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| 153d Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Mississippi Air National Guard 153d Air Refueling Squadron KC-135E 59-1446, Key Field Air National Guard Base. | |
| Active | 27 September 1939 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Mississippi |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Mississippi Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi |
| Tail Code | Black tail stripe, "Mississippi" in yellow letters |
| Engagements | World War II World War I |
| Insignia | |
| 153d Air Refueling Squadron Emblem |  |
| 153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem(approved 15 December 1953)[1] |  |
| 153d Observation Squadron emblem[2] |  |
The153d Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of theMississippi Air National Guard186th Air Refueling Wing located atKey Field Air National Guard Base, Mississippi. The 153d is equipped with theKC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.
The squadron is a descendant organization of the153d Observation Squadron, one of the29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of theUnited States Army National Guard formed beforeWorld War II.
The squadrons aircraft are eight KC-135R Stratotankers. The mission of the squadron is to provide air refueling support to major commands of the United States Air Force, as well as other U.S. military forces and the military forces of allied nations.
Activated as part of theMississippi National Guard in 1939 by theNational Guard Bureau. Equipped withDouglas O-38 observation aircraft. Ordered to active service on 15 October 1940 as part of the buildup of theArmy Air Corps prior to the United States entry into World War II. After theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was attached toArmy Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, performed anti-submarine patrols over theGulf of Mexico until August 1943 when the mission was turned over to the United States Navy.
Transferred to theEuropean Theater of Operations (ETO), August 1943. Assigned toNinth Air Force as a photographic reconnaissance unit. After the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, because a liaison and courier unit flying light aircraft until the end of the war in Europe. Inactivated during December 1945 in Germany.
The squadron was re-designated as the153d Fighter Squadron and allotted to theMississippi Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized atKey Field, Meridian, Mississippi and was extended federal recognition on 12 September. The squadron was equipped withF-47D Thunderbolts and was allocated to theFourteenth Air Force,Continental Air Command by the National Guard Bureau.
The unit was called to active federal service on 1 March 1951. This activation temporarily resulted in the dissolution of the Mississippi Air National Guard, as members were sent to various places, including for many, duty in theKorean War. The squadron was sent toTurner AFB, Georgia where it was assigned to the federalized108th Fighter-Bomber Group with a mission to provide fighter escorts toStrategic Air CommandB-50 Superfortress bombers on training missions. In December 1951 it was moved toGodman AFB, Kentucky where it replaced a unit deployed to England. It was released from active duty and returned to Mississippi state control on 10 November 1952.
Reformed in December 1952, being equipped withRF-51D Mustang reconnaissance aircraft. Performed tactical reconnaissance forTactical Air Command, retiring the Mustangs in 1955 and flying RF-80C Shooting Star aircraft until 1956. Re-equipped withRF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft.
At the height of theCold War in 1961, the squadron was federalized as a result of tensions concerning theBerlin Wall. Part of the squadron remained at Key Field in an active-duty status for about a year before being released.
On 15 October 1962, the 153d was authorized to expand to a group level, and the186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 153d TRS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 186th Headquarters, 186th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 186th Combat Support Squadron, and the 186th USAF Dispensary. In 1970 Tactical Air Command retired the RF-84s and they were replaced by theRF-101C Voodoo. In 1979 the Voodoos were again replaced byRF-4C Phantom IIs. RF-101C 56–0166, on display at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force, served with the 186th TRG. The aircraft was flown directly from Key Field to theWright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio on its final flight 27 October 1978.
In 1990 during the Gulf Crisis, several aircraft and support personnel were activated and deployed to Doha International Airport, Qatar, being part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) duringOperation Desert Shield,Operation Desert Storm.
In 1992 the squadron's 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was realigned to an air refueling unit as the RF-4Cs were retired. The squadron was equipped withKC-135 Stratotankers and placed initially underAir Combat Command, later underAir Mobility Command. The 153d Air Refueling Squadron has seen worldwide duty with the KC-135s, supporting Operation Display Determination, Operation Provide Relief, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Support Justice, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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KC-135
58-0059(R) (Jan'94)
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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