It moved to France and supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations until January 1953, when it transferred its personnel and equipment to a regular Air Force Unit and was inactivated and returned to state control.

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.

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

[3] In March 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and moved to Oujda Airfield, French Morocco for a period of reorganization and training.

[3] 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.

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At the end of the year, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and returned to the United States in January 1945 to begin training with the Douglas A-26 Invader in preparation for deployment to the Western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

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

On 1 April 1951 the 180th was federalized and brought to active duty due to the Korean War, and moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

The 126th Group consisted of the 180th, along with the 108th, 115th and the 168th Bombardment Squadrons from the Illinois and , California Air National Guards, although the 115th was soon reassigned to another wing.

In February 1952 the squadron deployed to a French Air Force station to participate in Operation Grand Slam.

[12] Squadron enlisted strength was depleted by about 60% by a Headquarters, United States Air Force (USAF) early release program, that affected ANG airmen.

Those whose enlistments would expire later in the year, World War II veterans, and "non-essential" personnel were all released from active duty by April.

[13] In February 1952, USAF transferred 40 B-26s to the French Air Force and the 126th Wing was charged with the initial training of three to six crews per month.

It received B-26 Invaders that returned from the Korean War and trained primarily in night bombardment missions, which the aircraft specialized in while in Korea.

With the removal of the B-26 from bombing duties in 1957 as neared the end of their service lives, the squadron received some Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star jet fighters and some Republic RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft.

Creek Party was the earliest sustained overseas volunteer rotation by a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces to support a real-world military mission in a situation short of war.

MAC had been providing United States Southern Command, rotating C-130s to Howard Air Force Base, Panama through Operation Volant Oak.

[24] During a November 1978 180th deployment to Howard, the squadron was caught up in a real world situation when with the Mass murders and suicides at the Peoples Temple at Jonestown, Guyana.

The need for this type of training became apparent after C-130 units from MAC began to participate in Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

After formalapproval from the National Guard Bureau and tacit approval from MAC, they began service test to validate the training program.

After more than three service tests, the program proved its worth and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center was approved and instituted on 4 February 1984 at Rosecrans.

[24][7][27] Following Iraq's August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, a call was sent out to Air National Guard tactical airlift units for volunteers to deploy to the Persian Gulf.

[7] The 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron was ordered to active duty on 28 December 1990, to support Operation Desert Shield.

On 2 January 1991, the 180th and its 8 C-130H aircraft and personnel departed Missouri for Al Ain Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

The squadron was partially mobilized in February 2003 as a result of the impending conflict in Iraq which would later be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The federalized elements of the unit deployed in March 2003 to the Iraqi theater and later supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.