Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
163rd FIGHTER SQUADRON
Lineage. Constituted 365th Fighter Squadron on 20 Dec 1942. Activated on 1 Jan 1943. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated 163rd Fighter Squadron, and allotted to IN ANG, on 24 May 1946. Assignments. 358th Fighter Group, 1 Jan 1943-7 Nov 1945. Redesignated 163rd Fighter Squadron and allotted to the Indiana NG on 24 May 1946. 163rd Fighter Squadron (SE) extended federal recognition on 11 Oct 1947. Redesignated: 163rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 Feb 1951; 163rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1955; 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1959; 163rd Fighter Squadron on 15 Mar 1992-.
Assignments. 358th Fighter Group, 1 Jan 1943-7 Nov 1945. 122nd Fighter Group, (later: Fighter-Interceptor; Tactical Fighter; Fighter), 10 Nov 1947; 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 9 Dec 1974; 122nd Operations Group, 15 Mar 1992-. (attached to: 31st Air Division, Air Defense Command, 6 Feb 1952-1Nov 1952; 7122nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Oct 1961-31 Aug 1962)
Stations. Richmond AAB, VA, 1 Jan 1943; Baltimore, MD, 28 Apr 1943; Millville AAFld, NJ, 29 May 1943; Camp Springs AAFld, MD, 3 Jul 1943; Richmond AAB, VA, 16 Aug-26 Sep 1943; Goxhill, England, 20 Oct 1943; Leiston, England, 3 Dec 1943; Raydon, England, 2 Feb 1944; High Halden, England, 13 Apr 1944; Cretteville, France, 3 Jul 1944; Pontorson, France, 14 Aug 1944; Vitryle-Francois, France, c. 15 Sep 1944 (operated from St Dizier, France, 12-17 Oct 1944); Mourmelon, France, c. 17 Oct 1944; Toul, France, c. 20 Nov 1944; Sandhofen, Germany, 7 Apr 1945; Reims, France, c. 23 Jun-10 Jul 1945; La Junta AAFld, CO, c. 4 Aug-7 Nov 1945. Baer Field, (later Fort Wayne ANGS), IN, 24 May 1946-. (Operated from: Chambley AB, France, Nov 1961-20 Aug 1962)
Aircraft. P-40, 1943; P-47, 1943- 1945. F-51D, 1947-1954; F-80C, 1954-1957; F-86A, 1957-1958; F/RF-84F, 1958-1971; F-100D/F, 1971-1979; F-4C/E, 1979-1992; F-16C/D, 1991-2010; A-10, 2010-.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 20 Dec 1943-8 May 1945. Air defense of Indiana and the upper Midwest as part of the Eastern Air Defense Force. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up, 1 Feb 1951-1 Nov 1952. Called to active duty as part of the Berlin Crisis call-up (Operation Tack Hammer), 1 Oct 1961-20 Aug 1962. Trained for the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons. Flew the RF-84F from 1962-1964 to maintain proficiency but did not train in photo-reconnaissance. Continued normal peacetime training with occasional deployments throughout the 1960s-2000s on the air defense role. Close air support and airborne forward air control.
Service Streamers. American Theater.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhine-land; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Ardennes, 24 Dec 1944-2 Jan 1945; ETO, 19-20 Mar 1945; Germany, 8-25 Apr 1945. French Croix de Guerre with Palm.