The 196th Attack Squadron (196 ATKS) is a unit of the 163d Attack Wing of the California Air National Guard stationed at March Joint Air Reserve Base, California, operating the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.
Mission
The 196 ATKS's primary mission is to train and equip its members to operate an MQ-9 Reaper aircraft anywhere in the world. Members of the 196 ATKS maintain a high level of vigilance and proficiency as MQ-9 Reaper crew members; ready at a moment's notice to go wherever they are needed. When not training to operate MQ-9 Reapers in combat, the 196 ATKS is diligently supporting domestic operations for the State of California, such as locating missing hikers or fighting fires with CAL FIRE. The 196 ATKS has assisted CAL FIRE with containing some of the state's worst fires including the Thomas Fire, SCU Lightning Complex, and LNU Lightning Complex.
In November 2006, the squadron's parent wing, formerly the 163rd Air Refueling Wing, was redesignated the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing (163 RW) and the wing and squadron's mobilization gaining command was changed from Air Mobility Command to Air Combat Command (ACC). As the wing's operational squadron, the 196 RS was the first Air National Guard (ANG) unit to receive the MQ-1 Predator and was the first to become a fully functional ANG Flying Training Unit (FTU) and Field Training Detachment (FTD) for the Predator. The FTU trains pilots and sensor operators for ACC, and trains enlisted personnel to assemble, disassemble, maintain and repair the Predator for Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
History
World War II
see: 373d Fighter Group for expanded World War II history
The squadron was formed at Westover Field, Massachusetts, in August 1943 as the 411th Fighter Squadron, one of three squadrons of the 373d Fighter Group. During World War II the 411th was assigned to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), Ninth Air Force in Western Europe. It was equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts.
The unit flew its first combat mission on 8 May 1944, a fighter sweep over Normandy. It then took part in pre-invasion activities, escorting B-26 Marauders to attack airdromes, bridges, and railroads in Occupied France. The squadron patrolled the air over the beachhead when the Allies launched the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944, and hit troops, tanks, roads, fuel depots and other targets in the assault area until the end of the month.
The squadron moved to the European Continent in July 1944 where it struck railroads, hangars, boxcars, warehouses, and other objectives to prevent reinforcements from reaching the front at St. Lo, where the Allies broke through on 25 July 1944. The squadron bombed such targets as troops in the Falaise-Argentan area in August 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge, from December 1944 to January 1945, the 411th concentrated on the destruction of bridges, marshalling yards, and highways. It also flew reconnaissance missions to support ground operations in the Rhine Valley in March 1945, hitting airfields, motor transport, etc. The squadron continued tactical air operations until 4 May 1945.
The 411th returned to the United States and prepared for transfer to the Pacific Theater during the Summer of 1945. The Japanese capitulation in August led to the squadron's inactivation in November 1945.
California Air National Guard
The wartime 411th Fighter Squadron was allotted to the California Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946 and redesignated as the 196th Fighter Squadron. It was organized at Norton Air Force Base, California, on 12 September 1946 and federally recognized on 9 November 1946. The squadron was equipped with P-51D Mustangs and assigned to the 146th Fighter Group, at Van Nuys Airport by the National Guard Bureau.
The squadron trained for tactical fighter missions and air-to-air combat under the supervision of Fourth Air Force. In June 1948, the unit received 25 F-80C Shooting Star aircraft. The 196th was one of the first Air National Guard units to receive these new jets.
Combat in Korean War
The 196th was federalized on 10 October 1950 due to the Korean War. It was briefly assigned to the Fourth Air Force, which moved the squadron to George AFB, California, and assigned it to the 116th Fighter Group On 11 November, the 196th squadron and 116th were redesignated fighter-bomber units and became part of Tactical Air Command. The group's other operational squadrons were the 128th Fighter Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard and the 159th Fighter Squadron of the Florida Air National Guard.