196th Reconnaissance Squadron The 196th Reconnaissance Squadron ( 196 RS ) is a unit of the 163d Reconnaissance Wing of the California Air National Guard stationed at March Joint Air Reserve Base , California . The 196th is equipped with the MQ - 1 Predator . Mission . The 196th Reconnaissance Squadron ' s primary mission is to support the war on terrorism by providing reconnaissance , flying the MQ - 1 Predator , 24 hours a day , seven days a week . 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 . 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 Thunderbolt s . 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 Marauder s 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 though 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 F - 51D Mustang s 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 . At George the three fighter squadrons were equipped with Lockheed F - 80Cs and began operational training . After losing many of their F - 80 pilots who were assigned to Far East Air Force ( FEAF ) as replacements , all three squadrons were forced to transfer pilots among themselves to maintain a balance of qualified pilots in each unit . As a result , they lost their character as squadrons of the Georgia , Florida and California ANGs . In April 1951 the 116th Fighter - Bomber Group ( 116 FBG ) began receiving brand new F - 84E Thunderjet s directly from Republic Aviation . On 14 May the 116th Fighter - Bomber Wing ( 116 FBW ) received a Warning Order for an impending transfer , and they expected to be transferred to Europe . With a Readiness Date of 25 June , the 116 FBW was ready to move , and by 1 July it had sent its seventy - five F - 84Es to the New York Port of Embarkation for shipment to France . However , two days later the wing received orders transferring them to Japan . Fifty - four F - 84Es had to be obtained from Bergstrom AFB , Texas , and Langley AFB , Virginia , as partial replacements for the Thunderjets sent east . The 196th FBS departed from San Diego on 10 July on the USS " Sitkoh Bay " . The 116th FBG with the 158th and 159th FBS ' s departed from San Diego on the transport aircraft carrier USS " Windham Bay " two days later . The USAF , having learned from expensive previous experience with open air transportation of F - 84s on an aircraft carrier deck , heavily protected their F - 84s with cosmoline and tarpaulins . The wing off - loaded at Yokosuka Naval Base , Japan , between 24 and 27 July , with their aircraft being barged to Kisarazu , Japan , for cleaning and preparation for flight . Despite the care taken , thirty - three F - 84s suffered some degree of salt damage . The 196th was established at Chitose Air Base , Japan , while the other squadrons of the group were sent to Misawa Air Base , Japan . The squadrons ' initial role was to augment Japanese air defense s , and operational training began on 6 August . The 116th FBW remained on duty in Japan into the Fall of 1951 . During this period they concentrated on providing air - to - ground support to Army units training in Japan as well as assisting in providing air defense for northern Japan . The 116 FBG began rotating squadrons to Korea in early December The 196th FBS started for Taegu Air Base ( K - 2 ) on 26 December for their turn in combat , but did not get there until 28 December because of weather problems . The 196th FBS flew missions from K - 2 until 3 January 1952 , mostly close air support , with a 70 % accuracy , and returned to Japan on 4 January 1952 . The 116th FBG returned to combat on 26 May 1952 . The first mission was with sixteen F - 84Es that flew from Misawa to Chitose AB for a pilot briefing , and then after arming with 500 pound general purpose bombs , they took off for an attack against Sariwon , in southwestern North Korea . The F - 84s were refueled en route by KB - 29 Superfortress tankers near Taegu , South Korea upon their return from the target , which gave any aircraft unable to be refueled an alternate landing spot . After refueling the mission landed at Johnson Air Base , Japan and resumed the air defense mission . On 10 June 1952 the 116th FBW was relieved from assignment to Tactical Air Command and reassigned to Far East Air Force without personnel . The Guardsmen remaining in the wing were returned to the United States , while the equipment and regular personnel of the Wing were transferred to the regular 474th Fighter - Bomber Wing . Air Defense . The squadron was reorganized at Norton the same day it was relieved from active duty , although it took until January 1953 before it re - equipped with the long - range F - 51H Mustang and TAC The squadron moved from Norton AFB to Ontario Municipal Airport , California , on 1 January 1954 . In February 1954 , it was equipped with North American F - 86A Sabre . By July 1955 the transition from the F - 51H Mustang to the F - 86A Sabre was complete . The squadron was redesignated a fighter interceptor unit with an air defense mission for the Los Angeles area and its mobilization command became Air Defense Command ( ADC ) . With the F - 86A , the squadrons began standing dusk - to - dawn alerts , joining its ADC active - duty counterparts . The squadron received newer F - 86F Sabres in 1957 On 17 May 1958 , the 196th was authorized to expand to a group level , and the 163d Fighter - Interceptor Group was established as its headquarters . The 196th FIS was the group ' s flying squadron , while the 163d Material Squadron , 163d Air Base Squadron , and the 163d USAF Dispensary were activated to support the 196th . ADC upgraded the squadron to F - 86H Sabre day interceptors in 1959 and Convair F - 102 Delta Dagger s in 1965 . The F - 102 was being phased out of active - duty units in the early 1960s and the 196th was one of the last units to replace their F - 86 Sabres . The aircraft , however , was obsolescent as an interceptor by the time it was received by the 196th . The Delta Darts soldiered on until the early 1970s when they were retired to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center at Davis - Monthan AFB . The unit received two Air Force Outstanding Unit Award s for extended periods ending in 1964 and 1974 . Tactical Air Command . On 8 March 1975 , the unit again assumed a new mission and was again aligned under TAC as the 196th Tactical Air Support Squadron . The 196th received the Cessna 0 - 2A / B " Super Skymaster " to accomplish its new role . In October 1982 , the 163d again assumed a tactical fighter role and converted to the McDonnell Douglas F - 4C Phantom II and moved to March AFB , near Riverside , into new facilities built for the unit . The 163d transitioned to the upgraded F - 4E on 1 April 1987 . This newer aircraft incorporated more sophisticated electronics and weaponry . On 21 March 1987 , Captain Dean Paul Martin ( son of entertainer Dean Martin ) , a pilot in the squadron , crashed his F - 4C into San Gorgonio Mountain , California , shortly after departure from March AFB . Both Martin and his weapons system officer ( WSO ) were killed . In July 1990 , the unit again changed missions and was redesignated the 196th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron . The 163d was equipped with RF - 4C Phantom II unarmed reconnaissance aircraft and maintained a dual state / federal mission . The unit ' s primary mission was to provide tactical reconnaissance to friendly forces . The unit was also actively involved in state wide missions . This was accomplished by using a system of visual , optical , electronic , and other sensory devices . During this time the aircrews accumulated over 30 , 000 hours of flying time and the unit deployed across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans . The 163d deployed to Pisa Airport , Italy , in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor . During that period the unit also flew as the lead unit in support of flight operations over Bosnia . Air Refueling . After the end of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 , the phaseout of the RF - 4C Phantom II from the Air National Guard was accelerated . In 1993 , the 196th became the 196th Air Refueling Squadron and was equipped with Boeing KC - 135 Stratotanker s , and its mobilization gaining command became Air Mobility Command . In 1999 the 196th deployed KC - 135R aircraft in support of Operation Allied Force . The unit flew combat missions around - the - clock refueling NATO aircraft , including complex night formation sorties with the F - 117A . 1999 also saw the squadron ' s Pacer CRAG conversion . This extensive aircraft modernization project required intensive aircrew training and is expected to extend the life of the 40 year - old Boeing jet beyond the year 2020 . The 196th Air Refueling Squadron was recognized in 1999 and earned an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the fourth time . The award covers a period during which the unit personnel and aircraft deployed to Pisa Airport , Italy to support Operation Decisive Endeavor and also flew as the lead unit in support of flight operations over Bosnia . The 163d Operations Support Flight , 163d Logistics Group , 163d Logistics Squadron , and the 196th Air Refueling Squadron all earned the Governor ' s Outstanding Unit Citation as well . The 19th supported NATO ' s Operation Joint Forge while deployed to Istres Air Base , France , from 31 October through 3 December 2000 . Under Air Expeditionary Force 9 , the Grizzlies also sent personnel to Kuwait , Germany , France , Saudi Arabia and Turkey from October through December 2000 . Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operations . In 2007 the Air National Guard stood up the first of several units that will operate the MQ - 1 Predator armed unmanned reconnaissance aircraft . During a ceremony on 28 November at March Air Reserve Base in southern California , the 196th Air Refueling Squadron officially became the 196th Reconnaissance Squadron , taking on the Predator mission in place of operating KC - 135R Stratotanker air refueling aircraft . The wing ' s last KC - 135R tanker left in April 2008 . The Wing was the first Air National Guard 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 . Heraldry . Unit Emblem : Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors . Blue alludes to the sky , the primary theater of Air Force operations . Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel . The stars represent all directions within air space . The shooting star over the globe symbolizes air defense of the world and throughout the skies .