The 136th Attack Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard 107th Attack Wing located at Niagara Falls Joint Air Reserve Station, New York. The 136th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the squadron is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command.
The squadron was formed as the 482nd Bombardment Squadron during World War II. It shortly became the 503rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, renumbering along with all other Army Air Forces single engine bombing units. After training in the United States, it deployed to England in March 1944, where it was equipped with North American P-51 Mustangs. It flew the Mustang in combat for the next year, destroying 90 enemy aircraft and earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. After V-E Day, it returned to the United States for inactivation.
The squadron was redesignated the 136th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard Activated in 1948, it was mobilized in March 1951, standing air defense alert at its home station as the 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron until November 1952, when it transferred its aircraft to a regular unit and returned to state control. The squadron continued as an air defense unit, augmenting Air Defense Command, until 1958, when its mission changed to fighter bomber and it became the 136th Tactical Fighter Squadron, augmenting Tactical Air Command. The squadron was mobilized a second time in 1961 for the Berlin Crisis, but tensions eased before it could deploy and it remained at Niagara Falls International Airport until being released to state control. Its third mobilization was in 1968 for the Pueblo Crisis, however this time the squadron deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, flying combat missions from there until 1969. In 1971, it returned to the air defense mission, continuing to fly fighters until converting to the air refueling mission in 1994.
The 136th Air Refueling Squadron frequently deployed its Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to support exercises, operations and contingincies until 2008, when it became an airlift unit as the 136th Airlift Squadron. Seven years later, it lost its manned aircraft mission and became the 136th Attack Squadron, operating unmanned aerial vehicles.
Mission The squadron mission is to provide crew members and supporting staff trained to operate the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. It provides global vigilance and strike capability to support federal authorities while maintaining readiness for state contingencies. Its personnel carry out the unit mission by providing surveillance and strike support.
History World War II Organization and training
The first predecessor of the squadron was formed in August 1942 as the 482nd Bombardment Squadron at Hunter Field, Georgia, one of the original four squadrons of the 339th Bombardment Group.Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 216-218Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 607-09 It was equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers. In July 1943, it moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina, where it re-equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. The following month, along with all other single engine bomber units of the Army Air Forces (AAF), it was redesignated as a fighter-bomber unit, becoming the 503rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron. It moved to Rice Army Air Field, California in September 1943, where in addition to training with its P-39s, it participated in maneuvers. It departed Rice for the European Theater of Operations on 9 March 1944, sailing from the New York Port of Embarkation on the on 22 March.Freeman, p. 249
Combat in the European Theater
The squadron landed in England on 4 April and arrived at its combat station, RAF Fowlmere, the next day. Its first airplane arrived on 12 April, a North American P-51B Mustang. It quickly converted to the new fighter, and flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep, on 30 April. In May, it dropped the "Bomber" from its name, becoming the 503rd Fighter Squadron. It flew escort for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers during its first five weeks of operations, and afterwards flew escort missions to cover operations of medium and heavy bombers that struck strategic objectives, interdicted enemy lines of communication, and provided air support for ground forces. In June 1954, it began to receive updated P-51D models of the Mustang. The 339th Group was also the first VII Fighter Command unit to be equipped with g-suits, which enabled its fighters to make tighter turns in dogfights.Freeman, p. 167
On D-Day It provided fighter cover over the English Channel and the coast of Normandy for the landing forces. It strafed and dive bombed vehicles, locomotives, marshaling yards, flak batteries, and troops while Allied forces fought to break out of the beachhead in France. It attacked transportation targets during Operation Cobra, the July breakout at Saint Lo, and the subsequent Allied drive across France. It flew area patrols during Operation Market-Garden, the airborne landings attempting to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in the Netherlands in September.
The squadron frequently strafed airfields and other targets of opportunity while on escort missions. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on escort missions on 10 and 11 September 1944. On the first day, after escorting bombers attacking a target in Germany, it attacked Erding Airfield, destroying or damaging enemy aircraft despite intense fire from antiaircraft guns and small arms. The following day it escorted a formation of bombers attacking Munich that was attacked by enemy interceptor aircraft, in the strongest defense put up by Luftflotte Reich since May.Freeman, p. 188 The 339th Group shot down fifteen enemy fighters and drove off the remaining attacking aircraft, while other elements attacked an airfield near Karlsruhe, encountering heavy fire, but damaging or destroying numerous aircraft parked on the field.Freeman, p. 189
The squadron escorted bombers to, and flew patrols over the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, the German counterattack in the Ardennes in December 1944 through early January 1945. In March 1945 it supported Operation Varsity, the assault across the Rhine in Germany, patrolling the area to prevent German air attacks. It flew its last combat mission on 21 April 1945. The squadron was credited with 90 air to air victories during its year in combat.Newton, pp. 666-67
In August and September 1945, the squadron transferred its planes to depots and many of its personnel were reassigned. The remaining squadron members left the theater in September, preceding the remainder of the 339th Group, which sailed on the in October. It was briefly stationed at Drew Field once again before inactivating on 7 November 1945.
New York Air National Guard
The 503d Squadron was redesignated the 136th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, and extended federal recognition on 8 December 1948. The squadron was equipped with Republic F-47D Thunderbolts and assigned to the 107th Fighter Group. The mission of the 136th Fighter Squadron was to train and equip to be capable of immediate mobilization to perform its Federal mission and to function efficiently when called on by the State of New York to preserve peace, order and public safety.
Korean War mobilization The 136th was called to active duty on 2 March 1951 as a result of the Korean War, and assigned to the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group, stationed at Dow Air Force Base, Maine. On mobilization, the squadron was redesignated the 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Although now performing an active air defense mission, it remained at Niagara Falls. In February 1952, the squadron was reassigned to the 4708th Air Defense Wing, stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan.Cornett & Johnson, p. 123 On 1 November 1952 the squadron was released from active duty and its air defense mission, personnel and F-47s were transferred to the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was simultaneously activated at Niagara Falls.Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 206-07Cornett & Johnson, pp. 115, 123
Air defense
The unit was reformed at Niagara Falls on 1 December 1952, absorbing the resources of the 8136th Air Base Squadron, which had been formed on 1 June in anticipation of the squadron's return to state service. Forty per cent of the 136th's personnel served overseas, many in Korea, and provided combat experience for the squadron. It was equipped with the North American F-51H Mustang very long range fighter. By 1954, the Mustang was ending its service life and the squadron received its first jet Lockheed F-94B Starfires in February 1954. However, the F-94 required a two-man aircrew, a pilot and an observer, to operate its radar equipment. The additional recruitment of guardsmen led to the units' having a manning and capabilities problem. It was not until 1955 that a regular flow of graduates from the radar observer school began.
In 1956, the 107th Fighter-Interceptor Wing was reorganized and redesignated the 107th Air Defense Wing. The 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron remained at Niagara Falls and was assigned directly to the wing. The North American F-86H Sabre replaced the F-94 Starfires in 1957.
Tactical fighter operations
A major mission change to the 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1958 was the transition from an Air Defense Command (ADC) mission to Tactical Air Command (TAC) and a tactical fighter mission, with the 136th being redesignated as the 136th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The new assignment involved a change in the squadron's training mission to include high-altitude interception, air-to-ground rocketry, ground strafing and tactical bombing. The squadron retained F-86H Sabres until 1960, when they were replaced by North American F-100C Super Sabre. In October 1961, the squadron was called to active duty for the Berlin Crisis. Although the squadron was slated to deploy to Bitburg Air Base, tensions eased and the squadron did not deploy before being returned to state control in August 1962.
In 1962, the 107th Tactical Fighter Group moved back to Niagara Falls, with the activation of the 174th Tactical Fighter Group at Syracuse and the 136th was again assigned to it. Six F-100 fighters of the 136th deployed to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii in 1965 for Operation Tropic Lighting I at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. This was the first Pacific Ocean crossing by an Air National Guard (ANG) fighter unit.
The squadron provided close air support for jungle warfare training of the U. S. Army's 25th Division in Hawaii prior to its combat deployment to South Vietnam The squadron flew its jets across the Pacific and refueled twice in flight, marking the first time an ANG unit has performed such a mission. Exercise Tropic Lightning lasted from August to October 1965, with members of the squadron rotating to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii for the exercise.