Kansas Veterans

Kansas Units Mobilized in the Korean War

127th Fighter Squadron, Kansas Army National Guard

History of the Unit page 7 of 7
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     Within a short time after arrival of the main body at Chaumont, France it was necessary to move all three squadrons to temporary bases at Lanstuhl, Bitbury, and Furstenfelbruck, Germany. This was necessary due to the deterioration of each end of the macadam surfaced runway from heat generated on take-offs of the F-84G aircraft. It was necessary to resurface the first 1500 feet of each with concrete.

     The early part of June was devoted to getting the operation set up and functioning in a satisfactory manner. Arrangements were made so the squadron could have in-flight refueling every Tuesday. Each inflight refueling day, two flights out of the squadron would be scheduled to make hook-ups. All but six of the pilots had had previous hook-ups with an aerial tanker at Alexandria, Louisiana. Starting the second week of June 1952, the squadron furnished eight aircraft for a fly-by at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in honor of German International Aviation Day.

     Although the squadron did not see combat during the Korean Emergency because of being assigned to the European Theater of Operations, many 127th pilots and others who received their training within the unit distinguished themselves in combat following transfer to the Far East. Two pilots were killed while performing combat missions over the Korean Peninsula.

Checking aerial targets for hits

     On 9 July 1952, after 21 months on active duty, all personnel assigned to the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron were reassigned to the 493rd Fighter Bomber Squadron, and would return to Wichita, Kansas. Personnel who had volunteered to remain on active duty beyond the 21 month tour were reassigned within the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing, Chaumont, France.

     Five months earlier, 1 February 1952, the 8127th Air Base Squadron, per NG-AFOTP 3254 (Air), Kansas, 20 Nov 51, was specially designated to absorb 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron personnel being released from Active Duty. First Lieutenant Clayton H. Bowman, was commander of this new unit.