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  • 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

  • The History of Forbes Field

    Forbes Field (also known as the Topeka Army Airfield and later as Forbes Air Force Base during DOD use) consisted of 4,233 acres. Forbes Field is located approximately 3 miles south of Topeka, Kansas in Shawnee County. The site is east of and adjacent to Highway 75. Forbes Field is an active

  • The History of the 190th

    The 440th Bombardment Squadron (Light), a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania unit, flew the B-26 aircraft in Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France during World War II. Based in Okinawa at the end of the war, it was reorganized as the 117th Bombardment Squadron (Light) and stationed at the Philadelphia Municipal

  • The Kansas National Guard

    The forerunner of the Kansas National Guard, the Kansas Militia, was formed on August 30, 1855 by the Territorial Governor and Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Kansas. The first Territorial Adjutant General was Hiram J. Strickler. Six years later, when Kansas became the 34th state, the

  • The New Mission

    On 22 August 1977 , Major General Edward Fry announced that the 190th Defense Systems Evaluation Group was to become the 190th Air Refueling Group, converting from EB-57s to KC-135s. The official date of conversion was to be 1 Apr 1978 . The announcement could scarcely be called a surprise: There