A $100,000 grant was approved for the 134th FS to erect two prefabricated hangars and the northeast corner of the airfield was deeded from the City of Burlington to the State, with rights to the runway included in the deed. The quonset-types hangars were completed in 1948. Later in that year, the unit was tasked with an air-sea rescue mission for Lake Champlain. A team was formed using a C-47 transport plane and a five-man life raft. With the ANG's 42 foot crash boat tied up at the Naval Reserve Center and the C-47 at the airfield, the Air Guard was an integral part of a rescue system coordinated with the Burlington and State Police.

One of the proudest days for the VT ANG occurred in January 1949, when all 24 mission aircraft joined other Air Force and Air National Guard units in a "fly-by" at the inauguration of President Harry S.Truman. That year saw the Air National Guard reorganized and the Vermont unit transferred from the 67th Wing of Massachusetts to the 101st Fighter Wing of Maine. The VT ANG transitioned to the P-51 "Mustang" in July 1950 and reached its assigned strength of 353 enlisted men and 63 officers by the end of the year. The unit received its mobilization orders on January 9, 1951. The 134th FS was called to active duty on February 1, 1951. The unit subsequently became an integral part of the Eastern Air Defense structure, under the control of the 4711th Wing at Presque Isle, Maine. Many members of the 134th FS served in Korea as well as in other areas of the world with the USAF during this period. On the same day the unit was called to active duty, the Air Force took over the Air National Guard flightline facilities. In May 1951, the runway was extended from 5,000 to 8,000 feet with a 1,000 feet overrun. Alert hangars were erected at the southwest end of the runway to support the air defense role the Air Force was performing. The air base was now called Ethan Allen Air Force Base. The Air National Guard personnel and equipment who remained at home station moved across the field. On October 31, 1952, the unit was released from active duty and returned to state control.

On November 18, 1953, the unit received its first T-33A trainer for the beginning of a jet conversion. The 134th FS transitioned to the F-94 "Starfire", an all-weather two-seat jet, during 1954 and later that year received a C-45 transport for liaison and transport. In July 1956, the 134th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was rated as a category "A"-combat ready unit. During 1958, the aging F-94s were replaced by twin-engine F-89D "Scorpions". In 1960, the VT ANG participated in the Air Defense Runway Alert Program, along with the first flights of the F-89J. For the Program, two aircrews were on daytime alert. Six months later, the 134th FIS was recognized as the 158th Fighter Interceptor Group and was placed under the USAF Air defense Command. Lt.Col.Robert P.Goyette assumed command of the Group with Maj.Rolfe L.Chickering taking command of the 134th FIS. Alert hangars previously used by the regular USAF F-102s were now manned by VT ANG "Jet-Age Minutemen". The Guard assumed a full-time, 24 hour a day alert status to protect the continental United States from long range bomber attack. In October 1962, the Vermont Air National Guard was awarded the Operational Readiness award for having the greatest degree of operational readiness of any F-89 unit in the country. On March 4, 1965, Col. R.P.Goyette and 1Lt.J.B.Pollock, were killed in the crash of their F-89. By mid-August, the unit received the first of twenty F-102 'Delta Daggers', which included two TF-102 trainer. Transition was accomplished ahead of schedule and without incident. In 1966, the Vermont Air National Guard celebrated its 20th anniversary with an airshow and the first performance of the USAF 'Thunderbird' in Vermont. During 1968, five VT ANG's pilots took part in the Air Force Palace Alert program under which F-102 pilots took six month tours of duty at Air Force bases around the world. This program enabled the Air Force to augment its F-102 pilot roster without mobilizing any Air Guard units. A major construction program was undertaken in 1969, including a $800,000 operations complex and several other projects. The objective was to transfer all ANG activities to the northeast side of the field and to consolidate operations. The move was completed in early 1973.

In 1972, the 134th FIS placed third in the William Tell Weapons Meet held in October at Tyndall AFB, Fl. Earlier that year, the Group received a VT-29 from Loring AFB, Maine, to replace its older C-54 in service since June 1967. Lt.Col.John D.Leonard became Group Commander on September 8. Early in 1973, Lt.Col.Andrew M.Bostock, VTANG Flying Safety Officer, logged the 25,000th accident-free hour since the last major accident which occurred in November 1967. In June 1974, the 158th FIG became the 158th Defense Systems Evaluation Group (DSEG) with a new mission and a new aircraft. The unit received 15 EB-57B and three B-57C. The EB-57 was a two-seat, twin jet engine, equipped with electronic counter-measures and chaff emitting equipment. The new mission was to act as the 'friendly enemy' to evaluate both air and ground radar systems all over the United Sates, Canada and overseas. The unit's contract with the Air Force was to keep a minimum of eight aircraft "on the road" at any given time. In April 1975, the unit was officially awarded the Air Defense Command's "A" Award for distinguishing itself by outstanding achievement leading to increased operational effectiveness and sustained operational readiness. Tragedy struck the VT ANG on March 17, 1976 when an EB-57 crashed east of Tyndall AFB, Fl. Capt.Charles W.Diggle,III and Capt. Bertrand R.White were both killed while on a routine electronic target mission for some F-106s assigned to the Aerospace Defense Command Weapons Center. In March 1978, Operation Team Spirit took 64 guard members to Kwang Ju, Korea, for a two-week deployment as part of a joint exercise between Korean and American forces. The VT ANG was the only ANG unit invited to participate.

On February 2, 1980, the routine flight of an EB-57 came to an end a quarter of a mile south of Plattsburgh AFB, NY. The aircraft with Capt.Robert W.Noble (pilot) and Lt.Col.Howard E.Travis (EWO) crashed in a tree covered filed while practicing instrument approaches at Plattsburgh. Sadly, Capt. Noble was killed in the crash. On October 9, 1980, Four EB-57B and aircrews of the 134th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron deployed to NAS Keflavik, Iceland, in support of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron whose mission was protection and defense of Iceland. The last deployment for the VT ANG's EB-57B was to NAS Keflavik from August 3, through August 17, 1981. In June 1981, between 13,000 and 15,000 New Englanders turned out to watch a spectacular airshow to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Vermont ANG. The unit's EB-57 performed their final flyby during this event. The first EB-57, 52-1499, departed Burlington on August 20, 1981 for its new home at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Later that year, the 158th began a transition to the F-4D 'Phantom'. The VT ANG left the Air Defense Command and joined Tactical Air Command with a primary mission of ground attack and close air support. The 158th TFG received its first three F-4D on October 9, 1981. The first F-4 was plioted by Colonel John Leonard, Air Commander of the Vermont Air National Guard and first pilot to qualify in the F-4D.

January 1983 saw the 158th TFG deployed to Gulfport, Miss., to prepare for its upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection. In May 1983, 19 support personnel, 6 aircrew members and 3 F-4D from the 158th TFG participated in the Air National Guard competition called "Gunsmoke 83" held at Volk Field, Wisconsin. This was the 158th's first competition since the conversion and the unit placed 4th overall. In addition to the competition, the 158th was the first unit to ever fire the.30mm GE gun pod off the F-4D. The weapon had not been operationally tested and the special flight test of the pod was arranged between GE and the VT ANG.

In the Summer, all the unit's T-33s were transferred to other units. In the following years, deployments became more common for the 'Green Mountain Boys'. In the Summer of 1984, the Vermont Air National Guard deployed its F-4s to Plattsburgh AFB, NY, while the City of Burlington repaved the airport runways.

On March 12, 1986, the Vermont Air National Guard received its first 'Fighting Falcon' when a flight of four F-16A landed at Burlington IAP. The 158th TFG began conversion to the new aircraft. The F-16 brought an increase in part-time Guard positions by over 100 personnel and an estimated $28 million in construction and facility upgrades. The F-4 aircraft were reassigned to the 171st FIS at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan to replace their old F-4C.

Today, the 'Green Mountain Boys' still fly the F-16C with a multi-role mission from Burlington IAP. Go to 'Falcon in Vermont' to read the history of the 158th FW from 1986 to present.