The Kansas Air Guard has a proud military aviation heritage. It has been honored with 6 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for Meritorious Service and has flown 13 different aircraft in over 50 years of state and federal service.
Flying the L-1, BC-1A, and the C-47, the unit originated as the 127th Observation Squadron in 1941 and was activated from October 1941 to October 1945 during WWII. Serving with honor, the unit returned home in 1946 as the 127th Fighter Squadron and began flying the F-51 Mustang.
The 127th entered the jet age in 1949 with the assignment of the F-84 Thunderjet and was mobilized during the Korean conflict from October 1950 to July 1952 with the 137th Fighter Bomber Wing. Following that activation period, the unit was again assigned the F-51.
Designated the 127th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in 1954, the unit flew F-80 Shooting Stars from then until 1958, when it was equipped with the F-86 Sabre jet. Assignment of the F-100 Super Sabre in 1961 brought the 127th into the supersonic era as a tactical fighter squadron, and they were activated for service in Korea in 1968 in support of the Vietnam conflict in the aircraft.
The 127th converted to the F-105 Thunderchief in March 1971, was redesignated the 127th Tactical Fighter Training Group (TFTG), and was tasked with the mission of producing combat-ready fighter pilots. The group served as the Thud Combat Crew Training School until October 1979, when 50 F-4D Phantoms were assigned, and the unit continued its training mission in the Rhino.
Training capabilities expanded during this period with the assignment of the Smoky Hill Weapons Range and the 134th Tactical Control Flight to the 184th. An F-4D Fighters Weapons Instructors Course was developed by the 127th TFS, and a second squadron, the 177th TFTS, was formed in 1984 to Support the F-4D training mission.
Continuing an exciting growth trend, the 3rd and newest squadron, the 161st TFTS, was established in July 1987 to lead the Flying Jayhawks into the future with the worlds foremost fighter, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
On July 1, 1994 the 184th became the first Air National Guard unit in the history of the U.S. Air Force to fly a heavy bomber, the B-1B Lancer or the Bone. On August 4, 2002 the last 3 Bones took to the Kansas skies for the last time, as of that date the 184th Bomb Wing became the 184th Air Refueling Wing flying the KC-135Rs.
During the transition the 184th reactivated the 161st and 177th. 161st became an Intel Squadron with the 177th IWAS, and gaining an ANG NOSC.the 184th looks forward to broadening their proud heritage as a premier tanker wing with the KC-135.
