provide fighter escort for its rotational bombardment wings. The 12th, however, only remained at Manston until 30 November when it was replaced by the 123rd Fighter-Bomber Wing, with the 12th being transferred to Japan for combat duty during the Korean War. The 123rd was an umbrella wing that was formed from several Air National Guard squadrons activated for federal service during the Korean War. This wing was activated at Manston with three ANG fighter squadrons: 156th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (North Carolina ANG) 165th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Kentucky ANG) 167th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (West Virginia ANG) The 123d utilized the F-84E "Thunderjets" left behind by the 12th FEW and continued the same mission of fighter escort of SAC's bombers. In July 1952 the Air National Guard squadrons were returned to State control, and USAFE assumed the fighter escort role. In its place, the 406th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated in place at Manston with the following squadrons assigned: 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Yellow Stripe) 513th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Red Stripe) 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Dark Blue Stripe) Initially, the 406th utilized the existing F-84Es, however in August 1953, the F-86F "Sabre" began to arrive to replace them. A change of mission for the 406th in April 1954 from fighter-bomber to fighter-interceptor came with a change of equipment. The F-86D Sabre interceptor began to arrive and the F-86F's were transferred to other USAFE squadrons and NATO countries. In addition, the 512th FBS was transferred to Soesterberg Air Base, Netherlands with their F-86Fs. In June F-86D's arrived from CONUS to equip the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron which was transferred to the 406th from the 81st FBW assigned to RAF Shepherds Grove. The 87th FIS, however, physically remained at Shepherds Grove, but was under the organisational command of the 406th at Manston. In September 1955, the 87th was redesignated the 512th FIS. On 15 May 1958 the 406th was inactivated, with its three air defence squadrons being assigned to continental Europe under the 86th Air Division (Defense) at Ramstein Air Base West Germany. The squadrons were transferred to the following bases: 512th FIS to Sembach Air Base, West Germany 513th FIS to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base France 514th FIS to Ramstein Air Base, West Germany The F-86D's were eventually withdrawn from Europe in 1961, and the 512th, 513th and 514th were inactivated. After the transfer of the USAFE interceptors at Manston the base was returned to the RAF control. Return to RAF use