USAF Patch ANG 170 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron F 4 Phantom e

USAF Patch 170 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron ANG F 4 Phantom II 1987 Illinois Air National Guard Capital Airport Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 87mm three and seven sixteenth inches diameter.

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Squadron History

170 Fighter Squadron was formed on 24 May 1946 on the reconstituted and renaming of 305 Fighter Squadron at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport Springfield as a reserve unit assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard. The Squadron received federal recognition on 30 September 1948 and was activated equipped with F 51D Mustang as part of 126 Bombardment Group Light at Chicago Municipal Airport.

On 1 March 1951 the 170 Fighter Squadron was federalized and brought to active duty due to the Korean War and was assigned to Strategic Air Command and relocated to Bergstrom AFB Texas under 131 Fighter Bomber Group Missouri ANG with 192 Fighter Squadron Nevada ANG 110 Composite Squadron Missouri ANG and 178 Fighter Squadron North Dakota ANG all providing filler replacement for 27 Fighter Escort Group which had been deployed to Japan for the Korean War.

The Squadron moved to George AFB California in November 1951 under Tactical Air Command and was scheduled to be reequipped with F 84D Thunderjets and was programmed for deployment to Japan however the F 84s were instead sent to France and Squadron remained in California with its F 51 Mustangs. The Squadron was redesignated 170 Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 1 July 1952 and 170 Fighter Bomber Squadron on 1 December 1952.

170 FBS was released from active duty on 1 January 1953 and returning to state control and moved to Capital Airport Springfield reequipping with F 86E Sabre aircraft. The Squadron received F 84F Thunderstreaks in February 1955 and was redesignated 170 Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 1 July 1955. In November 1957 the Squadrons mission changed to the tactical delivery of nuclear weapons and renamed 170 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 10 November 1958.

As a result of the 1961 Berlin Crisis 170 TFS was again federalized and assigned to the mobilized 131 Tactical Fighter Wing Missouri Air National Guard Due to budget restrictions the 170 TFS remained at Springfield while only 110 TFS deployed to Toul Rosieres Air Base France as 7131 Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional. 170 TFS rotated personnel to Toul Rosieres AB during their period of activation however only one Squadrons worth of aircraft and personnel were there at any one time maintaining a 24 hour alert status training with the US Army and personnel exchange with RDAFs 730 Tactical Fighter Squadron at Skydstrup AS Denmark during May 1962. As the Berlin situation subsided all activated ANG units were returned to the US and released from active duty. The 7131 TFW P was inactivated in France on 19 July 1962 leaving its aircraft and equipment to USAFE.

170 TFS returned to state control on 31 August 1962 and on 15 October 1962 the Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level and established 183 Tactical Fighter Group with 170 TFS becoming 183 TFGs flying squadron with its F 84F Thunderjets until the aircraft were grounded in November 1971. The Squadron was the first to receive F 4C Phantom II fighters in 1972 and a number of RF 4C Phantom II for a Reconnaissance Flight in 1973 with Vietnam War aircraft that were returning from Southeast Asia. In 1981 the Squadrons F 4C Phantom IIs were replaced by F 4D Phantom IIs.

170 TFS began receiving F 16A Fighting Falcon on 7 June 1989 becoming operational for fighter attack on 5 May 1990. On 15 March 1992 the Squadron was redesignated 170 Fighter Squadron and the Group to 183 Fighter Group. The Squadron upgraded to F 16C and D Fighting Falcons in early 1994 and conducted numerous overseas deployments including six to Southwest Asia two to Denmark one each to Panama Curacao and Thailand. In March 2002 170 FS deployed to Afghanistan as 170 Expeditionary Fighter Squadron carried out missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom when they deployed in October 2004. 170 Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 2008.

This patch dates from 1987.