page_title: 190th Fighter Squadron
section_title: Tactical Reconnaissance
hierarchical_section_title: 190th Fighter Squadron / History / Idaho Air National Guard / Tactical Reconnaissance
caption_attribution_description: English: 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-40-MC Phantom 68-0608. Note lack of tail code. Retired to AMARC as FP0206 in 1991. Still on AMARC inventory Jan 15, 2008.
context_page_description: The 190th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard 124th Fighter Wing located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho. The 190th is equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The 190th Fighter Squadron is known as the "Skull Bangers"
context_section_description: In 1975, the 190th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron changed its name and mission to join the newly‑formed 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group as the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.  It was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with the RF-4C Phantom II Mach 2 high speed reconnaissance aircraft. F-4 Phantom jets would eventually spend 20 years on Gowen Field, longer than any other aircraft in the history of Idaho's Air National Guard.
  The unarmed RF-4C carried high resolution cameras and electronic sensors, which soon proved their worth to thousands of people in Idaho. RF-4C jets tracked flood waters pouring from the ruptured Teton Dam within hours of the dam's collapse in 1976 to show officials where flood waters were headed in time to warn people living in endangered areas. Aerial photographs were also taken immediately after the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake near Challis.  The Challis-Mackay region experienced rather thorough damage, with 11 commercial buildings and 39 homes with major damage; while another 200 houses were damaged, minor to moderate.  The reconnaissance photos helped emergency response crews locate and evaluate the damage.
  Idaho aircrews excelled in their military mission as well. Two Idaho fliers were named "Best Aerial Reconnaissance Aircrew" at an international competition. The 190th TRS was named "Best Flying Unit in the Air National Guard" and received the prestigious Spaatz Trophy from the National Guard Association. Idaho airmen and Phantom jets went to Canada and Norway to provide critical tactical reconnaissance capabilities to U.S. and NATO forces.
caption: 190th TRS RF-4C Phantom II 68-0608 about 1988.  The 190th did not carry tail codes on its RF-4C aircraft.
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