308th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 308th Fighter Squadron


caption= 308th Fighter Squadron Patch
dates= 30 January 1942 - 7 November 1945
20 August 1946 - 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= Emerald Knights
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Torch
Operation Husky
Operation Dragoon
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 308th Fighter Squadron (308 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 308th was activated on 30 January 1942, as the 308th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) and was activated at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. After five months of training in the P-39 Aircobra, the squadron joined the war in Europe when it was assigned to a base in England in June 1942. The squadron's aircraft did not accompany the unit to England and 308th pilots and technicians spent a two-month period undergoing intensive training in flying and fighting in the British Spitfire. The squadron flew its first combat mission on 18 August 1942, when it attacked enemy positions in occupied France. In November 1942, the unit moved to Gibraltar and supported the allied invasion of North Africa. In February 1943, the Spitfires of the 308th supported allied efforts which halted Field Marshal Rommel's advance on allied positions. In July 1943, Spitfires from the 308th provided support for Allied Forces as the Invasion of Italy began with the capture of Sicily. As Allied bomber forces operating from Italy began the strategic bombing of Axis petroleum and communications facilities in central Europe and the Balkans, the 308th was re-equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang to replace the shorter-ranged Spitfire. In August 1944, the P-51's were involved in the invasion of Southern France. In December 1944, the first destruction of a German jet fighter by a 308th P-51 occurred. By war's end, the 308th had earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and was involved in eight campaigns. [http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56 OG Fact Sheet] ]

The 308th again pitted its aircraft against an enemy when it was assigned to Bien Hoa Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. For its efforts in Southeast Asia from 16 December 1966 to 15 October 1970, the 308th was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. The 308th Fighter Squadron also won the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with combat "V" device.

On 1 October 1986, the squadron was re-designated a fighter squadron and re-equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 308th was first assigned to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and then to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and on 1 April 1994 to Luke Air Force Base. The 308th ranks tenth as the most highly decorated unit in Air Force history among the 152 fighter squadrons that were ever active.

=Operations [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0308fs.asp AFHRA 308 FS Page] ] =

*World War II
*Vietnam War

=Lineage=

*308th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1942)
*308th Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*308th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1943 - 1948)
*308th Fighter Squadron, Jet (1948 - 1950)
*308th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1950)
*308th Fighter-Escort Squadron (1950 - 1953)
*308th Strategic Fighter Squadron (1953 - 1957)
*308th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1957 - 1958)
*308th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958 - 1980)
*308th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (1980 - 1986)
*308th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1986 - 1991)
*308th Fighter Squadron (1991 - Present)

=Assignments=

*31st Fighter Group (1942 - 1945)
*31st Tactical Training Wing (1946 - 1965)
**Attached: Alaskan Air Command (5 December 1956 - 7 January 1957)
**Attached: 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (13 March - 30 April 1963)
**Attached: 7231st Combat Support Group (9 February - 5 May 1964, 9 March - 8 July 1965)
*3d Tactical Fighter Wing (1965 - 1966)
**Attached: 31st Tactical Fighter Wing (15 November - 25 December 1966)
*31st Tactical Fighter Wing (1966 - 1970)
*4403d Fighter Wing (1970)
*31st Fighter Wing (1970 - 1992)
**Attached: 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (28 APril - 29 July 1972)
**Attached: 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (11 December 1972 - 11 June 1973)
*347th Fighter Wing (1992 - 1994)
*56th Fighter Wing (1994 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Baer Field, Indiana (1942)
*New Orleans Air Base, Louisiana (1942)
*RAF Atcham, England (1942)
*RAF Kenley, England (1942)
*RAF Westhampnett, England (1942)
*Tafaraoui, Algeria (1942 - 1943)
**Operated From: Casablanca, French Morocco (10 - 31 January 1943)
*Thelepte, Tunisia (1943)
*Tébessa, Algeria (1943)
*Canrobert, 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)
**Deployed: Chitose Air Base, Japan (7 November 1953 - 9 February 1954)
**Deployed: Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (5 December 1956 - 7 January 1957)
**Deployed: Hahn Air Base, Germany (15 - 21 August 1958)
**Deployed: Aviano Air Base, Italy (22 August 1958 - 19 January 1959)
*George Air Force Base, California (1959 - 1962)
**Deployed: Moron Air Base, Spain (11 July - c. December 1959)
**Deployed: Aviano Air Base, Italy (7 March - c. 19 July 1961)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1962 - 1965)
**Deployed: Kadena Air Base, Okinawa (13 March - 30 April 1963)
**Deployed: Itazuke Air Base, Japan (1 May - 3 July 1963)
**Deployed: Cigli Air Base, Turkey (9 February - 5 May 1964, 9 March - 8 July 1965)
*Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam (1965 - 1966)
*Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam (1966 - 1970)
*England Air Force Base, Louisiana (1970)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1970 - 1992)
**Deployed: Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (28 April - 29 July 1972)
**Deployed: Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (11 December 1972 - 11 June 1973)
*Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (1992 - 1994)
*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 - 1949)
*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 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0308fs.asp USAF 308th Fighter Squadron History]
* [http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

Also See