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  • Lineage

    The unit began in 1942 as the 440th Bombardment Squadron, Light. This was a B-26 unit, working from North Africa , Sicily , Italy and France during the war in Europe . For precision bombing over Casino and Naples , it received a Presidential Unit Citation. With the end of the war in Europe , the

  • Maj Forbes and the YB-49 Crew

    The airfield here in Topeka, Kansas was renamed and dedicated as Forbes AFB on 13 Jul, 1949 in honor of Maj. Daniel Forbes, Jr. Also Muroc AFB located in the southern California desert was renamed and dedicated as Edwards AFB in honor of Capt. Glen Edwards during a ceremony in Jan, 1950. Click here

  • Photo Recon

    In April 1958, the first of the new aircraft arrived. It was a B model, released by the Air Forces 38 Bomb Squadron in Lyon , France. Ultimately, the Squadron was scheduled to receive 12 B models and one C. The Bs were designed for one pilot and a navigator, and the Cs were the dual-control pilot

  • The 117th 1st Unit Patch

    In Apr 1958, the first of the new aircraft arrived. It was a B model, released by the Air Force's 38th Bomb Squadron in Lyon , France . Ultimately, the 117th was scheduled to receive 12 B Models and 1 C Model. The B's were designed for one pilot and a navigator, and the C was a dual-control pilot

  • The 117th Early Years

    Once it had been decided to open a new Air Guard unit in Kansas, aircraft had to be decided upon. The 117th, having descended from a fighter interceptor squadron based in Pennsylvania, would remain a fighter squadron. The first Aircraft assigned was the F-80 "Shooting Star," though this would prove

  • The 190th

    This was the result of an operation in which the 117th did not play a part, but which underlined the role of the Air National Guard in the National Defense, and led to changes within the 117th. In the fall of 1961, with increasing tension over West Berlin , "Operation Stairstep" was put into effect,

  • The Canberras

    The Canberra was originally designed to replace the world's last wooden combat aircraft, the DeHavil Mosquito Bomber. In March of 1945, the RAF drew up the specs for a jet replacement for the famous light bomber. The Mosquitos had done well enough during the war, but the advent of the jet engine

  • The End? Not On Your Life!

    Upon the arrival of the first KC-135, Kansas Adjutant General Edward R. Fry remarked, "This is what we've been looking for. I think it's time the unit goes to a new mission." With the aircraft came a USAF team headed by LtCol Larry Jones, Senior Enlisted Advisor, to aid the 190th in conversion. A

  • The Great Move

    By 1966, the 190th had been stationed at Hutchinson for nine years, and seemed ready to remain indefinitely. The runaway had been repaired and lengthened, and plans were being drawn up for a series of buildings for the specialized functions of the unit. Appearances were to prove deceiving. Before