166th Air Refueling Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 166th Air Refueling Squadron


caption= 166th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem
dates= 1946-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Squadron
role= Air Refueling
size=
command_structure= Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command
current_commander=
garrison= Rickenbacker ANGB
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Sluff
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=USS Pueblo Crisis, Berlin Crisis, Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=The 166th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 121st Air Refueling Wing.

Mission

History

The 166th was activated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1951 for the Korean Conflict and was assigned duties as a air defenders. In 1954, the F-80C Shooting Star arrived and the wing continued with an air defense mission. F-84E aircraft were received in 1955 followed by the F-84F in 1957, which brought with it a fighter-bomber mission.

In October 1961, the squadron was called to active duty for the Berlin Crisis. The 166th and additional augmenting personnel deployed to Etain AB, France, where they served until August 1962. The unit next converted to the F-100C Super Sabre, which greatly enhanced its mission capabilities. Another call-up to active duty occurred in 1968 as a result of the USS Pueblo Crisis. One year of the 18-month activation was spent in Kunsan AB, South Korea. During the deployment some pilots flew combat missions in Vietnam while performing temporary assignments with other units. Aircraft and personnel returned home in June 1969. An aircraft upgrade to the F-100D was accomplished in 1971.

Under the “Total Force Policy,” Guard and Reserve units began to receive newer aircraft and equipment in the 1970’s. The 121st began conversion to the A-7D Corsair II in 1974 which brought with it additional missions. In the same year Lockbourne AFB was renamed Rickenbacker AFB in honor of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, the WW I “Ace of Aces” and a Columbus, Ohio native. When the active duty units departed in 1979, Rickenbacker became an Air National Guard Base with the 121st as its largest flying unit.

Assignments

Major Command/Gaining Command

*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (1992-Present)
*Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1962-1992)

Previous DesignationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

*166th Air Refueling Squadron (16 Mar 1992-1 Oct 1993)
*166th Tactical Fighter Squadron (November 1950-16 Mar 1992)
*166th Fighter Squadron (December 1947 - November 1950)

Bases stationed

*Rickenbacker ANGB (1947-Present)

Aircraft OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

*KC-135R (1992-Present)
*A-7D/K (1974-1993)
*F-100C/D (1962-1974)
*F-84F (1958-1962)
*F-84E (1955-1958)
*F-80C (1953-1955)
*F-51 Mustang (1947-1953)

References

External links

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