Description
Computer made/NOT mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
186th FIGHTER SQUADRON
Lineage. Constituted 404th Fighter Squadron 25 May 1943. Activated on 15 Jul 1943. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945. Redesignated 186th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Montana Air National Guard on 24 May 1946. 186th Fighter Squadron (SE) extended federal recognition on 27 Jun 1947. Redesignated: 186th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Nov 1951; 186th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Nov 1953; 186th Fighter Squadron on 15 Mar 1992; 186th Airlift Squadron on 1 Mar 2014-.
Assignments. 371st Fighter Group, 15 Jul 1943-10 Nov 1945. MT ANG, 27 Jun 1947-; 120th Fighter Group, 15 Apr 1956; 120th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1972; 120th Fighter Group, 15 Mar 1992; 120th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1995-.
Stations. Richmond AAB, VA, 15 July 1943; Camp Springs AAF, MD, 30 Sep 1943; (detachment operated from Millville AAF, NJ, 17 Nov-13 Dec 1943); Richmond AAB, VA, 18 Jan-14 Feb 1944; Bisterne, England, 7 Mar 1944 (operated from Ibsley, England, 21 Apr-c. 14 May 1944); Beuzeville, France, c. 23 Jun 1944; Perthes, France, c. 16 Sep 1944; Dole/Tavaux, France, c. 26 Sep 1944 (operated from Dijon, France, 12 Nov-22 Dec 1944); Tantonville, France, c. 20 Dec 1944; Metz, France, 15 Feb 1945; Frankfurt/Eschborn, Germany, 7 Apr 1945; Furth, Germany, 5 May 1945; Horsching, Austria, 16 Aug 1945; Stuttgart, Germany, c. 13 Sep-Oct 1945; Camp Shanks, NY, 9-10 Nov. Gore Field (later Great Falls IAP), MT, 27 Jun 1947-. (operated from: Moody AFB, GA, 1 Apr 1951; George AFB, CA, Nov 1951-1 Dec 1952).
Aircraft. P-47, 1943-1945. F-51, 1947-1953; F-86, 1953-1955; F-94, 1955-1956; F-89, 1956-1966; F-102, 1966-1972; F-106, 1972-1987; F-16, 1987-2008; F-15, 2008-2014; C-130, 2014-.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 12 Apr 1944-9 May 1945. Trained for tactical bombing missions and air-to-air combat. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up, 1 Apr 1951-1 Dec 1952. Air defense of Northwestern US. Implemented the ADC Runway Alert Program, in which interceptors of the 186th FIS were committed to a five-minute runway alert, 1958-1998. Conversion from F-16 ADF to F-16C Block 30 replaced the air defense mission with one of general purpose/air-to-ground as part of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force in 2001-2008. Became an all-air defense unit again in 2008 with arrival of the F-15. Primary mission to perform tactical airlift mission, 2014-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France, Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 15-21 Mar 1945. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944.
Emblem. Approved on 1 Nov 1953