355th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 355th Fighter Squadron


caption= 355th FS Insignia
dates= Organized November 15, 1942
Deactivated March 31, 1946
Reactivated November 19, 1956
Re-Deactivated March 31, 1992
Re-Reactivated August 20,1993
Deactivated 15 August 2007.
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Attack
size=
command_structure= Pacific Air Forces
354th Fighter Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Eielson Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Fightin' Falcons"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
anniversaries=The 355th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It's last assignment was that of a subordinate unit of the 354th Fighter Wing based at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, flying the Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.

The squadron was activated on 20 August 1993, replacing the deactivating 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron. The unit's primary missions included air strike control, close air support, interdiction, joint air attack team, escort, and combat search and rescue.

With a dual role A/OA-10 squadron commitment and night vision goggles, the squadron had the ability to deploy forward air controllers with attack aircraft for a complete day and night employment capability.

The 355th FS also provided air liaison officers for the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), providing advice, as ground forward air controllers, on the use of fighters and the tactical employment of close air support assets.

The squadron was inactivated on 15 August 2007 as a result of BRAC 2005.

History

The 355th Fighter Squadron was activated on November 15, 1942 at Hamilton Field, California, flying the P-39 Airacobra, before transferring to the 9th Air Force in England in November 1943. There, the "Pugnacious Pups" received the first P-51 Mustangs flown in combat by the USAAF in Europe. In April 1944, the squadron shifted from bomber escort to ground attack duties. After D-Day, in support of General Patton's 3rd Army, the unit helped establish the model for the joint air support operations it conducts today. The squadron was deactivated on March 31, 1946, shortly after the German surrender.

Reactivated as the 355th Fighter Day Squadron at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina on November 19, 1956, the renamed "Fightin' Falcons" flew the F-100D Super Sabre.

On 3 February 1968 the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron was deployed to support the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam on 3 February 1968 for five months Temporary Duty (TDY).

At Phu Cat, the 37th TFW consisted of the following deployed squadrons:

* 355 Tactical Fighter (F-100D/F) (Tail Code: HP)
* 416 Tactical Fighter (F-100D/F) (Tail Code: HE)
* Det 1. 612 Tactical Fighter (F-100D/F) (Tail Code: HS)
* 174 Tactical Fighter (F-100C/F) (Tail Code: HA)

At the end of the TDY on 5 July, the 355 TFS was permanently assigned to the 37th, with activated New Jersey and District of Columbia Air National Guard personnel from the 113 TFW at Myrtle Beach replacing them and manning the unit.

On 15 May 1969 with the reassignment fo the 612th and 174 TFS, it was decided to convert the 37th to an F-4 wing. The F-100 equipped 355th, along with the 416 TFS were reassinged to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, replacing the ANG 136th and 188th TFSs which were returning to New York and New Mexico, respectively.

At Tuy Hoa, the tail code of the 355th F-100s was changed to "SP", and deployed Air National Guard personnel from New York and New Mexico manned the 355th until its deactivation on 30 September 1970.

During its time in Vietnam, the 355th flew more than 17,000 combat sorties flying close air support, interdiction, search and rescue, and helicopter support missions. The squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for its service.

On 1 November 1970, the 355 TFS was reactivated at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC as part of the 354 TFW. Upon its return, the unit transitioned to the new A-7D Corsair II aircraft before redeploying to Southeast Asia in the fall of 1972 as the first A-7 unit to fight there. In 10 weeks of combat before the end of that conflict, the squadron participated in the Linebacker II campaign, generated more than 4,000 sorties, and was credited with 22 rescues of downed airmen. The unit returned to Myrtle Beach in April 1974.

In February 1978, the 355 FS transitioned to the new A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close air support aircraft, becoming the second operational squadron in the nation's first A-10 wing.

Duty called again in August 1990 when the unit deployed to King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. There, the squadron's pilots inflicted heavy damage to Iraqi armor and artillery emplacements, helped cut off enemy supply lines, and conducted search and rescue missions. The squadron contributed greatly to the 4,200 artillery, tank and other vehicle kills credited to A-10s during the war.

Inactivated at Myrtle Beach AFB on March 31, 1992, the 355 FS was reactivated at Eielson AFB on August 20, 1993, flying the A/OA-10 aircraft.

In October 1998, the 355 FS deployed to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Only two months later, the Warthogs saw their second tour of combat duty over Iraq while participating in the Dec. 16-19, 1998, Operation DESERT FOX strike missions. In 2.5 months, the 355 FS flew 597 combat and combat support sorties leading up to, then conducting, National Command Authority directed strikes on Iraqi military facilities and suspected weapons of mass destruction storage areas. They achieved 100 percent target hit rate.

The unit deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, January - March 2001. The 355 FS also exercised at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to train with Special Forces units, October 2003.

In Spring 2004 the unit deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit redeployed there again early 2006. During both deployments the unit was responsible to provide close air support to Army ground forces and convoys in Afghanistan.

Base Realignment and Closure, 2005

On 13 May 2005, The Department of Defense proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure program. The A-10 aircraft will be distributed to the 917th Wing Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (three aircraft); to a new active-duty unit at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (12 aircraft); and to backup inventory (three aircraft).

External links

* [http://www.eielson.af.mil/units/og/355fs.htm 355th Fighter Squadron] (official site)