<p>The 176th FS is the wing's flying component and has operated the F-16C since April 1993. Established as the 176th Fighter Squadron in October 1948 with P-51Ds, the unit was mobilized in February 1951 with the F-89A partially assigned in April 1952. It returned to state control and was equipped with the F-51H, becoming the 176th Fighter-Bomber Squdron. The unit converted to the F-86A in December 1953 when it became the 176th FIS, and received the F-89B/C in 1954 with the 115th FIG attached in April 1956. Equipment was upgraded to the F-89D in July 1957, the F-89H in 1959 and the F-89J in January 1960. The unit flew the F-102A from April 1966 until October 1974, when it was redesignated the 176th TASS with the O-2A. The 115th TASG was exchanged for the 128th TASW early in 1975, with the O-2s replaced by the OA-37B in late 1979. The unit became the 176th TFS in June 1981 when the A-10A was assigned.
