# List of observation squadrons of the United States Army National Guard

The National Guard began forming aerial observation units before World War I. When the United States entered the war in April 1917, about 100 National Guard pilots joined the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (Later United States Army Air Service).
After the demobilization of the World War I Air Service in 1919, the Militia Bureau and the Air Service agreed on forming postwar National Guard aviation units in 1920. On 17 January 1921 the 109th Observation Squadron of the Minnesota National Guard became the first postwar air unit to receive federal recognition. They flew a wide variety of aircraft during the inter-war period. These included the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny", Consolidated PT-1 "Trusty", Consolidated PT-3, Northrop BT-1, Douglas O-2 and Consolidated O-17 Courier during 1923–1931; the Douglas O-38 during 1931–1935; and the Douglas O-43 and North American O-47 between 1935 and 1942.
All 29 squadrons (18 of them having lineages dating back to World War I) remain active Air National Guard units today.

## Squadrons

| Unit | State | Organized | Federal Recognition* | Federalized / Inactivated | Comments |
| 101st Observation Squadron | Massachusetts | 22 August 1917 | 25 January 1923 | 25 November 1940 | Initially World War I 101st Aero Squadron. Deployed to France, was aircraft maintenance unit. demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1923, 26th Division, MA National Guard. Ordered to active service on 25 Nov 1940; allotted to ANG, on 29 Jul 1946; now 101st Intelligence Squadron. |
| 102d Observation Squadron | New York | 23 August 1917 | 17 November 1921 | 15 October 1940 | Origins begin in April 1908 as 1st Aero Company, New York National Guard. Disbanded 1917. World War I 102d Aero Squadron formed from unit personnel. Deployed to France, was primarily a transportation and aircraft maintenance unit. demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1921, 27th Division, NY National Guard. Ordered to active service on 15 Oct 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 102d Rescue Squadron. This squadron is recognized as the ANG's oldest unit. |
| 103d Observation Squadron | Pennsylvania | 27 June 1924 | 27 June 1924 | 17 February 1941 | 28th Division, PA National Guard. Ordered to active service on 17 Feb 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 103d Fighter Squadron, inactivated 2010. |
| 104th Observation Squadron | Maryland | 29 June 1921 | 29 June 1921 | 3 February 1941 | 29th Division, MD National Guard. Ordered to active service on 3 Feb 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 104th Fighter Squadron |
| 107th Observation Squadron | Michigan | 27 August 1917 | 7 May 1926 | 15 October 1940 | Initially World War I 107th Aero Squadron. Deployed to France, assembled, serviced and repaired aircraft. demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1926, 32d Division, MI National Guard. Ordered to active service on 15 Oct 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 107th Fighter Squadron |
| 108th Observation Squadron | Illinois | 27 August 1917 | 1 July 1927 | 3 February 1941 | Initially World War I 108th Aero Squadron. Deployed to France, repaired and maintained aircraft. demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1927, 33d Division, IL National Guard. Ordered to active service on 3 Feb 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; ;now 108th Air Refueling Squadron |
| 109th Observation Squadron | Minnesota | 27 August 1917 | 17 January 1921 | 10 February 1941 | Initially World War I 109th Aero Squadron, deployed to France, primarily a transportation unit on Western Front, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1921, 34th Division, MN National Guard. Ordered to active service on 10 Feb 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 109th Airlift Squadron |
| 110th Observation Squadron | Missouri | 14 August 1917 | 23 June 1923 | 23 December 1940 | Initially World War I 110th Aero Squadron, assigned to Kelly Field, Texas, as a repair squadron, later re-designated as 804th Aero Squadron, "Squadron K, Kelly Field"; demobilized 1918. Re-formed 1923, 35th Division, MO National Guard. Ordered to active service on 23 Dec 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 110th Bombardment Squadron |
| 111th Observation Squadron | Texas | 14 August 1917 | 29 June 1923 | 25 December 1940 | Initially World War I 111th Aero Squadron, operated as a supply unit at Kelly Field, Texas, later re-designated as 632d Aero Squadron, demobilized 1919. Re-formed 1923, 36th Division, TX National Guard. Ordered to active service on 25 Dec 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 111th Reconnaissance Squadron |
| 112th Observation Squadron | Ohio | 18 August 1917 | 20 June 1927 | 25 November 1940 | Initially World War I 112th Aero Squadron, remained in United States, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1927, 37th Division, OH National Guard. Ordered to active service on 25 Nov 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 112th Fighter Squadron |
| 113th Observation Squadron | Indiana | 26 August 1917 | 1 August 1921 | 17 January 1941 | Initially World War I 113th Aero Squadron, remained in United States, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1921, 38th Division, IN National Guard. Ordered to active service on 17 Jan 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 113th Air Support Operations Squadron |
| 114th Observation Squadron 106th Observation Squadron | Alabama | 27 August 1917 | 21 January 1922 | 25 November 1940 | Initially World War I 106th Aero Squadron, deployed to France, repaired and maintained aircraft, demobilized 1919; reformed as 114th Observation Squadron; consolidated (1936) with 135th Squadron (organized 21 Jan 1922); served from 1923 with 39th Division to 1924 and thereafter with 31st Division, AL National Guard. Ordered to active service on 25 Nov 1940; re-designated: 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 May 1944; allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946; now 106th Air Refueling Squadron |
| 115th Observation Squadron | California | 28 August 1917 | 16 June 1924 | 3 March 1941 | Initially World War I 115th Aero Squadron. Deployed to France, Constructed facilities and engaged in supply and related base support activities, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1924, 40th Division, CA National Guard. Ordered to active service on 3 March 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 115th Airlift Squadron |
| 116th Observation Squadron | Washington | 29 August 1917 | 6 August 1924 | 16 September 1940 | Initially World War I 116th Aero Squadron, deployed to France. Performed transportation and supply missions on the Western Front, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1924, 41st Division, WA National Guard. Ordered to active service on 16 September 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 116th Air Refueling Squadron. |
| 118th Observation Squadron | Connecticut | 31 August 1917 | 1 November 1923 | 24 February 1941 | Initially World War I 118th Aero Squadron, deployed to France. Constructed facilities, repaired aircraft and equipment, and served as a transportation and supply missions on the Western Front, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1923, 43d Division, CT National Guard. Ordered to active service on 16 September 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 118th Airlift Squadron. |
| 119th Observation Squadron | New Jersey | 8 June 1917 | 30 January 1930 | 18 October 1942 | Initially World War I 5th Aviation School Squadron (later 119th Aero Squadron), remained in the United States, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1930, 44th Division, NJ National Guard. Inactivated 18 October 1942. Reactivated 1 March 1943, re-designated 490th Fighter Squadron allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 119th Fighter Squadron |
| 120th Observation Squadron | Colorado | 28 August 1917 | 27 June 1923 | 6 January 1941 | Initially World War I 120th Aero Squadron, deployed to England. primarily aircraft maintenance unit, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1923, 45th Division, CO National Guard. Ordered to active service on 6 January 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 120th Fighter Squadron |
| 121st Observation Squadron | District of Columbia | 10 July 1940 | 10 April 1941 | 1 September 1941 | DC National Guard. Ordered to active service on 1 Sep 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 121st Fighter Squadron |
| 122d Observation Squadron | Louisiana | 30 July 1940 | 2 March 1941 | 1 October 1941 | LA National Guard, Ordered to active service on 1 October 1941; re-designated 885th Bombardment Squadron, 12 May 1944. allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 122d Fighter Squadron. |
| 123d Observation Squadron | Oregon | 30 July 1940 | 18 April 1941 | 15 September 1941 | OR National Guard, Ordered to active service on 18 April 1941; re-designated 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 11 August 1943. allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946; now 123d Fighter Squadron |
| 124th Observation Squadron | Iowa | 30 July 1940 | 25 February 1941 | 15 September 1941 | IA National Guard, Ordered to active service on 15 September 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 124th Fighter Squadron |
| 125th Observation Squadron | Oklahoma | 30 July 1940 | 15 February 1941 | 15 September 1941 | OK National Guard, Ordered to active service on 15 September 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 125th Fighter Squadron |
| 126th Observation Squadron | Wisconsin | 30 July 1940 | 12 November 1940 | 2 June 1941 | WI National Guard, ; Ordered to active service on 15 September 1941; re-designated 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946; now 126th Air Refueling Squadron |
| 127th Observation Squadron | Kansas | 30 July 1940 | 4 August 1941 | 6 October 1941 | KS National Guard, Ordered to active service on 6 October 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 127th Command and Control Squadron |
| 128th Observation Squadron | Georgia | 1 February 1918 | 1 May 1941 | 15 September 1941 | Initially World War I 840th Aero Squadron, deployed to France. repaired and rebuilt damaged aircraft on the Western Front, demobilized 1919; Re-formed 1940, GA National Guard. Ordered to active service on 15 September 1941; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946;; now 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron |
| 136th Observation Squadron 105th Observation Squadron | Tennessee | 27 August 1917 | 4 December 1921 | 18 October 1942 | Initially World War I 105th Aero Squadron, deployed to France. operated as a supply unit, demobilized 1919; reformed as 105th Observation Squadron; consolidated (1936) with 136th Squadron (organized 4 Dec 1921), 30th Division, TN National Guard; Inactivated on 18 October 1942; Re-activated on 1 March 1943 as 105th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment); allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946; now 105th Airlift Squadron |
| 152d Observation Squadron | Rhode Island | 21 August 1939 | 13 October 1939 | 25 November 1940 | RI National Guard, Ordered to active service on 25 November 1940; re-designated: 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 15 June 1943. allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now Rhode Island ANG 143d Airlift Squadron |
| 153d Observation Squadron | Mississippi | 18 August 1939 | 27 September 1939 | 15 October 1940 | MS National Guard, Ordered to active service on 15 October 1940; allotted to ANG, on 24 May 1946; now 153d Air Refueling Squadron |
| 154th Observation Squadron | Arkansas | 8 December 1917 | 24 October 1925 | 16 September 1940 | Initially World War I 154th Aero Squadron, deployed first to England, then France. Repaired and maintained aircraft on the Western Front. demobilized 1919; reformed as 154th Observation Squadron 1925, Aviation Corps, AR National Guard; Ordered to active service on 16 Sep 1940; allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946; now 154th Training Squadron |
* Note: The "Federal Recognition" date is the effective date the unit was accepted for National Guard service. Demobilized World War I Air Service units were reconstituted and consolidated with the new units effective that date.
During World War II, these units were federalized and were re-equipped with more modern aircraft. As part of the Army Air Corps, the units were transformed from observation organizations into reconnaissance, liaison, fighter, and bombardment squadrons. They served in every major combat theater during the war. The most significant wartime contribution of National Guard aviators was to train and lead the large numbers of volunteer airmen who had entered the AAF. That role was epitomized by Lieutenant Colonel Addison E. Baker, a Guardsman from Akron, Ohio. On 1 August 1943, Baker commanded the VIII Bomber Command's 93d Bombardment Group on a daring but ill-fated low-level attack against enemy oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Baker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership.