169th Airlift Squadron The 169th Airlift Squadron ( 169 AS ) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard 182d Airlift Wing located at Peoria Air National Guard Base , Peoria , Illinois . The 169th is equipped with the C - 130H3 Hercules . History . World War II . The 304th Fighter Squadron was activated at Morris Field , North Carolina with the 98th , 303d , and 304th Fighter Squadrons assigned . It received its initial cadre from the 20th Fighter Group . The squadron operated as replacement training unit , flying primarily P - 40 Warhawk s and P - 51 Mustang s , but also other fighter aircraft . The squadron and its components were disbanded in 1944 in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces ( AAF ) in which all units not programmed to be transferred overseas were replaced by AAF Base Units to free up manpower for overseas deployment . The 341st AAF Base Unit ( Replacement Training Unit , Fighter ) took over the group ' s equipment at Pinellas . Illinois Air National Guard . The wartime 304th Fighter Squadron was re - constituted and re - designated as the 169th Fighter Squadron on 24 May 1946 . It was allotted to the Illinois Air National Guard , being organized at Greater Peoria Airport , Illinois and was extended federal recognition on 21 June 1947 . The 169th Fighter Squadron was bestowed the history , honors , and colors of the 304th Fighter Squadron . The squadron was equipped with the F - 51D Mustang and was assigned to the Illinois ANG 126th Bombardment Group ( Light ) , at Chicago Municipal Airport . Korean War mobilization . In February 1951 . The unit was ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 as a result of the Korean War . The unit was initially assigned to Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB , Virginia . The wing moved to Bordeaux - Merignac Air Base , France with the first elements arriving in November 1951 . The unit was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe . By 10 November , Bordeaux was considered an operational base and was assigned to the 12th Air Force . At Bordeaux , the aircraft were marked in Black / Yellow / Red , and it flew B - 26 ' s for training and maneuvers and stayed at Bordeaux AB until being transferred Laon - Couvron Air Base , France on 25 May 1952 where it remained for the balance of the year . The 169th was relieved from active duty and transferred , without personnel and equipment , back to the control of the Illinois ANG on 1 January 1953 . Cold War . After returning to Peoria , the 169th returned to flying the Mustang , receiving the very - long distance F - 51H which was designed as an escort fighter for B - 29s in the Pacific Theater during World War II . In 1954 the 169th FBS obtained the copyright for The Chief , a Walt Disney cartoon character , to display as their emblem . The obsolete Mustangs were retired in 1956 and for two years , the squadron flew T - 6G Texan trainers . In 1958 , the squadron received its first F - 84F Thunderstreak , and began a tactical fighter mission in the late 1950s . On 1 July 1961 , the parent 125th Wimg ' s mission was changed to an air refueling one and the squadron was assigned the KC - 97 Stratotanker aircraft . The 169th flew the first Air National Guard air - to - air refueling mission in 1961 . On 1 October 1961 , as a result of the 1961 Berlin Crisis , the 169th was again mobilized and assigned to the Missouri ANG 131st Tactical Fighter Wing , and again equipped with F - 84F Thunderstreak tactical fighters . Due to budget shortfalls , the squadron physically remained at Peoria while the 131st TFW and its 110th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Toul - Rosières Air Base , France as the USAFE 7131st Tactical Fighter Wing ( Provisional ) . During the next year , elements of the 169th were rotated from Peoria to Toul Air Base as needed . While in France , the Guardsmen assumed regular commitments on a training basis with the U . S . 7th Army as well as maintaining a 24 - hour alert status . The 7131st exchanged both air and ground crews with the Royal Danish Air Force ' s 730th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Skydstrup Air Station , Denmark , during May 1962 . As the Berlin situation subsided , all activated ANG units were ordered to be returned to the United States and released from active duty . The 7131st TFW was inactivated in place in France on 19 July 1962 leaving its aircraft and equipment to USAFE . Upon its return to Illinois State Control , the Illinois Air National Guard authorized the 169th Tactical Fighter Squadron to expand to a group level , and the 182d Tactical Fighter Group was established by the National Guard Bureau on 15 October 1962 . The 169th TFS became the group ' s flying squadron . Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 182d Headquarters , 182d Material Squadron ( Maintenance ) , 182d Combat Support Squadron , and the 182d USAF Dispensary . During the 1960s the squadron continued to operate its F - 84F Thunderstraks , and the unit was not activated during the Vietnam War . In May 1969 , the F - 84Fs were retired and 182d TFG was re - designated as the 182d Tactical Air Support Group ( TASG ) ; flying Forward Air Control ( FAC ) missions . The 169th was equipped with light observation U - 3A / B Blue Canoe and in January 1970 , the O - 2A Skymaster aircraft . The group ' s mission being to perform visual reconnaissance , as the FAC flew light aircraft slowly over the rough terrain at low altitude to maintain constant aerial surveillance over a combat area . By patrolling the same area constantly , the FACs grew very familiar with the terrain , and they learned to detect any changes that could indicate enemy forces hiding below . Members of the 182d TASG provided relief assistance during state active duty for the Canton tornado disaster in July 1975 . In 1976 , the 182d TASG was awarded its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award . In 1979 , the squadron received OA - 37B Dragonfly jet FAC aircraft from the New York and Maine Air National Guard , continuing the FAC mission . The 182d TASG received an " Excellent " rating on its first Operational Readiness Inspection ( ORI ) under the 12th Air Force , and the group was awarded its second Air Force Outstanding Unit award in 1985 . In January 1991 , 138 group personnel were called to active duty during the 1991 Gulf War and deployed to United States Central Command Air Forces ( CENTAF ) . Post Cold War era . In March 1992 the A - 37s were finally retired . and the group received the Block 15 F - 16A / B Fighting Falcon Air Defense Fighter ( ADF ) . It was re - designated as the 182d Fighter Group on 15 March . In June 1993 , members served on state active duty in response to the Mississippi River flooding of southern Illinois . Due to government budget constraints and military restructuring after the Cold War , the 182d FG converted to the C - 130E Hercules and was re - designated the 182d Airlift Wing ( AW ) effective October 1 , 1995 . In 1996 , the wing began participation in ongoing flying missions for Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia . In 1997 , the 182d AW celebrated its 50th anniversary and received an " Excellent " in its first Air Mobility Command ( AMC ) ORI . Global War on Terrorism . After the 9 - 11 terrorist attacks , members of the wing were called up to support the Air Force at various locations around the world . During a September 2002 deployment to Oman , wing aircraft flew combat supply missions into Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom . On March 29 , 2003 , SSgt Jacob Frazier of the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron ( ASOS ) was killed in action while serving with Army Special Forces in Afghanistan . He was the first member of the wing to die in combat . In March 2003 , immediately following mobilization , six aircraft and over 350 personnel were deployed to Minhad , United Arab Emirates , for Operation Iraqi Freedom . These airmen returned in August after providing airlift support throughout the theater . Since that mobilization , smaller numbers of wing personnel and aircraft have continually supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom . On December 28 , 2003 , a wing crew delivered earthquake relief supplies to Iran , becoming the first US aircraft to land there since 1981 . Beginning in January 2005 , the wing converted from the C - 130E to the newer H3 model . In October 2006 , the wing received a rating of " Excellent " after serving as the lead wing during an AMC ORI . On February 3 , 2007 , the wing was awarded its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period from August 1 , 2003 to July 31 , 2005 . Some personnel remain deployed to combat zones as part of Air and Space Expeditionary units while other members of the wing continue routine worldwide support to the Air Force