] The squadron flew the F-100 from 1961 until 1977, a period of 16 years.
On 26 January 1968, the squadron was recalled to active Federal service as a result of thePueblo Crisis. The 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, augmented by many of the other group personnel deployed with their F-100s toPhu Cat Air Base,South Vietnam on 11 May 1968.
During their year in South 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 thePresidential Unit Citation and theAir Force Outstanding Unit Award. Individually, its members were awarded 12Silver Stars, 35Distinguished Flying Crosses, 30Bronze Stars, 115Air Force Commendation Medals, 325Air Medals, and 1Purple Heart. On 28 May 1969 the personnel and aircraft were returned to Sioux City and released from active duty. In addition, the 174th Fighter Squadron won theAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with a designation of valor.
The "Bat" depicted on the tails of the aircraft and the shoulder patch of the pilots during the Vietnam War became a legendary symbol of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron. "Bat" was the call sign of the 174th during its Vietnam War service, and the "Bats" became renowned for their outstanding performance.
The squadron converted to theA-7D Corsair II 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 1989, the unit won the 12th Air Force A-7 gunnery meet for the second time.
On 19 December 1991, the squadron received its first F-16s. The F-16 "Fighting Falcon" would be the last single-seat fighter jet that the unit would fly before the conversion to KC-135 tankers in 2003.
As part of the globalwar on terrorism, the squadron has participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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