From: Robert B. Hunter wrote: Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 8:35 AM Subject: 196th Ftr. Bmr. Sq. The 196th Ftr. Bmr. Sq. was a California National Guard unit that formed one of the squadrons of the 116th Ftr. Bmr. Wg. In July 1951 the Wing was transferred to Misawa, Japan where two of the squadrons remained and the third, the 196th, was stationed at Chitose on Hokkaido. The 196th was the Air Force presence at the northern tip of Japan during that period. In December 1951 and early January 1952 some of the squadron's aircraft and crews rotated to Taegu [K-2], where they participated in flying missions jointly with the 49th Ftr. Bmr. Wg. In May,June and July, 1952 the squadron participated in "Operation High Tide", the first aerial refueling, long range combat operations. In July 1952 the squadron was redesignated the 430th as a part of the 474th Ftr. Bmr. Wg. and was transferred to Kunsan [K-8], where it flew missions until the end of hostilities.