- 421st Fighter Squadron
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 421st Fighter Squadron
caption= 421st Fighter Squadron Patch
dates=1 May 1943 -20 February 1947
13 April 1962 - Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Fighter
role=
size=
command_structure=Air Combat Command
12th Air Force
388th Fighter Wing
388th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Black Widows
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=The 421st Fighter Squadron (421 FS) is part of the
388th Fighter Wing atHill Air Force Base ,Utah . It operates theF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.Mission
The 421 FS prepares to deploy worldwide to conduct Day/Night air superiority and precision strike sorties employing laser-guided and inertially aided munitions during contingencies and combat. [http://www.388fw.acc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4222 421 FS Fact Sheet] ]
History
World War II
The squadron was activated on
1 May 1943 , as the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, in Orlando,Florida . Following 6 months of flight training, the squadron arrived at Milne Bay,New Guinea , and assumed duty with the 5th Fighter Command,5th Air Force , in the SouthwestPacific .For the next 14 months, the squadron and its detachments moved several times throughout New Guinea providing cover for
U.S. Army assault landings and shippingreconnaissance .Flying patrols, the 421st engaged in bombing and
strafing while protecting the various new air bases. By the end of November1944 , squadron pilots scored victories flying theLockheed P-38 Lightning , Douglas P-70 Havoc, andNorthrop P-61 Black Widow . The squadron received P-61s, the first fighter designated for night fighting, in June 1944.In October 1944, squadron personnel moved to the
Philippines , and after bitter fighting, established a camp atSan Marcelino in February1945 . During the next 6 months, the squadron's activity was intenseaerial combat and bombing missions became an everyday occurrence.Following the
Japanese surrender , the squadron became part of the occupation forces atItazuke Air Base ,Japan . On20 February 1947 , the squadron was inactivated, with 16 victories to its credit.Vietnam War
Fifteen years later, on
8 July 1962 , the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated and named a tactical fighter squadron with the355th Tactical Fighter Wing ,George Air Force Base ,California . For two years the squadron flew the RepublicF-105 Thunderchief .While deployed to
Kadena Air Base ,Okinawa , from April to August1965 , flight crews rotated to a sister squadron inSoutheast Asia enabling squadron members to gain combat experience.From April
1966 to April1967 the 421 TFS was stationed atKorat Royal Thai Air Force Base ,Thailand , with the388th Tactical Fighter Wing . For the next two years, the squadron was stationed with three different stateside wings, though in name only. On23 April 1969 , the 421 TFS transferred toKunsan Air Base ,Korea , furnishingMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II 's for defense alert. On21 June 1969, the squadron was transferred toDa Nang Air Base ,Republic of Vietnam , and remained there through October1972 , flying 15,420 combat missions. On31 October 1972, the unit moved toUdorn Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand, with the432d Reconnaissance Wing .Combat missions continued in Vietnam until the cease-fire on
28 January 1973 , inLaos until February 1973, and inCambodia until15 August 1973. The squadron then changed to a training environment and participated in countless tactical air exercises. During April1975 , squadron pilots participated in the evacuation ofPhnom Penh , Cambodia andSaigon , Republic of Vietnam. In May 1975, the squadron flew in tactical missions associated with the recovery of the SS Mayagüez and its crew.For its tremendous efforts in Southeast Asia, the 421 TFS earned three Presidential Unit Citations, six
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award s with "V" devices, theRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and flies 12 campaign streamers for Southeast Asian duty.Cold War
In December 1975, the 388 TFW transferred from Thailand to
Hill Air Force Base , and by30 June 1977 , the 421 TFS unit was combat ready. On29 December 1978 , the squadron was reduced to zero aircraft, yet remained with the 388th until June1980 when they received their firstF-16 Fighting Falcon . The 421st was the second squadron to achieve combat ready status in the F-16.After attaining combat readiness in the F-16, the 421 TFS was tasked to provide formal training for pilots transitioning to the F-16. In November
1981 , the squadron deployed toEgypt where it trained Egyptian pilots in exercise Bright Star. From1 July 1982 , until1 January 1983 , the 421 TFS had trained pilots from Britain, Egypt, andPakistan , as well as U.S. pilots. Squadron deployment locations in the 1980's included Egypt,Oman ,Norway ,Italy ,Ecuador ,Denmark ,Saudi Arabia , andKuwait .Post-Cold War
The 421 FS completed conversion to the new F-16CG Block 40 aircraft in February
1990 , the second squadron to do so. On30 August 1990, the squadron deployed to thePersian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. On20 March 1991 , the 421st redeployed to its home at Hill Air Force Base after distinguishing itself by flying 1,300 combat sorties (1,200 at night) without any losses or battle damage. Since then, the 421st FS has deployed around the world in support of various operations, including Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and Noble Eagle.In August
2002 , the 421st transferred all its maintenance personnel to the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as part of the wing reorganization. The 421st FS deployed with the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) toAl Udeid Air Base ,Qatar , to supportOperation Enduring Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom from May to September2003 .The 421 FS and AMU became the first-ever active duty F-16 squadron to deploy to
Balad Air Base ,Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom from August2004 to January2005 . The squadron flew over 1,300 sorties during its first deployment to Iraq. The squadron then returned to Balad Air Base from May to September2006 flying 1,400 sorties and 6,400 hours.
=Operations [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0421fs.html AFHRA 421 FS Page] ] =*
World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Southern Watch
*Operation Northern Watch
*Operation Noble Eagle
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom
=Lineage=*421st Night Fighter Squadron (1943 - 1962)
*421st Tactical Fighter Squadron (1962 - 1991)
*421st Fighter Squadron (1991 - Present)
=Assignments=*Air Defense Department, AAF School of Applied Tactics (1943)
**Attached: 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (17 July - 7 November 1943)
*5th Air Force (1943)
*V Fighter Command (1943 - 1946)
*86th Fighter Wing (1945)
*315th Composite Wing (1946 - 1947)
*Tactical Air Command (1962)
*355th Tactical Fighter Wing (1962 - 1965)
*835th Air Division (1965)
*6234th Tactical Fighter Wing (1965 - 1966)
*388th Tactical Fighter Wing (1966 - 1967)
*15th Tactical Fighter Wing (1967)
*4531st Tactical Fighter Wing (1967)
*23d Tactical Fighter Wing (1967 - 1969)
*366th Tactical Fighter Wing (1969 - 1972)
*432d Tactical Fighter Wing (1972 - 1975)
*388th Fighter Wing (1975 - Present)
=Bases stationed=*Orlando,
Florida (1943)
*Kissimmee Army Air Field] , Florida (1943 - 1944)
*Milne Bay,New Guinea (1944)
*Nadzab, New Guinea (1944)
**Detachment:Wakde (28 May - 21 September 1944)
*Owi,Schouten Islands (1944)
*Tacloban ,Leyte (1944 - 1945)
*San Marcelino ,Luzon (1945)
*Clark Field , Luzon (1945)
*Ie Shima (1945)
*Itazuke Air Base ,Japan (1945 - 1947)
*George Air Force Base ,California (1962 - 1964)
*McConnell Air Force Base ,Kansas (1964 - 1965)
**Deployed:Incirlik Air Base ,Turkey (18 September - 19 November 1964)
**Deployed:Kadena Air Base ,Okinawa (7 April - 27 August 1965)
*Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base ,Thailand (1965 - 1967)
*MacDill Air Force Base , Florida (1967)
*Homestead Air Force Base , Florida (1967)
*McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas (1967 - 1969)
*Da Nang Air Base ,South Vietnam (1969 - 1972)
**Deployed:Kunsan Air Base ,South Korea (23 April - 26 June 1969)
*Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand (1972)
*Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand (1972 - 1975)
*Clark Air Base ,Philippines (1975)
*Hill Air Force Base ,Utah (1975 - Present)
**Deployed: Central Air Base,United Arab Emirates (28 August 1990 - 27 March 1991)
=Aircraft Operated=*P-70 Havoc (1943 - 1944)
*P-38 Lightning (1944 - 1946)
*P-61 Black Widow (1944 - 1947)
*F-105 Thunderchief (1963 - 1967)
*F-4 Phantom II (1969 - 1975, 1976 - 1980)
*F-16 Fighting Falcon (1980 - Present)References
Notes
Bibliography
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0421fs.html USAF 421st Fighter Squadron History]
* [http://www.388fw.acc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4222 421st Fighter Squadron Fact Sheet]Also See
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