the 126th's lineage includes that of the 122d aviation battalion due to consolidation. the battalion was originally organized and federally recognized on 18 november 1946 in the rhode island national guard at providence as the medical detachment, 43d division artillery. it was ordered into active federal service on 5 september 1950 at providence during the korean war. with the division, the detachment was deployed to germany to defend against a possible soviet attack. to replace the detachment at home stations, a national guard of the united states (ngus) unit with the same designation was organized and federally recognized on 2 december 1952. on 15 june 1954, the medical detachment was released from active federal service and reverted to state control, and federal recognition was withdrawn from the ngus unit.