On September 6, 1946, the formal federal recognition and activation of Delaware's first Air National Guard Unit (142nd Fighter Squadron) took place at a ceremony in the Wilmington Armory.  Shortly afterwards the squadron received it first fighter planes, F-47N "Thunderbolts." In late 1946, two L-5s and two AT-6s training aircraft were received to assist in the training of new pilots. 1947 brought the addition of several more airplanes including C-47's and a B-26. 

Prior to being federalized for Korea on February 1, 1951, the unit received F-84C's.  On May 17, 1951, the unit was redesignated the 142nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and in September 1951 the unit exchanged its F-84C (Thunder jet) for the F-94 "Starfire" aircraft to fit the unit's new mission.

On November 1, 1952, the 142nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was released from active duty in Korea and reorganized as the Delaware Air National Guard. On December 1, 1952 the unit was redesignated the 142nd Fighter Bomber Squadron and reverted to propeller-driven aircraft, the F-51H "Mustang."

In 1954 a brand new T-33, the trainer version of the F-80 "Shooting Star," was received by the 142nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron and later that year the unit received F-86 "Saberjets" replacing the F-51H "Mustang." The F-86 was the same plane the active Air Force flew at the Greater Wilmington Airport prior to activation for Korea.

On April 7, 1962 the Delaware Air National Guard enlarged to "group status" as the 166th Air Transport Group and was reassigned from the Tactical Air Command to the Military Air Transport Service. The Delaware Air National Guard gave up its F-86 jets for the four engine C-97 "Stratocruiser" cargo planes. 

On May 12, 1971 the Delaware ANG changed its name from the 166th Military Airlift Group to the 166th Tactical Airlift Group and replaced its C-97s with C-130A "Hercules" prop-jet cargo plane, and began transition from the Military Airlift Command to the Tactical Airlift Command.  On October 16, 1985, the Delaware Air National Guard began replacing its aging, antiquated C-130A's with the delivery of a brand new factory fresh C-130H2.  As of 2024, we currently fly the C-130H3.

The mission of the 142nd Airlift Squadron is to provide combat ready aircrew for state, national and worldwide deployment in support of any assigned mission. The squadron's mission capability includes all weather, day and night, airland, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation capability. The C-130H3 aircraft is inter-theatre and intra-theatre capable. The "flying" squadron consists of pilots, navigators, flight engineers and loadmasters, and includes life support and administrative support sections.

2025 POC:
Lt Col Jason Subach
142aspilothiring@gmail.com
302-323-3518