466th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 466th Fighter Squadron


caption= Official crest of the 466th Fighter Squadron
dates= 5 October 1944–25 November 1945
19 June 1952–11 May 1956
23 June 1972–1 February 1992
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
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size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
Tenth Air Force
419th Fighter Wing
419th Operations Group
garrison= Hill Air Force Base
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equipment= see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
equipment_label= F-16 Fighting Falcon
nickname= Diamondback
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decorations= see "Lineage and honors" section below
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The 466th Fighter Squadron (466 FS) is the 419th Fighter Wing's designated flying squadron. They are located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 419th uses 15 F-16C/D model aircraft, which are light, air to air daytime fighters. The 466th Fighter Squadron first saw action in 1998, participating for the first time in the exercise Cape Tiger. This is a drill which puts reserve pilots shoulder to shoulder with members of the Thailand and Singapore Air Forces. Later that year, the 466th was deployed to Kuwait in time for Operation Southern Watch. The 466th was part of a unit attempting to hold off Iraqi movements toward Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabia.

History

The 466th aided in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and replacement recruit training from January through August 1945. They then provided air defense of Japan during deployments in 1953 and 1954. Since 1973, the 466th has trained to fly interdiction, close air support, and counter-air missions. Deployed periodically for contingency operations, or for training exercises with other units, the 466th has kept active to this day.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

Constituted as 466th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 October 1944.Activated on 12 October 1944.Inactivated on 25 November 1945.

Redesignated 466th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 19 June 1952.Activated on 1 July 1952.Redesignated 466th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953.Inactivated on 11 May 1956.

Redesignated 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 23 June 1972.Activated in the Reserve on 1 January 1973.Redesignated 466th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

* World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4): 1 August 1981–31 July 1983; 2 August 1983–2 August 1985; 1 July 1987–31 August 1989; 1 April 1994–31 March 1996.

Emblem

Approved on 29 March 1995.

Assignments

508 Fighter Group, 12 October 1944–25 November 1945.

508 Fighter-Escort (later, 508 Strategic Fighter) Wing, 1 July 1952–11 May 1956.

508 Tactical Fighter Group, 1 January 1973;301 Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 March 1973;508 Tactical Fighter Group, 17 October 1975;419 Tactical Fighter (later, 419 Fighter) Wing, 1 October 1982;419 Operations Group, 1 August 1992–

Stations

* Peterson Field (later, Peterson Air Force Base), Colorado, 12 October 1944;
* Pocatello Army Air Field (later, Pocatello Regional Airport), Idaho, 25 October 1944;
* Bruning Army Airfield, Nebraska, 15 November 1944;
* Fort Lawton, Washington, 21 December 1944–1 January 1945;
* Kahuku Army Air Base, Territory of Hawaii, 6 January 1945;
* Mokuleia Army Air Base, Territory of Hawaii, 25 February 1945;
* Bellows Army Air Base (later, Bellows Air Force Station), Territory of Hawaii, 16 September 1945–25 November 1945.

* Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, 1 July 1952–11 May 1956 (deployed at Misawa Air Base, Japan, 8 February 1953–5 May 1953 and 16 February 1954–16 May 1954).

* Hill Air Force Base, Utah, 1 January 1973–

Aerospace vehicles

* P-47 Thunderbolt (1944–1945)
* P-51 Mustang (1945)
* AT-6 Texan (1945)
* UC-78 Bobcat (1945)
* F-84 Thunderjet (1952–1956)
* F-105 Thunderchief (1973–1984)
* T-33 Shooting Star (1973–1980)
* F-16 Fighting Falcon (1984–Present)

Commanders

* None (not manned), 12 October 1944–8 November 1944;
* Major John J. Lynch Jr, 9 November 1944;
* Major Edwin T. Bayley, 19 August 1945–25 November 1945.

* None (not manned), 1 July 1952–c. September 1952;
* Lieutenant Colonel Howard E. Cody, c. September 1952;
* Major Vasseure H. Wynn, 10 August 1953;
* Major Harris W. Mani, 1 April 1955;
* Lieutenant Colonel Garry Oskamp, 25 October 1955;
* Unknown, 9 May 1956–11 May 1956.

* Unknown, 1 January 1973–c. June 1973;
* Lieutenant Colonel Larry M. Davis, by c. June 1973;
* Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E. Flowers, 15 February 1977;
* Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Reich, 27 April 1978;
* Lieutenant Colonel Clayton B. Lyle III, by c. September 1980;
* Major Wayne F. Conroy, 14 November 1983;
* Lieutenant Colonel Reese R. Nielsen, 1 May 1984;
* Lieutenant Colonel Tom L. King, 12 March 1988;
* Lieutenant Colonel Barry D. Wyttenbach, 29 October 1989;
* Lieutenant Colonel David J. Towers, 9 June 1991;
* Lieutenant Colonel F. P. Bernard, 1 June 1992;
* Lieutenant Colonel Wayne F. Conroy, by c. February 1993;
* Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ward, 10 December 1995-.

References

External links

* [http://www.419fw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3581 419 Fighter Wing factsheet]
* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0466fs.html Air Force Historical Research Agency: 466th Fighter Squadron]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/466fs.htm 466th fighter squadron info] at global security.org