List of Cold War Air National Guard Mobilizations

After the Korean War, the first major Cold War crisis began on 13 August 1961, when Berliners woke up to find they lived in a divided city. A wall now separated East Berlin from West Berlin. With that provocative act, the Soviet Union ratcheted up the Cold War.

In response to Soviet moves to cut off allied access to Berlin, The Air National Guard was mobilized in October 1961. included 18 tactical fighter squadrons, 4 tactical reconnaissance squadrons, 6 air transport squadrons, and a tactical control group. On 1 November; the Air Force mobilized three more ANG fighter interceptor squadrons. In late October and early November, eight of the tactical fighter units flew to Europe with their 216 aircraft in operation "Stair Step," the largest jet deployment in the Air Guard's history.

The Vietnam War provided the next significant test for the Air Guard, with Airlift units began flying supply missions to Vietnam in 1965. However, for largely domestic political reasons, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose not to mobilize most of the nation’s reserve forces before 1968. However, after the 1968 Tet Offensive in which the Communist North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops attacked positions throughout the Republic of Vietnam, the ANG was mobilized for service.

The ANG was mobilized twice during the Vietnam War. Four tactical fighter squadrons—the 120th (Colorado), 174th (Iowa), 188th (New Mexico), and 136th (New York)--deployed to Vietnam in 1968. And although not an Air National Guard unit, the National Guard can claim credit for a fifth squadron, the 355th: 85% of this tactical fighter squadron's personnel were Air Guard volunteers from New Jersey and the District of Columbia.

Eleven additional squadrons were called up in 1968 in response to the seizing of the U.S. Navy ship Pueblo by North Korea, and two tactical fighter squadrons, the 166th (Ohio) and the 127th (Kansas) were sent to South Korea. In May 1968 one aeromedical airservice group and two tactical fighter groups were federalized.

The last of the mobilized Air National Guard units returned to reserve status in June 1969. Guardsmen, however, continued to support active-duty units in South Vietnam with specialized missions until 1972.

Unit State Date Mobilized Location Demobilization Date Comments
102d Tactical Fighter Wing Massachusetts 1 October 1961 France 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid AB; consisted of elements of: 101st TFS, (MA), 131st TFS (MA), 138th TFS (NY); F-86H Sabre
104th Tactical Fighter Squadron Maryland 13 May 1968 Cannon AFB, NM 20 December 1968 F-86H Sabres; assigned to 175th TFG; Trained active Air Force pilots in forward air controller duties.
109th Air Transport Squadron Minnesota 1 October 1961 Minneapolis-St Paul MAP, MN 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 133d ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
113th Tactical Fighter Wing District of Columbia 26 January 1968 Myrtle Beach AFB, SC 17 June 1969 Filler replacement for deployed 354th TFW.
115th Air Transport Squadron California 1 October 1961 Van Nuys MAP, CA 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 146th ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
119th Tactical Fighter Squadron New Jersey 26 January 1968 Myrtle Beach AFB, SC 17 June 1969 F-100C Super Sabres; assigned to 113th TFW
120th Tactical Fighter Squadron Colorado 26 January 1968 South Vietnam 30 April 1969 Deployed to Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, F-100C Super Sabres; assigned to 35th TFW; first deployed ANG fighter squadron of the Vietnam War.
121st Tactical Fighter Squadron District of Columbia 26 January 1968 Myrtle Beach AFB, SC 18 June 1969 F-100C Super Sabres; filler replacement for deployed 354th TFW.
123d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Kentucky 26 January 1968 Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO 9 June 1969 Functioned as the primary Air Force tactical reconnaissance platform in the continental U.S. Elements rotated temporary duty assignments to Itazuke Air Base, Japan from July 1968 until April 1969 providing photo reconnaissance support to American forces in those areas during Pueblo Crisis.
125th Air Transport Squadron Oklahoma 1 October 1961 Tulsa IAP, OK 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 133d ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
127th Tactical Fighter Squadron Kansas 26 January 1968 South Korea 18 June 1969 Deployed to Kusan AB, South Korea; F-100C Super Sabres; assigned to 354th TFW during Pueblo Crisis
133d Air Transport Squadron New Hampshire 1 October 1961 Grenier AFB, NH 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 133d ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
133d Air Transport Wing Minnesota 1 October 1961 Minneapolis-St Paul MAP, MN 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; Augmented MATS airlift capability
134th Tactical Fighter Group Tennessee 1 November 1961 West Germany 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Ramstein AB; F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 86th AD; Reinforced USAFE Air Defense Interceptor force.
136th Tactical Fighter Squadron New York 26 January 1968 South Vietnam 11 June 1969 Deployed to Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, F-100D Super Sabres; assigned to 31st TFW
138th Tactical Fighter Squadron New York 13 May 1968 Cannon AFB, NM 20 December 1968 F-86H Sabres; assigned to 174th TFG; Trained active Air Force pilots in forward air controller duties.
139th Air Transport Squadron New York 1 October 1961 Stratton AFB, NY 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 133d ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
146th Air Transport Wing California 1 October 1961 Van Nuys MAP, CA 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; Augmented MATS airlift capability
147th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron Pennsylvania 13 May 1968 Scott AFB, IL 12 December 1968 C-131 Samaritan; assigned to 171st AAG. transported patients from casualty staging bases and military installations in South Vietnam to destination treatment hospitals.
151st Tactical Fighter Squadron Tennessee 1 November 1961 West Germany 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Ramstein AB; F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 134th TFG
154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Arkansas 26 January 1968 Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO 20 December 1968 RF-101C; assigned to 123d TRW during Pueblo Crisis.
157th Tactical Fighter Squadron South Carolina 1 November 1961 Spain 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 169th TFG
161st Tactical Fighter Group Arizona 1 November 1961 West Germany 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Ramstein AB; F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 86th AD; Reinforced USAFE Air Defense Interceptor force.
165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Kentucky 26 January 1968 Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO 9 June 1969 RF-101C; assigned to 123d TRW during Pueblo Crisis.
166th Tactical Fighter Squadron Ohio 26 January 1968 South Korea 18 June 1969 Deployed to Kusan AB, South Korea; F-100C Super Sabres; assigned to 354th TFW during Pueblo Crisis
169th Tactical Fighter Group South Carolina 1 November 1961 Spain 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Moran AB; F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 86th AD; Reinforced USAFE Air Defense Interceptor force.
171st Aeromedical Airlift Group Pennsylvania 13 May 1968 Scott AFB, IL 12 December 1968 Assigned to 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing. Augmented airlift capability
174th Tactical Fighter Squadron Iowa 26 January 1968 South Vietnam 28 May 1968 Deployed to Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, F-100D Super Sabres; assigned to 37th TFW
174th Tactical Fighter Group New York 13 May 1968 Cannon AFB, NM 20 December 1968 Filler replacement for deployed 27th TFW.
175th Tactical Fighter Group Maryland 13 May 1968 Cannon AFB, NM 20 December 1968 Filler replacement for deployed 27th TFW
188th Tactical Fighter Squadron New Mexico 26 January 1968 South Vietnam 4 June 1969 Deployed to Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, F-100D Super Sabres; assigned to 31st TFW
192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Nevada 26 January 1968 Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO 7 June 1969 RF-101C; assigned to 123d TRW during Pueblo Crisis.
195th Air Transport Squadron California 1 October 1961 Van Nuys MAP, CA 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: C-97 Stratofreighter; assigned to 146th ATW; Augmented MATS airlift capability
197th Tactical Fighter Squadron Arizona 1 November 1961 West Germany 15 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Deployed to Ramstein AB; F-104A Starfighters; Assigned to 161st TFG
7108th Tactical Wing Provisional* 1 October 1961 France 30 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Chaumont-Semoutiers AB; consisted of elements of:: 108th Tactical Fighter Wing (NJ), 119th TFS (NJ), 141st TFS (NJ), 149th TFS (VA); F-84F Thunderstreak
7117th Tactical Wing Provisional* 1 October 1961 France 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Dreux-Louvilliers AB; consisted of elements of: 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (AL), 106th TRS (AL), 153d TRS (MS), 160th TRS (AL), 184th TRS (AZ); RF-84F Thunderstreak
7121st Tactical Wing Provisional* 1 October 1961 France 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Étain-Rouvres AB; consisted of elements of: 121st Tactical Fighter Wing (OH), 162d TFS (OH), 164th TFS (OH), 166th TFS (OH); F-84F Thunderstreak
7122d Tactical Wing Provisional* 1 October 1961 France 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Chambley-Bussières AB; consisted of elements of: 122d Tactical Fighter Wing (IN), 112th TFS (OH), 113th TFS (IN), 163d TFS (IN); F-84F Thunderstreak
7123d Tactical Wing Provisional* 1 October 1961 France 31 August 1962 Berlin Crisis: Toul-Rosières AB; consisted of elements of: 131st Tactical Fighter Wing (MO), 110th TFS, (MO), 169th TFS (IL), 170th TFS (IL); F-84F Thunderstreak

* Note: Due to DOD budget restrictions, the provisional 7108th, 7117th, 7121st, 7122d and 7123d Tactical Wings consisted only of the wing headquarters squadron and a single fighter squadron in France. The remaining wing components and attached fighter squadrons remained in the United States, ready to deploy if necessary. Personnel and aircraft of the CONUS-based squadrons rotated to France during the period of the wing deployment to reduce the deployment periods of the overseas personnel. The 106th TRS, 149th TFS, 166th TFS, 163d TFS and 170th TFS deployed personnel/equipment/aircraft.

After the Air National Guard unit personnel returned to the United States, USAFE formed the active-duty 366th Tactical Fighter Wing and four Tactical Fighter Squadrons from the equipment and F-84F aircraft deployed by the ANG units at the French bases used by the provisional Tactical Wings.

See also

References

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

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