153d Air Refueling Squadron The 153d Air Refueling Squadron ( 153 ARS ) is a unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing located at Key Field Air National Guard Base , Mississippi . The 153d is equipped with the KC - 135 Stratotanker aircraft . The squadron is a descendant organization of the 153d Observation Squadron , one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II . Overview . The squadrons aircraft are eight KC - 135R Stratotankers . The mission of the squadron is to provide air refueling support to major commands of the United States Air Force , as well as other U . S . military forces and the military forces of allied nations . History . World War II . Activated as part of the Mississippi National Guard in 1939 by the National Guard Bureau . Equipped with Douglas O - 38 observation aircraft . Ordered to active service on 15 October 1940 as part of the buildup of the Army Air Corps prior to the United States entry into World War II . After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , was attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command , performed anti - submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico until August 1943 when the mission was turned over to the United States Navy . Transferred to the European Theater of Operations ( ETO ) , August 1943 . Assigned to Ninth Air Force as a photographic reconnaissance unit . After the Normandy Invasion in June 1944 , because a liaison and courier unit flying light aircraft until the end of the war in Europe . Inactivated during December 1945 in Germany . Mississippi Air National Guard . The squadron was re - designated as the 153d Fighter Squadron and allotted to the Mississippi Air National Guard , on 24 May 1946 . It was organized at Key Field , Meridian , Mississippi and was extended federal recognition on 12 September . The squadron was equipped with F - 47D Thunderbolt s and was allocated to the Fourteenth Air Force , Continental Air Command by the National Guard Bureau . The unit was called to active federal service on 1 March 1951 . This activation temporarily resulted in the dissolution of the Mississippi Air National Guard , as members were sent to various places , including for many , duty in the Korean War . The squadron was sent to Turner AFB , Georgia where it was assigned to the federalized 108th Fighter - Bomber Group with a mission to provide fighter escorts to Strategic Air Command B - 50 Superfortress bombers on training missions . In December 1951 it was moved to Godman AFB , Kentucky where it replaced a unit deployed to England . It was released from active duty and returned to Mississippi state control on 10 November 1952 . Reformed in December 1952 , being equipped with RF - 51D Mustang reconnaissance aircraft . Performed tactical reconnaissance for Tactical Air Command , retiring the Mustangs in 1955 and flying RF - 80C Shooting Star aircraft until 1956 . Re - equipped with RF - 84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft . At the height of the Cold War in 1961 , the squadron was federalized as a result of tensions concerning the Berlin Wall . Part of the squadron remained at Key Field in an active - duty status for about a year before being released . On 15 October 1962 , the 153d was authorized to expand to a group level , and the 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau . The 153d TRS becoming the group ' s flying squadron . Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 186th Headquarters , 186th Material Squadron ( Maintenance ) , 186th Combat Support Squadron , and the 186th USAF Dispensary . In 1970 Tactical Air Command retired the RF - 84s and they were replaced by the RF - 101C Voodoo . In 1979 the Voodoos were again replaced by RF - 4C Phantom II s . RF - 101C 56 - 0166 , on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force , served with the 186th TRG . The aircraft was flown directly from Key Field to the Wright - Patterson Air Force Base , Ohio on its final flight 27 October 1978 . In 1990 during the Gulf Crisis , several aircraft and support personnel were activated and deployed to Doha International Airport , Qatar , being part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing ( Provisional ) during Operation Desert Shield , Operation Desert Storm . In 1992 the squadron ' s 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was realigned to an air refueling unit as the RF - 4Cs were retired . The squadron was equipped with KC - 135 Stratotanker s and placed initially under Air Combat Command , later under Air Mobility Command . The 153d Air Refueling Squadron has seen worldwide duty with the KC - 135s , supporting Operation Display Determination , Operation Provide Relief , Operation Restore Hope , Operation Support Justice , Operation Deny Flight , Operation Northern Watch , Operation Noble Eagle , Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom .