309th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 309th Fighter Squadron


caption= 309th Fighter Squadron Patch
dates= 30 January 1942 - 7 November 1945
20 August 1946 - 31 December 1993
1 April 1994 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Fighter Training
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
19th Air Force
56th Fighter Wing
56th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Luke Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Avalanche
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 309th Fighter Squadron (309 FS) is part of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

Mission

History

The 309th Pursuit Squadron was first activated at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana on 30 January 1942. After arriving in England in May 1942 the squadron was designated as the 309th Fighter Squadron, traded their P-39 Aircobras for British Spitfires, and began combat operations, achieving their first kill on only their second day of fighting. From August 1942 to July 1943 the 309th spearheaded air offenses over North Africa and later participated in the invasion of Italy. The 309th patrolled the sky over Italy in support of the ground war until March of 1944. They then acquired P-51 Mustangs and conducted bomber escort missions into Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Italy, and Germany. By 7 May 1945, the end of the war in Europe, the 309th claimed 173 victories. [http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56 OG Fact Sheet] ]

Following World War II, the 309th moved to Langley Field, Virginia, and converted to the F-84 Thunderjet. In 1948 the squadron completed the first jet fighter transpacific deployment and, as part of the 31st Fighter Wing, earned the first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ever presented. The squadron transitioned to the F-100 Super Sabre in 1957 and was re-designated as the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The unit deployed to Southeast Asia in 1966 and flew combat operations there until 1970. Returning to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and the 309th traded the F-100 for the F-4 and flew the Phantom II until 1986, when they converted to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The squadron evacuated to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, in August 1992, narrowly escaping the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, and remained there until its deactivation on 31 December 1993. The Air Force reactivated the squadron on 1 April 1994, as part of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where they continue operations today.

The 309th produced 14 aces over the years totaling 161 kills between them. The 309th also received numerous awards, including two Distinguished Unit Citations, one Presidential Unit Citation, two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device, two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and one Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. In addition, the squadron earned 25 campaign streamers from World War II through Southeast Asia. The squadron emblem is a 1944 Walt Disney production copyrighted design. It symbolizes the fighter mission celestial navigation pioneered by this squadron, its around-the-clock mission readiness, and its striking power.

=Operations [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0309fs.html AFHRA 309 FS Page] ] =

*World War II
*Vietnam War

=Lineage=

*309th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1942)
*309th Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*309th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1943 - 1948)
*309th Fighter Squadron, Jet (1948 - 1950)
*309th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1950)
*309th Fighter-Escort Squadron (1950 - 1953)
*309th Strategic Fighter Squadron (1953 - 1957)
*309th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1957 - 1958)
*309th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958 - 1982)
*309th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (1982 - 1986)
*309th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1986 - 1991)
*309th Fighter Squadron (1991 - Present)

=Assignments=

*31st Fighter Group (1942 - 1945)
*31st Tactical Training Wing (1946 - 1970)
**Attached: Alaskan Air Command (5 January - 9 February 1957)
**Attached: 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (17 July - 22 December 1962, 26 September - 30 December 1963)
**Attached: 7231st Combat Support Group (5 August - 27 November 1964, 18 January - 31 March 1966)
**Attached: 41st Combat Support Group (1 A9ril - 24 April 1966)
*4403d Fighter Wing (1970)
*31st Fighter Wing (1970 - 1992)
*363d Fighter Wing (1992 - 1993)
*56th Fighter Wing (1994 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Baer Field, Indiana (1942)
*New Orleans Air Base, Louisiana (1942)
*RAF High Ercall, England (1942)
*RAF Westhampnett, England (1942)
*Tafaraoui, Algeria (1942)
*La Senia, Algeria (1942 - 1943)
*Thelepte, Tunisia (1943)
*Tébessa, Algeria (1943)
*Youks-les-Bain, Algeria (1943)
*Kalaa Djerda, Tunisia (1943)
*Djilma, Tunisia (1943)
*Le Sers, Tunisia (1943)
*Korba, Tunisia (1943)
*Gozo (1943)
*Ponte Olivo, Sicily (1943)
*Agrigento, Sicily (1943)
*Termini Imerese, Sicily (1943)
*Milazzo, Sicily (1943)
*Montecorvino, Italy (1943)
*Pomigliano, Italy (1943 - 1944)
*Castel Volturno, Italy (1944)
*San Severo, Italy (1944 - 1945)
*Mondolfo, Italy (1945)
*Triolo, Italy (1945)
*Drew Field, Florida (1945)
*Giebelstadt, Germany (1946)
*Kitzingen, Germany (1946 - 1947)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1947)
*Turner Air Force Base, Georgia (1947 - 1959)
**Deployed: RAF Manston, England (26 December 1950 - 25 July 1951)
**Deployed: Misawa Air Base, Japan (20 July - 16 October 1952, 7 November 1953 - 9 February 1954)
**Deployed: Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (5 January - 9 February 1957)
*George Air Force Base, California (1959 - 1962)
**Deployed: Aviano Air Base, Italy (9 July - 15 November 1960)
**Deployed: Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany (9 October - 26 November 1961)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1962 - 1966)
**Deployed: Kadena Air Base, Okinawa (7 July - 22 December 1962)
**Deployed: Itazuke Air Base, Japan (26 September - 31 December 1963)
**Deployed: Cigli Air Base, Turkey (5 August - 27 November 1964, 18 January - 24 April 1966)
*Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam (1966 - 1970)
*England Air Force Base, Louisiana (1970)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1970 - 1992)
*Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina (1992 - 1993)
*Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (1994 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*P-40 Warhawk (1942)
*P-39 Airacobra (1942)
*Supermarine Spitfire (1942 - 1943)
*P-51 Mustang (1943 - 1945, 1947 - 1948)
*F-80 Shooting Star (1946 - 1947)
*F-84 Thunderjet (1948 - 1957)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1957 - 1970)
*F-4 Phantom II (1970 - 1986)
*F-16 Fighting Falcon (1986 - 1993, 1994 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0309fs.html USAF 309th Fighter Squadron History]
* [http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

Also See