- 334th Fighter Squadron
The 334th Fighter Squadron is a
USAF squadron that operates out of "'Seymour Johnson AFB."'Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 334th Fighter Squadron
caption= 334th Fighter Squadron Insignia
dates=22 August 1942 -Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Attack
role= Sustained Combat Operations
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=Seymour Johnson AFB
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
equipment=F-15E Strike Eagle
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
thumb|334th_Fighter_Squadron_in_January_1945_[ [http://home.earthlink.net/~johnrlove/1000_destroyed/roster.html Squadron Photos] ] ]World War II
The 334th was originally formed as
No. 71 Squadron RAF , anEagle Squadron of American volunteers in the British Royal Air Force. After the United States entered the war, the squadron was transferred to the USAAF. It was officially constituted by War Department letter on12 August 1942 , and was activated at Bushey Hall, England on12 September 1942 .The 334th, along with the 335th and 336th, were assigned to the
4th Fighter Group , which was the first Army Air Corps unit activated in theEuropean Theater duringWorld War II , which was located inEssex, England .The 334th flew British
Supermarine Spitfire fighters until until the arrival ofP-47 Thunderbolt aircraft in 1943. After about a year the squadron switched toP-51 Mustang s.During World War II, the 334th had a total of 395 kills against the German
Luftwaffe ; 210 kills in the air and 185 on the ground.Post World War II
Equipped with the
F-80 Shooting Star , the 334th moved toAndrews AFB ,in April 1947. In 1949 the 334th moved toLangley AFB , where they were reequipped with theF-86 Sabre .Korean War
In November 1949, the 334th were sent to the conflict in Korean War. During the war they were credited with 142 kills, and they had six pilots who achieved ace status.
The 334th remained in Korea until
8 December 1957 . They were reassigned toSeymour Johnson AFB as a unit of the4th Fighter Wing . The 334th flew theF-100 Super Sabre until 1959, when the unit started to use theF-105 Thunderchief .Captain
Gus Grissom were assigned to the 334th during the Korean War. MajorJames Jabara , CaptainManuel J. "Pete" Fernandez , MajorGeorge A. Davis ,Medal of Honor recipient and MajorFrederick "Boots" Blesse ; the second, third, fourth and sixth leading aces of the Korean War were assigned to the 334th.Vietnam War
In January 1968 the 334th went to Korea to support operations during the
Pueblo incident . The 334th returned Seymour Johnson AFB.Gulf Wars
The 334th flew its first
sorties with theF-15E on1 January 1991 . Throughout the month the 334th served as thehost unit for multipul units deploying to Operation Desert Shield. Also, some 334th aircrews and support personnel deployed toOperation Desert Storm asaugmentees . On18 June 1991 the squadron became operational on the F-15E, and deployed toSaudi Arabia the next day to relieve elements of the335th Fighter Squadron , providingcombat air patrol and ground alert forces supporting withdrawal of troops from Operation Desert StormReferences
Notes
Bibliography
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/334fs.htm Global Security]
External links
* [http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/ Fourth Fighter Group]
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