112th Air Refueling Group: Difference between revisions

112th Air Refueling Group
112th Air Refueling Group emblem
Active	1942–1993
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Group
Role	Aerial Refueling
Part of	Mississippi Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania

See 350th Fighter Group for World War II lineage and history

The 112th Air Refueling Group (112 ARG) is an inactive unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed at Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania. It was inactivated on 1 October 1993.

The group's air echelon was activated in England under Eighth Air Force. It was equipped with export versions of the P-39 Aircobra originally ordered for the French Air Force. By the summer of 1942 the number of American pilot volunteers in the Royal Air Force serving in England had grown to a few hundred in number. In urgent need of additional fighters to support the forthcoming North African invasion, American planners decided to combine these two assets already in England and at the end of September 1942 a number of American pilots in the RAF were invited to transfer to the USAAF.

Deployed from England to Port Lyautey Airfield, French Morocco, during the period 3 Jan to 28 Feb 1943. The Ground Echelon, finally joined each other at Oujda Airfield, French Morocco, a few days after their arrival in North Africa on 3 January 1943. The Ground Echelon had arrived off North Africa in the first week of November 1942 from the United states with the Operation Torch invasion fleet.

The group operated with Twelfth Air Force from January 1943 until the end of the war, flying patrol and interception missions, protecting convoys, escorting aircraft, flying reconnaissance missions, engaging in interdiction operations, and providing close support for ground forces. It operated against targets in Tunisia until the end of that campaign. The Group flew air defense and fighter- bomber missions with its P-39 Aircobras and primarily fighter bomber missions with its P-47 Thunderbolts.

The 350th FG moved to the port of embarkation at Naples, Italy, on 14 July 1945. On 1 August 1945, the group sailed for combat operations in the Pacific Theater. The atomic bombs were dropped on Japan while the Group was en route and provisioning in Panama City on the Pacific Ocean side of the Canal Zone. V-J day was declared, signaling the end of hostilities in World War II. The ship carrying the Group was directed to return to the US and the 350th Fighter Group and its American Squadrons were deactivated on 7 November 1945, at Seymour Johnson Field, Goldsboro, NC, after 3 years and one month of operations. The deactivation was to last less than a year.

The wartime 350th Fighter Group was re-designated as the 112th Fighter Group and was allotted to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Greater Pittsburgh Airport and was extended federal recognition on 22 April 1949 by the National Guard Bureau. The 112th Fighter Group was bestowed the history, honors, and colors of the 350th Fighter Group. The wartime 345th FS became the 146th Fighter Squadron, the 346th FS became the 147th Fighter Squadron and the 347th FS was re-designated the 148th Fighter Squadron. The group was assigned to the PA ANG 53d Fighter Wing

• Activated in England on 1 October 1942 by special authority granted to Eighth Air Force prior to constitution as 350th Fighter Group on 2 October 1942

Inactivated on 7 November 1945

• Re-designated: 112th Fighter Group, and allotted to Pennsylvania ANG on 24 May 1946

Extended federal recognition on 22 April 1949

Re-designated: 112th Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 November 1952

Re-designated: 112th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 July 1955

Re-designated: 112th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 July 1975

Re-designated: 112th Air Refueling Group, 16 October 1991

Inactivated: 1 October 1993

• Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1942
• VIII Fighter Command, 2 October 1942 – 6 January 1943
• Twelfth Air Force, 6 January 1943 – 14 July 1945
• III Fighter Command, 25 August – 7 November 1945
• 53d Fighter Wing, 22 April 1949
• 111th Air Defense Wing, 1 November 1950
• Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 1 July 1956

Gained by: Eastern Air Defense Force, Air Defense Command

Gained by: Syracuse Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, 8 January 1957

Gained by: 26th Air Division, Air Defense Command, 4 September 1963

Gained by: 34th Air Division, Air Defense Command, 1 April 1966

Gained by: 34th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, 15 January 1968

Gained by: 20th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, 1 January 1970

Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1978

Gained by: Eighth Air Force, Strategic Air Command, 16 October 1991

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992-1 October 1993

• 146th Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor, Tactical Fighter, Air Refueling) Squadron, 22 April 1949-1 October 1993
• 147th Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor) Squadron, 22 April 1949-1 February 1964
• 148th Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor) Squadron, 22 April 1949-10 February 1951; 1 November 1952-30 June 1956 (GSU at Reading MAP)

• 345th Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1942 – 7 November 1945
• 346th Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1942 – 7 November 1945
• 347th Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1942 – 7 November 1945
• Brazilian 1st Fighter Squadron, October 1944 – May 1945

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency