It was mobilized in the spring of 1951 and moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it served as a B-16 Invader training unit until returning to state control in January 1953.

Before becoming fully operational as a fighter unit, the squadron was redesignated the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squasdron and equipped with Martin RB-57 Canberras.

Under state law, the Air National Guard provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety.

The air echelon began ferrying its aircraft to England via the North Atlantic route on 27 August 1942, with the squadron officially moving to RAF Shipdham on 12 September 1942.

Although this was supposed to be a simple repositioning flight, it became the squadron's introduction to combat when the 319th Group formation strayed from its planned route and flew over occupied France, where they were attacked by German aircraft.

Until March 1943, it made strikes at enemy targets in Tunisia, including railroads, airfields, and harbor installations.

It struck enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea to block reinforcements and supplies from reaching opposing Axis forces.

[5] In March 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and moved to Oujda Airfield, French Morocco for a period of reorganization and training.

[5] From January to March 1944, the squadron supported Allied ground forces as they advanced in the Battle of Monte Cassino and Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio.

On 3 March 1944, the squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for an attack on rail facilities in Rome, while carefully avoiding damage to religious and cultural monuments.

[5] In August and September 1944, the squadron supported Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, moving forward to Serragia Airfield, Corsica the following month.

At the end of the year, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and returned to the United States in January 1945 to begin training with the Douglas A-26 Invader in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific.

[citation needed] It flew missions in China and Japan, attacking airfields, shipping, marshalling yards, industrial centers and other targets until V-J Day.

[1] It moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was assigned to the 4400th Combat Crew Training Group.

Despite its designation and equipment, the squadron primarily trained in an air defense role, with plans to later assume a tactical mission.

[citation needed] In early 1957, the Kansas Air National Guard received authorization to expand from one to two squadrons.

In early 1958, The squadron was equipped with Lockheed F-80C Shooting Stars as an interim measure,[10] and was assigned to the 137th Fighter-Interceptor Group[1] located at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.

In this operation, squadron B-57s flew missions to test the effectiveness of ADC's systems, foreshadowing its later electronic warfare role.

This meant that, even if only operational and maintenance elements were needed for mobilization, the entire “augmented squadron” had to be called to active duty, including unneeded administrative personnel.

This program began implementation, with a detachment of the 190th Group arriving at Tan Son Nhut Airport to begin arrangements for the transfer of planes from the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.

Most of its RB-57s were sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground for destructive testing, and four to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMRC) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

[1] Although this transition had proceeded so far that RF-4 support equipment was being shipped to Forbes, instead, in January 1972, the squadron began to conver to the Martin B-57G variant that were modified as night intruders for use in the Vietnam War under a project known as Tropic Moon.

B-57Bs were modified with a low light level television camera plus a forward-looking infrared set and a laser guidance system.

The laser guidance system now made it possible to carry four 500 pounds (230 kg) smart bomb on the underwing pylons.

[1] In April 1974, the unit converted to EB-57B Canberra electronic countermeasures aircraft and became the 117th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, performing as part of its mission what it had done in Operation Eye Opener in the 1950s.