page_title: Illinois Air National Guard
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Illinois Air National Guard / History / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: 08th Observation Squadron - North American O-47B 39-108-07 with maintenance crew at Howard Field, Panama, 1943
context_page_description: The Illinois Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Illinois, United States of America. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard.
  As state militia units, the units in the Illinois Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Illinois though the office of the Illinois Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Illinois Air National Guard is headquartered at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, led by its Commander, Brigadier General Peter Nezamis; Chief of Staff, Brigadier General William Robertson; and Command Chief Master Sergeant Jimmie E. Flinn.
context_section_description: The unit distinguished itself in World War II, performing anti-submarine patrols in North American O-47 aircraft from a base near the Panama Canal. In September 1943, the unit was inactivated.
  Another, later, Illinois ANG unit originated during World War II as the 304th Fighter Squadron, which was activated on 23 July 1942. The 304th FS was assigned to the 337th Fighter Group (FG) at the Pinellas County Airport, Florida, and served as an operational training unit equipped with the P-39 Airacobra and the P-40 Warhawk. The 304th FS was disbanded on 1 May 1944.
caption: Maintenance crew of the 108th Observation Squadron at Howard Field, Panama, with an O-47
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