182nd Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 182nd Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard
. Its parent unit is the 149th Fighter Wing
.
The 396th was inactivated on 20 August 1946 and the next day redesignated the 182nd Fighter Squadron. On 6 October 1947, several World War II veterans petitioned for and won federal recognition for the squadron as an Air National Guard unit.
The 182nd began flying the F-51
"Mustang" in 1947 and accepted its first jet, the F-84E "Thunderjet" when the squadron was called to active duty during the Korean War. The squadron, as an element of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group, was the first Air National Guard squadron to see combat during that war; the first Air National Guard unit to shoot down a MiG-15; and the first to successfully demonstrate the applicability of aerial refueling during combat.
The squadron's "Lonestar Gunfighters" converted in 1996 to the newer F-16 "C/D model", a multi-role fighter manufactured in Texas. The squadron's main role is in training active duty, Air National Guard, and Reserve F-16 pilots, making them combat ready upon graduation of a 9 month course. Almost all instructor pilots within the unit are former active duty F-16 pilots.
Although the Air Force was set to retire the F-16 C/D soon, its useful life has been extended through at least 2015, giving the 182nd FS a training mission into the future. It is unclear what mission the unit will transition to when this model of F-16 is eventually retired.
Although the squadron is not officially a combat squadron, its pilots have flown several Operation Noble Eagle
missions in support of USNORTHCOM and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Texas Air National Guard
The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...
. Its parent unit is the 149th Fighter Wing
149th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit located at Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas.-Mission:...
.
History
The 182nd Fighter Squadron was originally activated in June 1943 as the 396th Fighter Squadron, and served in the European Theater during World War II.The 396th was inactivated on 20 August 1946 and the next day redesignated the 182nd Fighter Squadron. On 6 October 1947, several World War II veterans petitioned for and won federal recognition for the squadron as an Air National Guard unit.
The 182nd began flying the F-51
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
"Mustang" in 1947 and accepted its first jet, the F-84E "Thunderjet" when the squadron was called to active duty during the Korean War. The squadron, as an element of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group, was the first Air National Guard squadron to see combat during that war; the first Air National Guard unit to shoot down a MiG-15; and the first to successfully demonstrate the applicability of aerial refueling during combat.
The squadron's "Lonestar Gunfighters" converted in 1996 to the newer F-16 "C/D model", a multi-role fighter manufactured in Texas. The squadron's main role is in training active duty, Air National Guard, and Reserve F-16 pilots, making them combat ready upon graduation of a 9 month course. Almost all instructor pilots within the unit are former active duty F-16 pilots.
Although the Air Force was set to retire the F-16 C/D soon, its useful life has been extended through at least 2015, giving the 182nd FS a training mission into the future. It is unclear what mission the unit will transition to when this model of F-16 is eventually retired.
Although the squadron is not officially a combat squadron, its pilots have flown several Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
missions in support of USNORTHCOM and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Major Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe 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...
/Air Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(1993–Present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe 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...
/Air Training CommandAir Training CommandAir Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
(???-1993)
Previous Designations
- 182nd Fighter Squadron (1995–Present)
- 182nd Fighter Squadron (1992–1995)
- 182nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1968–1992)
- 182nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1960–1968)
Aircraft Operated
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1996–Present)
- F-16A Fighting Falcon (1986–1996)
- F-4C Phantom II (1979–1986)
- F-100D Super Sabre (1970–1978)
- F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
(1968–1969) - F-102A Delta Dagger (1960–1968)
- F-86D/L Sabre (1956–1959)
- F-80 Shooting Star (1953–1955)
- F-84E Thunderjet (1951–1952)
- F-51 Mustang (1947–1950)