1975: Congress rejects a 1974 DoD proposal to inactivate New York’s 102 Fighter Interceptor Squadron and several other Air Guard outfits. Instead, the ANG re-designates the squadron as the 102nd Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron and converts the unit’s aircraft from F/TF-102As to Lockheed HC-130Hs and Sikorsky HH-3Es. That equipment change for the Guard’s oldest flying unit created the first Air Guard rescue unit.