180th Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 180th Airlift Squadron (180th AS) is located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
at Rosecrans Memorial Airport
, Saint Joseph, Missouri
. It is part of the 139th Airlift Wing
, Missouri Air National Guard
, and operationally flies the Lockheed C-130 Hercules
aircraft. It was among the first Air National Guard units that received federal recognition.
received federal recognition on August 22, 1946 from an inspection team from 2nd Air Force making it among the first federally recognized Air National Guard
units in the nation. At the time the 180th BS (L) was formed, there was also a Utility Flight of the 180th and Detachment D of the 226th Air Service Group also set up at Rosecrans.
Lt Col John B. Logan, a World War II pilot, along with local civic leaders Henry Bradley and William Barrow, are credited with getting approval from the National Guard Bureau to form the unit. Lt Col Logan was named as the first Squadron Commander of the 180th by Special Orders Number 36 on July 24, 1946. He had accumulated more than 250 combat hours in 22 combat missions as a B-17 pilot and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and campaign ribbons representing the Northern France, Central Europe and Normandy theaters of operation.
The 180th has served the nation during times of peace, crisis and war including being activated in 1951 during the Korean War flying the B-26
, flying airlift mission to Viet Nam during the 1960s utilizing the C-97
and supporting the United States Air Force Europe flying aerial refueling missions in the KC-97 during the 1970s supporting Operation Creek Party.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, the 180th supported Operation Volant Oak and Operation Coronet Oak at Howard Air Force Base
, Panama
. During a 180th deployment to Howard AFB in November, 1978, they were caught up in a "real world" situation when the world began to learn of the events unfolding in Jonestown
, Guyana
. The 180th, flying the C-130, was the first US military aircraft landing at Timehri International Airport, Guyana with US embassy officials that they had picked up in Venezuela as well as food and supplies meant for the survivors the Americans hoped to take out of Guyana. That, of course, was before it became apparent that most of the more than 900 Peoples Temple
members were lying dead in Jonestown. In December, 1989, the 180th was once again deployed at Howard AFB when Operation Just Cause began. The 180th flew combat mission in support of the operation.
In late 1980 and through 1983, members of the 180th embarked on a special project to enhance survivability of C-130 aircrews while flying in a hostile environment. The need for this type of training began to be known after C-130 units from the Military Airlift Command
(MAC) began to participate in Red Flag
at Nellis AFB. It was obvious that the C-130's were not doing well against the ground and air threats posed in the Red Flag exercise. After approval from the National Guard Bureau and tacitly from Military Airlift Command
(MAC), they began service test to validate the training program. After more than three service test, the program proved it worth and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
was approved and instituted on February 4, 1984.
In March 1987, the 180th began to received brand new C-130H2 aircraft replacing the C-130A model aircraft they had flown for the past ten years. In October 1987, the 180th deployed two C-130H2 aircraft supporting an United States Army Special Forces
(SF) and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment
(SAS) in a joint personnel airdrop exercise called Badge Anvil 1987 at RAAF Learmonth
, Australia. The exercise provided high altitude low opening and high altitude high opening HALO/HAHO
parachute training. Since all of the airdrops occurred above 10,000 feet and as high as 24,500 feet, the 15th Physiological Training Flight, USAF, also supported the exercise and provided supplemental oxygen equipment, training and support for the training missions. Each flight was like going to the altitude chamber
.
In 1989, the 180th with four C-130H2 aircraft deployed to Kimhae International Airport, Korea in support of Operation Team Spirit 1989 http://globalsecurity.org/military/ops/team-spirit.htm. During the exercise, the 180th flew challenging missions including tactical resupply, fuel bladder missions, assault landings on short runways including landing on highway landing strips, numerous airdrop
missions including both visual, high altitude and radar drop scenarios.
On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. As part of the United States military response, Air Force, Army, Marine and Naval forces were deployed to the Persian Gulf. A call was sent out from the National Guard Bureau to Tactical Airlift units for 'volunteers' to deploy to the Persian Gulf. Members of the 180th volunteered for duty as did other members from the base. On August 17, 1990, more than 100 personnel and two C-130's were activated and placed on alert for deployment to the Persian Gulf. After delays due to foreign basing rights, the aircraft departed Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
on September 4, 1990 and remained in theater until October 8, 1990 when the 180th departed for home. The time at home would be short lived as the unit was activated under a Presidential Callup effective December 28, 1990 and deployed from Rosecrans on January 2, 1991 this time with all eight C-130's, aircrews, operations support and maintenance personnel.
During the 1990s, the 180th provided airlift support to the United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) during the airlift operations into Bosnia
and Herzegovina
. These operations were named Operation Provide Promise, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard and Operation Joint Forge. Members of the 180th along with operations support and maintenance personnel would deploy to Rhein-Main Air Base
and, after it closed, to Ramstein Air Base
and assigned to "Delta Squadron". The Air National Guard would generally be responsible for a 90 or 120 day period and guard members would typically volunteer for duty for a minimum of a two to three week period although some would volunteer for longer periods.
Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the 180th served in a support role flying missions transporting personnel and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 180th was partially activated in March 2003 prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom and first deployed to a classified location supporting the invasion of Iraq. The unit was transferred to several other bases in the Iraq theater and was later reassigned in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Afghanistan theater. The 180th remained in a state of partial activation for three years until it was released from mobilization in March 2006 and reverted back to state control.
On July 8–9, 2006, the 180th Airlift Squadron, 139th Airlift Wing and all of the other assigned units celebrated the Sixtieth (60th) Anniversary of the founding of the unit with the Sound Of Speed Airshow and Fly-In at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base. A reception was also held on August 22, 2006 at the base and it was attended by more than 70 visitors including two of the original members of the 180th BS (L).
on June 19, 1942. Activated on June 26, 1942. Redesignated 438th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on February 3, 1945. Inactivated on December 13, 1945. Redesignated 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allocated to ANG, on May 24, 1946.
Assignment: 319th Bombardment Group 319th BG, June 26, 1942 – December 13, 1945.
Stations: Barksdale Field
, La, June 26, 1942; Harding Field, La, August 8–27, 1942; Shipdham, England, September 12, 1942; Horsham St. Faith, England, October 5–21, 1942; St-Leu , Algeria, c. November 10, 1942, Tafaraoui, Algeria, November 17, 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, c. November 26, 1942; Telergma, Algeria, c. December 13, 1942; Oujda, French Morocco, March 3, 1943; Rabat/ Sale, French Morocco, April 25, 1943; Sedrata, Algeria, June 1, 1943; Djedeida, Algeria, June 26, 1943; Decimomannu, Sardinia, November 1, 1943; Serragia, Corsica, September 22, 1944 c. January 9, 1945; Bradley Field, Conn, January 25, 1945; Columbia AAB, SC, c. February 28 – April 28, 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, c. July 3, 1945; Machinato, Okinawa, July 21 – November 23, 1945; Vancouver Barracks, Wash, c. December 11–13, 1945.
Aircraft: B-26, 1942–1944; B-25, 1944–1945; A-26, 1945.
Operations: Ground echelon in assault landing at Arzeu (Arzew
), Algeria, November 8, 1942. Combat in MTO, November 28, 1942 – February 13, 1943; withdrawn for reorganization and re-equipment, February 27 – May 31, 1943; combat in MTO, June 6, 1943 – December 30, 1944; returned to the United States for reorganization and re-equipment, January 25 – April 28, 1945; combat in Western Pacific, July 16 – August 12, 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Rome, Italy, March 3, 1944; Florence, Italy, March 11, 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and June 1944.
Emblem: On a disk, divided by a center line into semi circles, each containing 180 degrees, or and gules, piped azure, a mule courant proper (brown, with nose, mane and hoofs shades of light tan) wearing goggles and earphones (shades of tan with blue glasses and trimmings), and belted on his back all within a saddle bag proper (light tan) two bombs proper (steel blue).
(Source: Combat Squadrons Of The Air Force – World War II; Mauer, Mauer; page 542–543)
Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
Rosecrans Air National Guard Base or Rosecrans ANGB, is located on a portion of the Rosecrans Memorial Airport , Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is the home of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. It is named in honor of Guy Wallace...
at Rosecrans Memorial Airport
Rosecrans Memorial Airport
Rosecrans Memorial Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles northwest of the city of St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri, USA....
, Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
. It is part of the 139th Airlift Wing
139th Airlift Wing
The 139th Airlift Wing is located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is the home of the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. The 139th AW is one of the two flying wings currently in the Missouri Air National Guard...
, Missouri Air National Guard
Missouri Air National Guard
The Missouri Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Missouri. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard...
, and operationally flies the Lockheed C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft. It was among the first Air National Guard units that received federal recognition.
History
The 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light) flying the Douglas B-26B/C "Invader"A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
received federal recognition on August 22, 1946 from an inspection team from 2nd Air Force making it among the first federally recognized Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
units in the nation. At the time the 180th BS (L) was formed, there was also a Utility Flight of the 180th and Detachment D of the 226th Air Service Group also set up at Rosecrans.
Lt Col John B. Logan, a World War II pilot, along with local civic leaders Henry Bradley and William Barrow, are credited with getting approval from the National Guard Bureau to form the unit. Lt Col Logan was named as the first Squadron Commander of the 180th by Special Orders Number 36 on July 24, 1946. He had accumulated more than 250 combat hours in 22 combat missions as a B-17 pilot and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and campaign ribbons representing the Northern France, Central Europe and Normandy theaters of operation.
The 180th has served the nation during times of peace, crisis and war including being activated in 1951 during the Korean War flying the B-26
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
, flying airlift mission to Viet Nam during the 1960s utilizing the C-97
C-97 Stratofreighter
The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
and supporting the United States Air Force Europe flying aerial refueling missions in the KC-97 during the 1970s supporting Operation Creek Party.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, the 180th supported Operation Volant Oak and Operation Coronet Oak at Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. During a 180th deployment to Howard AFB in November, 1978, they were caught up in a "real world" situation when the world began to learn of the events unfolding in Jonestown
Jonestown
Jonestown was the informal name for the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones. It became internationally notorious when, on November 18, 1978, 918 people died in the settlement as well as in a nearby...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. The 180th, flying the C-130, was the first US military aircraft landing at Timehri International Airport, Guyana with US embassy officials that they had picked up in Venezuela as well as food and supplies meant for the survivors the Americans hoped to take out of Guyana. That, of course, was before it became apparent that most of the more than 900 Peoples Temple
Peoples Temple
Peoples Temple was a religious organization founded in 1955 by Jim Jones that, by the mid-1970s, included over a dozen locations in California including its headquarters in San Francisco...
members were lying dead in Jonestown. In December, 1989, the 180th was once again deployed at Howard AFB when Operation Just Cause began. The 180th flew combat mission in support of the operation.
In late 1980 and through 1983, members of the 180th embarked on a special project to enhance survivability of C-130 aircrews while flying in a hostile environment. The need for this type of training began to be known after C-130 units from the Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC) began to participate in Red Flag
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
at Nellis AFB. It was obvious that the C-130's were not doing well against the ground and air threats posed in the Red Flag exercise. After approval from the National Guard Bureau and tacitly from Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC), they began service test to validate the training program. After more than three service test, the program proved it worth and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
The Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, ', is located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The host unit is the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard...
was approved and instituted on February 4, 1984.
In March 1987, the 180th began to received brand new C-130H2 aircraft replacing the C-130A model aircraft they had flown for the past ten years. In October 1987, the 180th deployed two C-130H2 aircraft supporting an United States Army Special Forces
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
(SF) and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment
Australian Special Air Service Regiment
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army...
(SAS) in a joint personnel airdrop exercise called Badge Anvil 1987 at RAAF Learmonth
RAAF Learmonth
RAAF Learmonth, also known as Learmonth Airport , is a joint use Royal Australian Air Force base and civil airport. It is located near the town of Exmouth on the north-west coast of Western Australia. As an RAAF base, Learmonth is one of the RAAF's three 'bare bases'...
, Australia. The exercise provided high altitude low opening and high altitude high opening HALO/HAHO
HALO/HAHO
Military free-fall form of insertion.PurposeDelivering personnel, equipment, or supplies.HALOHigh-Altitude/Low-OpeningHAHOHigh-Altitude/High-OpeningOrigins...
parachute training. Since all of the airdrops occurred above 10,000 feet and as high as 24,500 feet, the 15th Physiological Training Flight, USAF, also supported the exercise and provided supplemental oxygen equipment, training and support for the training missions. Each flight was like going to the altitude chamber
Altitude chamber
A hypobaric chamber, or altitude chamber, is a chamber used during aerospace or high terrestrial altitude research or training to simulate the effects of high altitude on the human body, especially hypoxia and hypobaria...
.
In 1989, the 180th with four C-130H2 aircraft deployed to Kimhae International Airport, Korea in support of Operation Team Spirit 1989 http://globalsecurity.org/military/ops/team-spirit.htm. During the exercise, the 180th flew challenging missions including tactical resupply, fuel bladder missions, assault landings on short runways including landing on highway landing strips, numerous airdrop
Airdrop
An airdrop is a type of airlift, developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, who themselves may have been airborne forces. In some cases, it is used to refer to the airborne assault itself. Early airdrops were conducted by dropping or pushing padded bundles from...
missions including both visual, high altitude and radar drop scenarios.
On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. As part of the United States military response, Air Force, Army, Marine and Naval forces were deployed to the Persian Gulf. A call was sent out from the National Guard Bureau to Tactical Airlift units for 'volunteers' to deploy to the Persian Gulf. Members of the 180th volunteered for duty as did other members from the base. On August 17, 1990, more than 100 personnel and two C-130's were activated and placed on alert for deployment to the Persian Gulf. After delays due to foreign basing rights, the aircraft departed Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
Rosecrans Air National Guard Base or Rosecrans ANGB, is located on a portion of the Rosecrans Memorial Airport , Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is the home of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. It is named in honor of Guy Wallace...
on September 4, 1990 and remained in theater until October 8, 1990 when the 180th departed for home. The time at home would be short lived as the unit was activated under a Presidential Callup effective December 28, 1990 and deployed from Rosecrans on January 2, 1991 this time with all eight C-130's, aircrews, operations support and maintenance personnel.
During the 1990s, the 180th provided airlift support to the United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) during the airlift operations into Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
. These operations were named Operation Provide Promise, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard and Operation Joint Forge. Members of the 180th along with operations support and maintenance personnel would deploy to Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base was a U.S. Air Force / NATO military airbase near the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It occupied the south side of Frankfurt International Airport. Its airport codes are discontinued....
and, after it closed, to Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
and assigned to "Delta Squadron". The Air National Guard would generally be responsible for a 90 or 120 day period and guard members would typically volunteer for duty for a minimum of a two to three week period although some would volunteer for longer periods.
On July 8–9, 2006, the 180th Airlift Squadron, 139th Airlift Wing and all of the other assigned units celebrated the Sixtieth (60th) Anniversary of the founding of the unit with the Sound Of Speed Airshow and Fly-In at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base. A reception was also held on August 22, 2006 at the base and it was attended by more than 70 visitors including two of the original members of the 180th BS (L).
Lineage
Lineage: Constituted as the 438th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)438th Bombardment Squadron
The 438th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the VII Bomber Command. It was last stationed at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, and was inactivated on 13 Dec 1945-History:...
on June 19, 1942. Activated on June 26, 1942. Redesignated 438th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on February 3, 1945. Inactivated on December 13, 1945. Redesignated 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allocated to ANG, on May 24, 1946.
Assignment: 319th Bombardment Group 319th BG, June 26, 1942 – December 13, 1945.
Stations: Barksdale Field
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
, La, June 26, 1942; Harding Field, La, August 8–27, 1942; Shipdham, England, September 12, 1942; Horsham St. Faith, England, October 5–21, 1942; St-Leu , Algeria, c. November 10, 1942, Tafaraoui, Algeria, November 17, 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, c. November 26, 1942; Telergma, Algeria, c. December 13, 1942; Oujda, French Morocco, March 3, 1943; Rabat/ Sale, French Morocco, April 25, 1943; Sedrata, Algeria, June 1, 1943; Djedeida, Algeria, June 26, 1943; Decimomannu, Sardinia, November 1, 1943; Serragia, Corsica, September 22, 1944 c. January 9, 1945; Bradley Field, Conn, January 25, 1945; Columbia AAB, SC, c. February 28 – April 28, 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, c. July 3, 1945; Machinato, Okinawa, July 21 – November 23, 1945; Vancouver Barracks, Wash, c. December 11–13, 1945.
Aircraft: B-26, 1942–1944; B-25, 1944–1945; A-26, 1945.
Operations: Ground echelon in assault landing at Arzeu (Arzew
Arzew
Arzew or Arzeu is a port city in Algeria, from Oran. It is the capital of Arzew District, Oran Province.-Antiquity:Like the rest of North Africa, the site of modern-day Arzew was originally inhabited by the Berbers...
), Algeria, November 8, 1942. Combat in MTO, November 28, 1942 – February 13, 1943; withdrawn for reorganization and re-equipment, February 27 – May 31, 1943; combat in MTO, June 6, 1943 – December 30, 1944; returned to the United States for reorganization and re-equipment, January 25 – April 28, 1945; combat in Western Pacific, July 16 – August 12, 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Rome, Italy, March 3, 1944; Florence, Italy, March 11, 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and June 1944.
Emblem: On a disk, divided by a center line into semi circles, each containing 180 degrees, or and gules, piped azure, a mule courant proper (brown, with nose, mane and hoofs shades of light tan) wearing goggles and earphones (shades of tan with blue glasses and trimmings), and belted on his back all within a saddle bag proper (light tan) two bombs proper (steel blue).
(Source: Combat Squadrons Of The Air Force – World War II; Mauer, Mauer; page 542–543)
Aircraft conversions
- 1946, Douglas B-26B/C "Invader" as the 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light).
- 1957, F-84 ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
and became the 180th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.
- 1958, RF-84 Thunderflash and became the 180th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
- 1961, C-97 StratofreighterC-97 StratofreighterThe Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
and became the 180th Air Transport Squadron. The squadron was renamed the 180th Military Airlift Squadron in 1966 when the Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(MATS) was replaced by the Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC).
- 1968, KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
and became the 180th Air Refueling Squadron.
- 1976, C-130A and became the 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron.
- 1987, C-130H2 and remained the 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron. The C-130H2 aircraft were brand new aircraft direct from the Lockheed plant. The first aircraft named the “Spirit of St. Joseph” arrived at Rosecrans ANGB on March 6, 1987.
Federal mobilizations
- Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
-
- The 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light) was alerted on January 18, 1951 that it would be mobilized as a result of the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The 180th BS(L) was ordered to active service on April 1, 1951 and reported to Langley Air Force Base in July 1951 for training. On October 13, 1951, the 180th received orders directing the unit and its 12 B-26 aircraft to Bordeaux-Merignac Air BaseBordeaux-Merignac Air BaseBordeaux-Mérignac Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Gironde département, 6 miles west of the city of Bordeaux....
, Bordeaux, France to replace NATO units which had been transferred to Korea. It became part of the 126th Bomb Wing which was also an Air National Guard unit that was mobilized from Chicago, IL. The 180th relocated to Laon-Couvron Air BaseLaon-Couvron Air BaseLaon-Couvron Air Base is a former French and United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Aisne département of France, less than one mile southeast of the village of Couvron and 6 miles northwest of Laon; on the southwest side of the Autoroute des Anglais 1 Mile east of the...
Laon, France in the late spring of 1952. The 180th BS(L) was relieved from active duty reverted back to state control on January 1, 1953.
- The 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light) was alerted on January 18, 1951 that it would be mobilized as a result of the Korean War
- Gulf WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
-
- The 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron was ordered to the active service on December 28, 1990 as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to support Operation Desert Shield. For some unit members, this would be a return to the Persian Gulf as they had volunteered and deployed with 2 C-130H aircraft, aircrews, maintenance and support personnel, to form the first Air National Guard provisional airlift squadron in September 1990. On January 2, 1991, the 180th TAS and its 8 C-130H aircraft and personnel departed Rosecrans Air National Guard Base for Al AinAl AinAl Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
Air Base, United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(UAE) and were redesignated as the 1632nd Tactical Airlift Squadron (Provisional) as part of the 1630th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional) which was under the 1610th Airlift Division (Provisional). The unit remained at Al Ain Air Base through the air war and the ground war flying combat and combat support missions in support of the allied operations. Beginning on March 22, 1991, the 180th TAS redeployed to Al KharjAl KharjAl-Kharj is a city and governorate in central Saudi Arabia. The population of the governorate as a whole was 623,394 according to the 2004 census, 75,716 of whom were non-Saudis. The city is located at around ....
Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. The 180th TAS departed Al Kharj Air Base on May 28, 1991 and returned to Rosecrans Air National Guard Base on May 30, 1991. When the aircraft arrived home, they had "nose art" on each courtesy of the crew chiefs. The nose art was 391 "Connie Kay", 392 "Desert Possum", 393 "Spirit of St. Joe", 394 "The Hog", 395 "Chief", 396 "Buzzard", 397 "Riders on the Storm" and 398 "Fike's Filly". The 180th TAS was relieved from active duty and released back to state control on June 24, 1991.
- The 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron was ordered to the active service on December 28, 1990 as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to support Operation Desert Shield. For some unit members, this would be a return to the Persian Gulf as they had volunteered and deployed with 2 C-130H aircraft, aircrews, maintenance and support personnel, to form the first Air National Guard provisional airlift squadron in September 1990. On January 2, 1991, the 180th TAS and its 8 C-130H aircraft and personnel departed Rosecrans Air National Guard Base for Al Ain
- Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Operation Enduring Freedom
- The 180th Airlift Squadron was notified in February 2003 that it would be partially mobilized as a result of the impending conflict in Iraq which would later be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit deployed in March 2003 to the Iraqi theater and later supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and was released from active duty in March 2006 and reverted back to state control. This was a historic partial mobilization that lasted three years.
See also
- List of United States Air Force installations
- Rosecrans Air National Guard BaseRosecrans Air National Guard BaseRosecrans Air National Guard Base or Rosecrans ANGB, is located on a portion of the Rosecrans Memorial Airport , Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is the home of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. It is named in honor of Guy Wallace...
- 139th Airlift Wing139th Airlift WingThe 139th Airlift Wing is located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is the home of the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. The 139th AW is one of the two flying wings currently in the Missouri Air National Guard...
- Missouri Air National GuardMissouri Air National GuardThe Missouri Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Missouri. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard...
- Advanced Airlift Tactics Training CenterAdvanced Airlift Tactics Training CenterThe Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, ', is located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The host unit is the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard...