the A-10s were transferred out to other ANG units. The first F-16s arrived at Truax ANGB on 1 April 1993. The current role of the 176th FS is air-interdiction and close air support (CAS). This was the same task as when they flew the A-10. Although the transition to the F-16 meant a huge change in the overall execution of this mission when comparing the A-10 with an F-16. On 11 October 1995, the squadron was reassigned to the new 115th Operations Group when its parent 128th Fighter Wing was re-designated back to the 115th by the Wisconsin National Guard Bureau. The 128th designation was causing confusion with the 128th Air Refueling Wing at General Mitchell ANGB, another Wisconsin Air National Guard unit. Operations participated in during this era include: Operation Coronet Chariot, Karup AS, Denmark 1994, Operation Northern Watch, Incirlik AB, Turkey 1997, Operation Southern Watch, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait 1997–98, Operation Southern Watch, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia 1999, Operation Coronet Nighthawk, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom, Al Udeid AB, Qatar 2004–05, and Operation Noble Eagle, 11 September 2001 to present. In December 2017, the Air Force announced that the 176th was one of two Air National Guard squadrons selected for equipping with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The conversion to the fifth-generation jet fighter is scheduled for 2023. Lineage Constituted 306th Fighter Squadron on 16 July 1942 Activated on 22 July 1942 Disbanded on 1 May 1944 Reconstituted, redesignated 176th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Wisconsin ANG, on 24 May 1946 Extended federal recognition and activated 6 October 1948 Redesignated 176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 November 1950 Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 February 1951 Released from active duty and returned to Wisconsin state control, 1 November 1952 Redesignated 176th Tactical Air Support Squadron on 9 November 1974 Redesignated 176th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 15 November 1981 Redesignated 176th Fighter Squadron on 15 March 1992 Assignments 338th Fighter Group, 22 Jul 1942 – 1 May 1944 128th Fighter Group, 29 June 1948 128th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 November 1950 115th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 15 April 1956 115th Tactical Air Support Group, 9 November 1974 128th Tactical Air Support Wing, 9 November 1974 128th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 November 1981 128th Operations Group, 15 March 1992 115th Operations Group, 11 October 1995 Stations Dale Mabry Army Airfield, Florida, 22 Jul 1942 – 1 May 1944. Truax