166th Air Refueling Squadron

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.

History

The 166th was activated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1951 for the Korean War and was assigned duties as an 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 Étain-Rouvres Air Base, 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 1970s. 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.

Lineage

• Constituted as: 364th Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 1 December 1942

Inactivated on: 20 August 1946.

• Redesignated as: 166th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Ohio Air National Guard on 21 August 1946

Received federal recognition and activated, 10 November 1947

Federalized and placed on active duty, 10 February 1951

Designated as 166th Fighter Squadron (Jet), 10 February 1951

Released from active duty and returned to Ohio state control, 1 November 1952

Redesignated as: 166th Tactical Fighter Squadron in November 1952

Redesignated as: 166th Air Refueling Squadron on 16 March 1992

Redesignated as: 166th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 October 1993

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Assignments

• 357th Fighter Group, December 1942-20 August 1946
• Ohio Air National Guard, 24 May 1946

122d Fighter Interceptor Group (ConAC); (ADC, 1950), 10 November 1947

Federalized and placed on active duty, 10 February 1951

122d Fighter Interceptor Group 10 February 1951

4706th Air Defense Wing, 6 February 1952

4708th Defense Wing, 1 August 1952

Released from active duty and returned to Ohio state control, 1 November 1952

121st Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), 1952

121st Air Refueling Wing (AMC), 1992-Present

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California, 1 December 1942
• Tonopah Army Air Field, Nevada, 7 March 1943
• Santa Rosa Army Airfield, California, c. 4 June 1943
• Marysville Army Airfield, California, 15 August 1943
• Ainsworth Army Airfield, Nebraska, 6 October-10 November 1943
• RAF Raydon (AAF-157), England, 1 December 1943
• RAF Leiston (AAF-373), England, 2 February 1944
• AAF Station Neubiberg, Germany, c. 20 July 1945-20 August 1946
• Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 1946

Operated from Youngstown Municipal Airport, Ohio, 1 August-1 November 1952 (Federalized Service)

Renamed: Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio, 18 May 1974

Renamed: Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio, 30 September 1994-Present

Aircraft Operated^[2]

• 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

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links