First Class...Or Not At All: Idaho Air National Guard 1946 - 1975

After World War II, the U. S. established Air National Guard squadrons in the states. The 190th Fighter Squadron began 13 October 1946 at Boise Idaho's Gowen Field, a deactivated WWII bomber training base. The 190th quickly became combat-ready, growing substantially in just a few years. Activated for the Korean War, the 190th soon expanded into the 124th Fighter Group. Its Guardsmen adapted, continuing a tradition of first-class performance as part of the nation’s air defense. First Class or Not at All is the story of the part-timer, or 'traditional guardsman', who maintains two careers, balancing the demands of employer, family, the Guard, and conscience. First Class is the people and events of a 37-year air defense period until the unit became part of the Tactical Air Command in 1975. Through first-person interviews, photos, extensive file research, a 38-year Air Guard career, and an entertaining style, the author brings this military unit’s history back to life.