182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard   Right Corner Banner
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History

What is now the 169th Airlift Squadron (AS) originated during World War II as the 304th Fighter Squadron (FS), which was activated on July 23, 1942. The 304th FS was assigned to the 337th Fighter Group (FG) at the Pinellas (FL) County Airport, and served as an operational training unit equipped with the P-39 Airacobra and the P-40 Warhawk. The 304th FS was disbanded on May 1, 1944. On May 24, 1946, it was reconstituted, redesignated the 169th FS, and allocated to the Air National Guard (ANG). 

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tabHistoric Aircraft of the 182nd Airlift Wing 
F-51D/H Mustang (1947-1956)
AT-11 Kansan (1947-1947)
T-6G Texan (1947-1956)
A/B-26C Invader (1947-1952)
F-80C Shooting Star (1958-1958)
T-28A Trojan (1956-1958)
VC/C-47 Gooney Bird (1949-1972)
T-33A Thunderbird (1955-1969)
F-84F Thunderstreak (1958-1969)
T-29A/C Flying Classroom (1972-1975)
U-3A/B Blue Canoe (1969-1970)
O-2A/B Skymaster (1970-1979)
C-131E USA Samaritan (1975-1989)
OA-37B Dragonfly (1979-1992)
C-26A Merlin (1989-1995)
F-16A/B Fighting Falcon (1992-1995)
C-130E Hercules (1995-2004)
C-130H Hercules (2004-current)
tabANG Heritage 
tabHistoric Commanders 
Lt Col Ralph M. Pickering (1946-1947)
Maj Arthur F. Szold (1947-1951)
Maj Harold C. Norman (1951-1956)
Maj Harold E. Haskett (1956-1959)
Maj Arthur J. Schertz (1959-1962)
Col Harold C. Norman (1962-1975)
Col George H. Mason (1975-1975)
Col Harold C. Norman (1975-1976)
Col George H. Mason (1976-1977)
Col Roland E. Ballow (1977-1983)
Col Kenneth D. Peterson (1983-1989)
Col Frank D. Rezac (1989-1994)
Col Alan L. Paige (1994-1998)
Col Barry W. Beard (1998-2004)
Col William P. Robertson (2004-current)
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tabAir National Guard: A Short Story
The Air National Guard as we know it today -- a separate reserve component of the United States Air Force -- was a product of the politics of postwar planning and interservice rivalry during World War II. The men who planned and maneuvered for an independent postwar Air Force during World War II didn't place much faith in the reserves, especially the state-dominated National Guard.

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