<p>The 153rd ARS is the operational unit of the group and has flown the KC-135R since 1994. The unit was formed as the 153rd Observation Squadron in September 1939 and was called to active duty from October 1940 until December 1945. The 153rd was federalized with P-47Ns as the 153rd Fighter Squadron in September 1946 and called to active duty from March 1951 until November 1952. The unit converted to RF-51Ds as the 153rd TRS in December 1952 and then to RF-80As in June 1955. The squadron was temporarily based at Gulfport Airport from October 1956 to March 1958 and re-equipped with RF-84Fs. The 153rd was called to active service from October 1961 to August 1962. The unit received the RF-101C in November 1970 and was last US operational unit with the reconnaissance version of the Voodoo when the final example was retired in January 1979. The unit began re-equipping with the RF-4C in September 1978.
