page_title: 138th Attack Squadron
section_title: Air Defense mission
hierarchical_section_title: 138th Attack Squadron / History / New York Air National Guard / Air Defense mission
caption_attribution_description: U.S. Air Force New York Air National Guard Lockheed F-94 Starfire fighters of the 138th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Hancock Field, Syracuse, New York (USA), stand Air Defense Command runway alert, 1954.
context_page_description: The 138th Attack Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing located at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. The 138th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
context_section_description: In January 1950 the 138th became the first New York Air National Guard unit to receive jet aircraft, obtaining F-84B Thunderjets, mostly from the USAF 20th Fighter Group at Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
  With the surprise invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1950, and the regular military's complete lack of readiness, most of the nation's Air National Guard was federalized and placed on active duty.  The 138th was retained by the State of New York to maintain the air defense mission.
  In December 1950/January 1951 the 138th transferred several F-84Bs to the Arizona ANG 197th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, and at the end of 1951 the remainder were transferred to the federalized Michigan ANG 127th Pilot Training Group, also at Luke AFB.  The Thunderjets were used for jet pilot transition training for pilots being deployed to Korea.   In return, the 138th received Very Long Range F-51H Mustangs with were capable of extended air defense flights over all of New York state.  In 1952, the 138th became one of the first Air National Guard squadrons to commence standing daylight runway alert. At least two aircraft from the squadron with pilots in their cockpits stood alert at the end of runway from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset every day of the year.
  The air defense mission remained after the Korean War armistice and the unit resumed normal peacetime training and drills. In 1954, the Mustang was ending its service life and Air Defense Command was re-equipping its fighter-interceptor squadrons with jet aircraft. The 138th received F-94B Starfires, however the F-94 required a two-man aircrew, a pilot and an air observer to operate its radar equipment. Trainees for the radar assignment had to attend regular Air Force training schools, and required virtually the same qualifications as the pilot trainees. The additional recruitment of guardsmen led to the units having a manning and capabilities problem that lasted for some time until the unit was returned to full readiness.
  In 1956, the 107th Fighter-Interceptor Wing was reorganized and re-designated as the 107th Air Defense Wing.   The 107th Fighter-Interceptor Group was re-designated as the 107th Fighter Group (Air Defense) and transferred from Niagara Falls Municipal Airport to Hancock Field on 1 May, with the 138th FIS being assigned.  The F-86H Sabre replaced the F-94B Starfires in 1957.
caption: 138th FIS F-94s in the 1950s
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