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148th Fighter Squadron
The 148th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162d Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. The 148th is equipped with the Block 20 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. The squadron was first organized in England during World War II, moving to North Africa shortly after the invasion. It participated in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron returned to the United States after V-E Day and was inactivated.
In 1946, the squadron was redesignated the 148th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard. It was organized the following year. The squadron was mobilized for the Korean War, serving as an air defense unit until 1952, when its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular squadron and the unit returned to state control. In the mid-1950s, its home station proved too small to accommodate jet fighters, so its role changed to airlift and it became the 140th Air Transport Squadron. The squadron moved to Olmsted Air Force Base, where it was stationed until 1967, when it was replaced by the 193rd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron.
The 148th Fighter Squadron specializes in the training of F-16 pilots for foreign air forces which have purchased the aircraft via the Foreign Military Sales program.
The squadron was first activated as the 347th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1942 at RAF Bushey Hall, England, moving to RAF Duxford for operations. It was initially part of to VIII Fighter Command, equipped with a mixture of United States personnel reassigned from the 31st and 52d Fighter Groups, and Americans transferred from the Royal Air Force (RAF) who had volunteered to join the RAF prior to the United States entry into the European War.
The squadron was initially equipped with export/Lend-Lease version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra, designated Airacobra I by the RAF, and P-400 by the AAF, with additional aircraft that had been sold to France that been impounded by the British after the Fall of France. The squadron deployed to French Morocco and became part of Twelfth Air Force where the unit engaged in combat during the North African Campaign. It was briefly equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings from June to Sept 1943. Each squadron of the 350th Fighter Group was assigned two P-38s to intercept and destroy high flying Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft sent to photograph the allied invasion fleet gathering along the North African coast for the Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.
The squadron re-equipped with Republic P-47D Thunderbolts in January 1944 and engaged in combat during Italian campaign. It also covered Allied landings on Elba in June 1944 and supported the invasion of southern France in August. Returned to Italy and fought in Po Valley, 1944–1945 until the end of the European War in May 1945.
The squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
In May 1946, the squadron was redesignated the 148th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine and allotted to the Pennsylvania National Guard. The 148th was stationed at Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania and equipped with North American F-51D Mustangs.
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148th Fighter Squadron
The 148th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162d Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. The 148th is equipped with the Block 20 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. The squadron was first organized in England during World War II, moving to North Africa shortly after the invasion. It participated in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron returned to the United States after V-E Day and was inactivated.
In 1946, the squadron was redesignated the 148th Fighter Squadron and allotted to the National Guard. It was organized the following year. The squadron was mobilized for the Korean War, serving as an air defense unit until 1952, when its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular squadron and the unit returned to state control. In the mid-1950s, its home station proved too small to accommodate jet fighters, so its role changed to airlift and it became the 140th Air Transport Squadron. The squadron moved to Olmsted Air Force Base, where it was stationed until 1967, when it was replaced by the 193rd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron.
The 148th Fighter Squadron specializes in the training of F-16 pilots for foreign air forces which have purchased the aircraft via the Foreign Military Sales program.
The squadron was first activated as the 347th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1942 at RAF Bushey Hall, England, moving to RAF Duxford for operations. It was initially part of to VIII Fighter Command, equipped with a mixture of United States personnel reassigned from the 31st and 52d Fighter Groups, and Americans transferred from the Royal Air Force (RAF) who had volunteered to join the RAF prior to the United States entry into the European War.
The squadron was initially equipped with export/Lend-Lease version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra, designated Airacobra I by the RAF, and P-400 by the AAF, with additional aircraft that had been sold to France that been impounded by the British after the Fall of France. The squadron deployed to French Morocco and became part of Twelfth Air Force where the unit engaged in combat during the North African Campaign. It was briefly equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings from June to Sept 1943. Each squadron of the 350th Fighter Group was assigned two P-38s to intercept and destroy high flying Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft sent to photograph the allied invasion fleet gathering along the North African coast for the Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.
The squadron re-equipped with Republic P-47D Thunderbolts in January 1944 and engaged in combat during Italian campaign. It also covered Allied landings on Elba in June 1944 and supported the invasion of southern France in August. Returned to Italy and fought in Po Valley, 1944–1945 until the end of the European War in May 1945.
The squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
In May 1946, the squadron was redesignated the 148th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine and allotted to the Pennsylvania National Guard. The 148th was stationed at Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania and equipped with North American F-51D Mustangs.