The 138th FS is wing's operational unit and flies the F-16C. The unit was created in October 1947 as the 138th Fighter Squadron, with P-47Ds assigned soon afterwards. F-84Bs were operated briefly for nine months from January 1950 until the F-51H was received. The unit was redesignated 138th FIS in 1953 with the F-94B assigned, and became a Tactical Fighter Squadron with the F-86H in December 1957. The 174th TFG had been formed by late 1958. The unit was called to active duty in 1961 and deployed to Phalsbourg AB, France until returned to state control in August 1962. A second period of active duty came between May and December 1968 for the Pueblo crisis, involving a relocation to Cannon AFB to operate a forward air controller and crew training school. A-37Bs were assigned from late 1970 until mid-1979, when A-10As were received and the group was elevated to Wing standard. The squadron converted to the F-16A from November 1988 with the role of close air support and was called to active duty in December 1990 and deployed to Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm. The squadron upgraded to the F-16C in 1993.