118th Operations Group

World War II Organization and training in the United States The group was first activated at Westover Field, Massachusetts in December 1942 and assigned the 359th, 360th, and 361st Fighter Squadrons. The group soon equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and trained with them, while also performing service in the air defense of the northeastern United States. Combat in Europe The group arrived at RAF Goxhill in late August 1943. After preparing for combat, it moved to RAF Martlesham Heath in October and entered combat on 15 October. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this contribution to the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In early 1945, group Mustangs clashed with German Arado 234 jet aircraft. The group flew its last combat mission on 7 May 1945, escorting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses dropping propaganda leaflets. The group claimed 201 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and an additional 75 1/2 on the ground for the loss of 122 fighters. During its period in combat, the group suffered the highest rate of loss compared to its claims of enemy aircraft destroyed of any fighter group in Eighth Air Force. On 1 April 1951, the 118th Wing, including the group, was called to active duty for the Korean War. The group moved to Memphis Municipal Airport, where its squadrons were equipped with a mix of North American RF-51 Mustangs, Lockheed RF-80 Shooting Stars, and Douglas RB-26 Invaders. In January 1952, the group moved to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. On 1 January 1953, the group was released from active duty and returned to the Tennessee Air National Guard. Reconnaissance operations After returning to the Guard, the group's squadrons included the 105th and 155th Squadrons assigned to it prior to its period on active duty, but also the 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas and the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Smith Regional Airport, Arkansas. In 1955, the group became an all-jet unit when it equipped with Lockheed RF-80 Shooting Stars, and by 1957, its squadrons were flying Republic RF-84F Thunderflashs. This meant that while the group retained only its 105th Squadron as a flying element, it added an air base squadron, an aeromedical evacuation squadron and a dispensary. In January 1966, the squadron was redesignated 118th Military Airlift Group with no change in mission or aircraft. The following year, it replaced its Stratofreighters with Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs. In 1971, its mission changed from strategic to tactical airlift as it became the 118th Tactical Airlft Group and equipped with the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Following an announcement in 2012 that the group would lose its piloted aircraft mission, it converted to operating the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. ==Lineage==