"TACOS"
Second
World War
The 188th Rescue Squadron has a rich heritage, which could fill a book by itself, but I’ll try to keep it brief. It was originally constituted as the 621st Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on January 25, 1943 and was activated to fight in the second world war. It was initially equipped with A-24 Banshees and P-39 Airacobras when in July 1943 it was redesignated 507th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. In 1944 the Squadron converted to P-47 Thunderbolts and after completing its training deployed to RAF Winkton, England.
It provided top cover for the D-Day landings and then moved to France and supported operations in France, Netherlands and Belgium. In 1944 and 1945 it attacked German positions in the Battle of the Bulge and covered B-17, B-24 and B-26 bombers.
The 188th Rescue Squadron has a rich heritage, which could fill a book by itself, but I’ll try to keep it brief. It was originally constituted as the 621st Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on January 25, 1943 and was activated to fight in the second world war. It was initially equipped with A-24 Banshees and P-39 Airacobras when in July 1943 it was redesignated 507th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. In 1944 the Squadron converted to P-47 Thunderbolts and after completing its training deployed to RAF Winkton, England.
It provided top cover for the D-Day landings and then moved to France and supported operations in France, Netherlands and Belgium. In 1944 and 1945 it attacked German positions in the Battle of the Bulge and covered B-17, B-24 and B-26 bombers.
It briefly occupied Germany before deploying to the
United States before inactivating on November 9, 1945.
On May 24, 1946, the Squadron was redesignated as the188th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard.
The Squadron was activated and received federal recognition on July 7, 1947 and ordered to active service on February 1, 1951 operating A-26 Invaders, P-51 Mustangs from Long Beach Municipal Airport. Its role was to provide air defence of Southern California. It was redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron c. February 10, 1951 & began to re-equip with the F-86E Sabre before it was inactivated on November 10, 1952 with all of its personnel and aircraft being transferred to the 354th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which was activated simultaneously.
On May 24, 1946, the Squadron was redesignated as the188th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard.
The Squadron was activated and received federal recognition on July 7, 1947 and ordered to active service on February 1, 1951 operating A-26 Invaders, P-51 Mustangs from Long Beach Municipal Airport. Its role was to provide air defence of Southern California. It was redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron c. February 10, 1951 & began to re-equip with the F-86E Sabre before it was inactivated on November 10, 1952 with all of its personnel and aircraft being transferred to the 354th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which was activated simultaneously.
Air
Defence
It was then redesignated 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, returned to New Mexico state control and activated on January 1, 1953 at Kirtland AFB. It was then redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in July 1955 and the 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron in April 1964 flying the LF-80C Shooting Star and F-100A Super Sabre. It was the first Air National Guard Squadron to converted to the Super Sabre in 1958. In April 1961 one of the Squadrons aircraft shot down a B-52 during a training mission. A malfunction was the cause of the incident near Gants, New Mexico and resulted in three of the B-52 crews losing their lives. An investigation to the shootdown absolved any blame for the F-100 pilot.
It was then redesignated 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, returned to New Mexico state control and activated on January 1, 1953 at Kirtland AFB. It was then redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in July 1955 and the 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron in April 1964 flying the LF-80C Shooting Star and F-100A Super Sabre. It was the first Air National Guard Squadron to converted to the Super Sabre in 1958. In April 1961 one of the Squadrons aircraft shot down a B-52 during a training mission. A malfunction was the cause of the incident near Gants, New Mexico and resulted in three of the B-52 crews losing their lives. An investigation to the shootdown absolved any blame for the F-100 pilot.
Vietnam
War
The F-100C/F’s & was then called into action in SEA when it was federalized and ordered to active service on January 7, 1968 and operated from Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, from June 7 1968 until it was relieved from active duty and returned to New Mexico state control on May 18, 1969. During their time in Vietnam the Squadron flew 6,000 combat sorties which resulted in the crews amassing over 630 medals and decorations.
The F-100C/F’s & was then called into action in SEA when it was federalized and ordered to active service on January 7, 1968 and operated from Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, from June 7 1968 until it was relieved from active duty and returned to New Mexico state control on May 18, 1969. During their time in Vietnam the Squadron flew 6,000 combat sorties which resulted in the crews amassing over 630 medals and decorations.
Cold War
In
1973 the F-100’s were replaced by A-7D/K Corsair II’s, again the Squadron was
the first Air National Guard Squadron to gain the A-7’s. The Squadrons A-7 were
regularly deployed in Europe and Southwest Asia and set an A-7D endurance
record of 11.5 hours non-stop flight from the US to Cairo, Egypt.
The Squadron was redesignated as the 188th Fighter Squadron on March 16, 1992 and exchanged the Corsairs for F-16A/B’s. The Squadron participated in the late 1990’s with Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and the early 2000’s with Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
After the attacks on September 11, 2001 the Squadron supported deployments in Operation NOBLE EAGLE flying CAPs over the Western United States.
As part of the 2005 base realignment and closure plan the fighters at Kirtland would close and Kirtland would become a Special Operations base. In 2009 the F-16’s were distributed to other Air National Guard Squadrons with the last F-16 leaving in September 2010.
The Squadron was redesignated as the 188th Fighter Squadron on March 16, 1992 and exchanged the Corsairs for F-16A/B’s. The Squadron participated in the late 1990’s with Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and the early 2000’s with Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
After the attacks on September 11, 2001 the Squadron supported deployments in Operation NOBLE EAGLE flying CAPs over the Western United States.
As part of the 2005 base realignment and closure plan the fighters at Kirtland would close and Kirtland would become a Special Operations base. In 2009 the F-16’s were distributed to other Air National Guard Squadrons with the last F-16 leaving in September 2010.
Newest Jolly Greens
The Squadron was then redesignated 188th Rescue
Squadron on January 1, 2013 and operated the HH-60G and C-130, thus becoming the
newest Squadron to adopt the Jolly Green Giant. These were then joined by the CV-22 in 2014. The Squadron is part of the 150th SOW which in turn is integrated with the 58th SOW, whose role is to train crew to operate aircraft used by AFSOC & ACC, these being the HH-60G/W, UH-1, HC-130 and CV-22. It assists in teaching 100 courses in 18 different crew positions, including, pilot, combat system officer, communications system officer, loadmaster and special missions aviator.
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