184th Attack Squadron

184th Attack Squadron have operated MQ-9 Reapers since 2014

Active| 1953–present
Country|  United States
Allegiance|  Arkansas
Branch|  Air National Guard
Type| Squadron
Role| Attack
Part of| Arkansas Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ| Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas
Nickname(s)| "Flying Razorbacks"
Tail Code| Red tail stripe "Arkansas" "FS"
Insignia
184th Fighter Squadron emblem|

Military unit

The 184th Attack Squadron (184 ATKS) is a unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Wing located at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 184th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. In June 2014 the squadron transitioned from A-10C to the MQ-9.

## Overview

[edit]

The 184th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) mission is to provide close air support (CAS), air interdiction, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and attack to eliminate threats when present. The multi-role capabilities of these RPAs allows Combat Search and Rescue operations and extended time over targets to locate, track, target, strike, and assess time sensitive targets.

## History

[edit]

### Tactical Reconnaissance

[edit]

Authorized by the National Guard Bureau in 1953 at the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. Organized at Fort Smith Regional Airport, Arkansas and extended recognition as a new unit on 15 October 1953. The squadron was assigned to the Tennessee ANG 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Berry Field, Nashville, for administration, operational control was exercised by the Arkansas Air National Guard.

The 184th TRS was initially equipped with World War II-era RB-26C Invader night photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The black-painted RB-26s were originally medium bombers that were modified for aerial reconnaissance in the late 1940s. Most of the aircraft received were Korean War veterans, were unarmed and carried cameras and flash flares for night aerial photography. In 1956, the B-26 was reaching the end of its operational USAF service, and the squadron was re-equipped with RF-80A Shooting Star daylight reconnaissance aircraft that were also nearly obsolescent.

In January 1957, the 184th retired its worn-out RF-80s and received new RF-84F Thunderstreak reconnaissance aircraft, manufactured for Air National Guard use. During the 1961 Berlin Crisis, the squadron was federalized and assigned to the mobilized Kentucky ANG 123d Tactical Reconnaissance Group however it remained at Fort Smith and was released from active duty and returned to Arkansas state control on 22 August 1962.

On 22 August 1962, the 184th was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 184th TRS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 188th Headquarters, 188th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 188th Combat Support Squadron, and the 188th USAF Dispensary.

In 1970 with the winding-down of the Vietnam War, the 184th began receiving McDonnell RF-101C Voodoos, replacing the RF-84Fs the unit had been flying for over a decade. The USAF had, however, planned for the RF-101C to be gradually phased out of USAF service in favor of the McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II and the aircraft remained with the 184th TRS for only a brief period of time, and in 1970 was retired.

### Tactical Fighter

[edit]

Lockheed RF-80A-5-LO Shooting Star 45-8371, about 1955 McDonnell F-4C-15-MC Phantom II fighter (s/n 63-7411) of the 188th Tactical Fighter Group, Arkansas Air National Guard, prepares for take-off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (USA), during the "Gunsmoke '85" exercise on 6 October 1985. F-16Cs Arkansas ANG at Ft Smith 2002

Following their withdrawal from the Vietnam War, numerous USAF F-100D Super Sabres were turned over to the Air National Guard. Tactical Air Command realigned the 151st into a Tactical Fighter Group in 1972, and equipping the unit with Vietnam Veteran F-100D and twin-seat F-100F Trainers. In 1979, the Super Sabre was being retired and the 184th TFS began receiving F-4C Phantom IIs to be used in an air defense role. In 1988, as part of the retirement of the Phantom II, the squadron began receiving Block 15 F-16A Fighting Falcons. The first F-16 delivery to the squadron was on 1 July 1988 and the formal acceptance of the F-16 happened on 15 October. On 15 March 1992, the 184th dropped the Tactical name from the squadron as the parent 184th converted to the USAF Objective organization.

In early 2001 the 184th FS began to retire its F-16A/B block 15s to AMARC in exchange for F-16C block 32s. They never received any D-models. Because the squadron flew the rarely seen block 32, the squadron became a source for spare F-16s for the USAF Thunderbirds flight demonstration team. In the end, the 184th FS never had to give up any of their aircraft as the Thunderbirds took needed aircraft from home based Nellis 57th Fighter Wing.

Deployed to Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia (24 October 2002 to December 2002) in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 2005, the 188th deployed nearly 300 Airmen and multiple F-16C Fighting Falcons to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

### BRAC 2005

[edit]

BRAC 2005 initially decided to inactivate the 188th Fighter Wing and close Fort Smith ANGB. With a great deal of effort by Arkansas' leaders caused the BRAC panel to change its decision on the 184th FS and give it a new mission. The squadron would still lose its F-16s but in their place would get a total of eighteen A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft. One of the deciding factors was Fort Smiths location near Fort Chaffee, a former National Guard training post.

On 18 October 2006 the 184th FS began giving up F-16s when two departed for the 194th Fighter Squadron located at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. By April 2007 the 184th FS had already begun to receive the A-10 from the Massachusetts ANG 104th Fighter Wing and pilots had already commenced cross training in October. On 14 April 2007 the 184th FS marked the day with a celebration 'Viper Out/Warthog In' day. The 184th FS took the opportunity to display their new A-10 paint scheme and to still fly the F-16 but the 184th FS at this point was officially an A-10 unit.

### Current status

[edit]

In early 2012 the Air Force planned to realign the 188th Fighter Wing and replace its 20 A-10 aircraft, converting the 184th FS to operate the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). However, after extensive discussions in August 2012 it was announced that the 188th Fighter Wing would retain its A-10s.

In July 2012, the Wing deployed 275 airmen and aircraft to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They were assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, near Kabul. This was the second AEF deployment for the 188th as a unit since receiving A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" 14 April 2007. The 188th's last AEF deployment transpired in 2010 when the unit deployed about 300 Airmen and 12 A-10Cs to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield.

The guardsmen remained in Afghanistan until October, flying close-air support in response to ground troops who may be in contact with the enemy, or to escort convoys in particularly hostile areas. When not supporting ground troops, A-10s patrol designated sectors and provided aerial reconnaissance on locations of interest to ground commanders. In three months, Arkansas ANG A-10s delivered more than 60,000 30mm cannon rounds and more than 250 precision munitions on enemy targets.

In June 2014, the last of the units A-10C aircraft departed and the unit was re-designated the 184th Attack Squadron.

### Lineage

[edit]

* Designated 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and allotted to Arkansas ANG in 1953

Extended federal recognition on 15 October 1953
Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 October 1961
Released from active duty and returned to Arkansas state control, 22 August 1962
Re-designated: 184th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1 July 1972
Re-designated: 184th Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992
Designated: 184th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron when elements deployed to United States Air Forces Central during Air and Space Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployments.
Re-designated: 184th Attack Squadron June 2014

### Assignments

[edit]

* 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 15 October 1953
* 123d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 October 1961
* 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 22 August 1962
* 188th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 July 1972
* 188th Fighter Group, 16 March 1992
* 188th Operations Group, 1 October 1995–present

### Stations

[edit]

* Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 15 October 1953

Designated: Fort Smith Air National Guard Station, 1991–present

### Aircraft

[edit]

* RB-26C Invader, 1953–1956
* RF-80A Shooting Star, 1956–1957
* RF-84F Thunderstreak, 1957–1970
* RF-101C Voodo, 1970–1972
* F-100D/F Super Sabre, 1972–1979

* F-4C Phantom II, 1979-1998
* F-16A Fighting Falcon, 1988–2001
* F-16C Fighting Falcon, 2001–2007
* A-10 Thunderbolt II, 2007–2014
* MQ-9 Reaper, 2014–present

|

## References

[edit]

* United States portal

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

* 188th Fighter Wing history page
* 188th Fighter Wing@globalsecurity.org
* 184th Fighter Squadron@f-16.net

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Air National Guard

| State and
territorial
units|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* District of Columbia
* Florida
* Georgia
* Guam
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Puerto Rico
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virgin Islands
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

|
|

Centers|

* Air National Guard Readiness
* ANG AFRC Test
* ANG Weather Readiness
* I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education

Wings and Groups

| Wings|

| Composite|

* 108th
* 113th
* 118th
* 119th
* 127th
* 140th
* 154th
* 175th
* 176th
* 178th
* 188th

|

Air Control|

* 116th

Airlift|

* 103d
* 105th
* 107th
* 109th
* 120th
* 123d
* 130th
* 133d
* 136th
* 139th
* 143d
* 145th
* 146th
* 152d
* 153d
* 156th
* 164th
* 165th
* 166th
* 167th
* 172d
* 179th
* 182d
* 189th

Air Refueling|

* 101st
* 117th
* 121st
* 126th
* 128th
* 134th
* 137th
* 141st
* 151st
* 155th
* 157th
* 161st
* 168th
* 171st
* 185th
* 186th
* 190th

Attack|

* 110th
* 174th

Bomb|

* 131st

Fighter|

* 52d*
* 53d*
* 54th*
* 55th*
* 60th*
* 61st*
* 62d*
* 63d*
* 66th*
* 67th*
* 71st*
* 86th*
* 104th
* 106th*
* 111th
* 114th
* 115th
* 122d
* 124th
* 125th
* 132d
* 138th
* 142d
* 144th
* 148th
* 149th
* 150th
* 159th
* 162d
* 169th
* 173d
* 177th
* 180th
* 183d
* 187th
* 192d

Intelligence|

* 102d
* 181st
* 184th

Reconnaissance|

* 147th
* 163d

Regional Support|

* 194th

Rescue|

* 106th
* 129th

Special Operations|

* 150th
* 193d

Groups|

| Composite|

* 170th

|

Airlift|

* 135th*

Air Operations|

* 102d
* 152d
* 157th

Air Refueling|

* 112th*
* 127th
* 160th*

Combat Communications|

* 162d
* 163d
* 201st
* 226th
* 252d
* 254th
* 281st*

Cyberspace Engineering Installation|

* 251st
* 253d

Operations|

* 140th

Reconnaissance|

* 214th

Squadrons

| Flying|

| Air Command and Control|

* 128th

|

Airlift|

* 109th
* 115th
* 118th
* 130th
* 135th*
* 137th
* 139th
* 142d
* 143d
* 144th
* 155th
* 156th
* 158th
* 164th
* 165th
* 167th
* 169th
* 180th
* 181st
* 183d
* 186th
* 187th
* 189th*
* 192d
* 198th*
* 200th
* 201st
* 204th
* 249th

Air Refueling|

* 106th
* 108th
* 116th
* 117th
* 126th
* 132d
* 133d
* 141st
* 145th*
* 146th
* 147th
* 151st
* 153d
* 166th
* 168th
* 171st
* 173d
* 174th
* 191st
* 197th
* 203d

Attack|

* 103d
* 105th
* 111th
* 124th
* 136th
* 138th
* 160th
* 162d
* 172d
* 178th
* 184th
* 196th
* 214th

Bomb|

* 110th

Fighter|

* 100th
* 104th
* 107th
* 112th
* 114th
* 119th
* 120th
* 121st
* 122d
* 123d
* 125th
* 131st
* 134th
* 148th
* 149th
* 152d
* 157th
* 159th
* 163d
* 170th*
* 175th
* 176th
* 179th
* 182d
* 190th
* 194th
* 195th
* 199th

Rescue|

* 101st
* 102d
* 103d
* 129th
* 130th
* 131st
* 188th
* 210th
* 211th
* 212th

Special Operations|

* 150th
* 185th
* 193d

Training|

* 154th

Non-Flying|

| Air Control|

* 103d
* 109th
* 116th
* 117th
* 123d
* 128th
* 133d
* 134th
* 141st
* 176th
* 255th

|

Air Operations|

* 112th

Air Support|

* 113th ASOS
* 172d

Air Traffic Control|

* 243rd
* 245th
* 270th

Civil Engineering|

* 285th Civil Engineering Squadron

Combat Communications|

* 143d
* 147th
* 149th
* 206th
* 221st
* 222d
* 223d
* 225th
* 228th
* 231st
* 232d
* 234th
* 236th
* 239th
* 240th
* 242d
* 244th
* 256th
* 261st
* 262d
* 263d
* 264th
* 265th
* 267th
* 269th
* 271st
* 272d
* 280th
* 282d
* 283d
* 291st
* 292d
* 293d

Command and Control|

* 119th
* 127th
* 153d
* 222d

Engineering Installation|

* 130th
* 202d
* 205th
* 210th
* 211th
* 212th
* 213th
* 214th
* 215th
* 217th
* 218th
* 219th
* 220th
* 241st
* 243d
* 270th
* 272d

Force Support|

* 187th

Information Warfare Aggressor|

* 177th

Intelligence|

* 101st
* 117th
* 123d
* 152d
* 161st
* 194th
* 234th

Joint Communications Support|

* 224th
* 290th

Logistics Readiness|

* 187th

RED HORSE|

* 202d
* 203d
* 819th

Security Forces|

* 187th

Space Control|

* 114th

Space Operations|

* 111th
* 148th

Space Warning|

* 137th
* 213th

Special Operations Communications|

* 193d
* 280th

Special Tactics|

* 125th

* Asterisk (*) denotes an inactive unit

* v
* t
* e

United States Air Force

Leadership|

* Department of the Air Force
* Secretary of the Air Force
* Under Secretary of the Air Force
* Air Staff
* Chief of Staff
* Vice Chief of Staff
* Director of Staff
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
* Four-star generals
* Three-star generals
* 1940–1959
* 2000–2009
* 2010–2019
* 2020–present
* House Armed Services Committee
* House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
* House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
* Senate Committee on Armed Services
* Senate Subcommittee on Airland
* Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

Structure|

| Commands|

* Reserve
* Air National Guard
* Field Operating Agencies
* Installations

|

Direct Reporting Units|

* District of Washington
* Operational Test and Evaluation Center
* USAF Academy

Major commands|

* ACC
* AETC
* AFGSC
* AFMC
* AFRC
* AFSOC
* AMC
* PACAF
* USAFE–AFAFRICA

Numbered Air Forces|

* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
* Seventh
* Eighth
* Ninth
* Tenth
* Eleventh
* Twelfth
* Thirteenth Expeditionary
* Fifteenth
* Sixteenth
* Eighteenth
* Nineteenth
* Twentieth
* Twenty-Second

* Wings
* ANG
* Groups
* ANG
* Squadrons
* ANG
* Security Forces
* Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training|

* Personnel
* Rank
* officers
* cadets
* enlisted
* Specialty Code
* Aeronautical ratings
* Judge Advocate General's Corps
* RED HORSE
* Security Forces
* Medical Service
* Chief of Chaplains
* Chief Scientist

* Training: Air Force Academy
* Officer Training School
* Reserve Officer Training Corps
* Basic Training
* Airman Leadership School
* SERE
* Fitness Assessment

Uniforms and
equipment|

* Awards and decorations
* Badges
* Equipment
* Aircraft
* Uniforms

History and
traditions|

* History
* Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces
* "The U.S. Air Force"
* Air Force Band
* Airman's Creed
* Core Values
* Flag
* Symbol
* Memorial
* National Museum
* Women Airforce Service Pilots
* Air Force One / Air Force Two
* Honor Guard
* Thunderbirds
* Service numbers
* Air & Space Forces Association

* Category

* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

Little Rock (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Arkansans
* Aviation
* Climate change
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional delegations
* County government
* Energy
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* High schools
* Historic Landmarks
* History
* Homelessness
* Images
* Lakes
* Law
* Constitution
* Mass media
* Newspapers
* Radio
* TV
* Music
* Paleontology
* Places
* Rivers
* School districts
* Sports and recreation
* State parks
* Symbols
* Territory
* Tourist attractions
* Townships
* Transportation
* Water

Society|

* Abortion
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Arkansas River Valley
* Ark-La-Tex
* Bayou Bartholomew
* Boston Mountains
* Central Arkansas
* Crowley's Ridge
* Delta
* Four State Area
* McDonald Territory
* Mississippi Alluvial Plain
* New Madrid seismic zone
* Northwest Arkansas
* Ouachita Mountains
* Ozarks
* Piney Woods
* South Arkansas
* Timberlands

Metros|

* Central Arkansas
* Northwest Arkansas
* Fort Smith
* Texarkana
* Jonesboro
* Pine Bluff
* Hot Springs
* Tri-State

Largest
cities|

* Little Rock
* Fort Smith
* Fayetteville
* Springdale
* Jonesboro
* North Little Rock
* Conway
* Rogers
* Pine Bluff
* Bentonville
* Hot Springs
* Benton
* Texarkana
* Sherwood
* Jacksonville
* Russellville
* Bella Vista
* West Memphis
* Paragould
* Cabot

Counties|

* Arkansas
* Ashley
* Baxter
* Benton
* Boone
* Bradley
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Chicot
* Clark
* Clay
* Cleburne
* Cleveland
* Columbia
* Conway
* Craighead
* Crawford
* Crittenden
* Cross
* Dallas
* Desha
* Drew
* Faulkner
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Garland
* Grant
* Greene
* Hempstead
* Hot Spring
* Howard
* Independence
* Izard
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Lafayette
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Lincoln
* Little River
* Logan
* Lonoke
* Madison
* Marion
* Miller
* Mississippi
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Nevada
* Newton
* Ouachita
* Perry
* Phillips
* Pike
* Poinsett
* Polk
* Pope
* Prairie
* Pulaski
* Randolph
* St. Francis
* Saline
* Scott
* Searcy
* Sebastian
* Sevier
* Sharp
* Stone
* Union
* Van Buren
* Washington
* White
* Woodruff
* Yell

Arkansas portal
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template