15 March 1948, the 156th Fighter Squadron was established and assigned to the North Carolina Air National Guard. It was federally recognized and activated at Morris Field, near Charlotte and was equipped with F-47 Thunderbolts. Its mission was the air defense of the state. In 1950 the 156th was re-equipped with former World War II F-51 Mustangs, now designated RF-51D which had been used in the United States in a training role. The squadron became part of Tactical Air Command as a Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. The 156th Fighter Squadron was federalized due to the Korean War on 10 October 1950. During its federalization period, the 156th was deployed to Toul-Rosières Air Base in France, departing for Europe in January 1952. On 9 July 1952 the activated North Carolina Air National Guard was released from active duty and returned to state control. Flying F-84D/E from 1950 to 1952. In 1955 the facilities at Morris Field were expanded, two years later the 145th Fighter Group was organized consisting of the 156th Fighter Squadron and subordinate units. The 145th Fighter Group was constituted and allocated to the Illinois Air National Guard, Chicago, IL on 28 May 1957. The unit began trading their F-86A Sabre, for the more capable F-86E Sabre.
North Carolina Air National Guard
The 145th Fighter Group was assigned to the 126th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Chicago, IL for mobilization. On 1 February 1961, The 145th Fighter Group, NCANG, was redesignated as the 145th Aeromedical Transport Group, NCANG and convert to C-119C Flying Boxcars. The group was assigned to 1st Aeromedical Group, USAF, and Western Transport Air Force,, Travis AFB, CA, for training and flying evacuation missions. Transiting to C-121C/G transporters during 1962–1965. On 25 January 1964 the 145th ATG was redesignated 145th Air Transport Group. The unit began to convert to C-124C transporters during 1965. From 1966 to 1971 the 145th ATG was deployed to Vietnam, flying over 20 million km without an aircraft accident. Re-designated 145th Tactical Airlift Group, 15 May 1971 and re-equipped with C-130B transport aircraft. In 1990 saw the unit mobilized for Operation Desert Shield, followed by Operation Desert Storm in 1991. On 15 Mar 1992, brought about another name change with the 145th Tactical Airlift Group become the 145th Airlift Group. During 1993 the group started to replace their elderly C-130Bs and take delivery of the more modern C-130H3. 1 Oct 1995, re-designated 145th Airlift Wing. On 7 September 2016 saw the end of its aerial firefighting mission using MAFFS when it was transferred to the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard. There are two other C-130 Air National Guard MAFFS trained units, 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne; the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Chanel Islands, CA; and one Air Force Reserve unit, 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, CO. Wing's last C-130 departed on 22 December 2017 before the wing received its first C-17 Globemaster III on Saturday 7 April 2018.
Lineage
Constituted 360th Fighter Squadron on 8 December 1942
Re-designated: 156th Fighter Squadron and allocated to the North Carolina ANG on 24 May 1946
