<p>The 171st AS is the group's flying unit and has had the C-130E assigned since 1994. The unit was established as the 171st Fighter Squadron in April 1948 at Wayne Major Airport, Detroit with F-51Ds. The squadron converted to F-84Bs in 1950 and was mobilized in February 1951. The 171st was assigned to the 127th Pilot Training Group along with its sister unit the 107th Fighter Squadron. The squadron returned to state control in October 1952, becoming a Fighter-Interceptor Squadron with the F-51H in November 1952 and the F-86E in November 1953. The 171st converted to the F-89C in June 1955 and was redesignated 171st TRS in February 1958 with the RF-84F. The 191st TRG was activated in October 1962. The unit moved to Selfridge AFB and converted to the RF-101A/C in January 1971, followed by a change to the F-106A in June 1972, when it became the 171st FIS. The 171st switched to the F-4C in 1978 and upgraded to the F-4D before receiving the F-16A ADF in August 1990.
