The 180th AS is the group's operational unit and has had the C-130H assigned since February 1987. The unit was created as the 180th Bombardment Squadron in August 1946 with A-26B/Cs and activated in April 1951 with a deployment to Bordeaux-Merignac AB and Laon AB, France. The squadron returned to state control in January 1953 and was redesignated the 180th FIS in January 1957 with the F-94C. The unit re-equipped with the RF-84F as the 180th TRS in April 1958, and changed to the 180th Air Transport Squadron in March 1962 when assigned the C-97F. The C-97G was subsequently operated, with a designation change to 180th MAS in January 1966. The unit became the 180th ARS with the KC-97L assigned from September 1969 until October 1976, when the C-130A was delivered, resulting in a change to 180th TAS. The squadron was assigned to the 1630th TAW (Provisional) at Al Ain, UAE during Desert Storm.