2d Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 2d Fighter Squadron


caption= 2d Fighter Squadron Patch
dates= 15 January 1941 - 7 November 1945
9 November 1946 - 31 December 1969
1 July 1971 - 31 March 1973
1 September 1974 - 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
325th Fighter Wing
325th Operations Group
current_commander=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
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The 2d Fighter Squadron (2 FS) is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It operates the F-15C/D Eagle aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

Mission

Train more than U.S. Air Force active and reserve component F-15 pilots in air dominance missions for worldwide application including training with night vision goggles and the Fighter Data Link. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

History

Originally constituted the 2d Pursuit Squadron on 20 November, 1940, the squadron was activated on 15 January, 1941. It served in World War II with the 52d Pursuit Group, and during that period flew the Curtis P-40 Warhawk and Bell P-39 Airacobra. The 2d also flew combat missions in the Supermarine Spitfire and P-51 Mustang in the European and Mediterranean Theaters, serving specifically in air campaigns in Europe, Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, north Appennines, Rhineland, Central Europe, Po Valley, and performed air combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. The unit received two Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in Germany and Romania in 1944. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

Following World War II, the squadron was deactivated on 7 November, 1945 at Drew Field, Florida. It was activated again on 9 November, 1946 and was assigned to the 52d Fighter Group under which it served tours in Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen, Germany. Returning to Mitchell Field, New York, the squadron was designated the 2d Fighter Squadron and flew the Northrop P-61 Black Widow. In 1949, the 2d was moved to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where it began flying the North American F-82 Twin Mustang. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

In 1950, the 2 FS became the 2d Fighter All Weather Squadron and was outfitted with the Lockheed F-94 Starfire. One year later the unit was redesignated the 2d Fighter Interceptor Squadron and began flying the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

Realignment in 1952 saw the 2nd assigned first to the 4709th Defense Wing, one year later to the 568th Air Defense Group. In 1953, the squadron was introduced to the North American F-86D Sabre. Reassignment back to the 52d Fighter Group took place in August, 1955, and the squadron moved its operations to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York in 1957, the first delta wing fighter, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, was assigned to the unit to be replaced in 1959 with the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo. The squadron flew the F-101 for 10 years before being deactivated in 1969. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

In 1971, the squadron was reactivated under the 23d Air Division at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, flying the supersonic all weather Convair F-106 Delta Dart. The unit received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities during 1971-1972 at Wurtsmith, but was deactivated 31 March, 1973. In August 1974, the squadron was reactivated and designated the 2d Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron and was activated at the Air Defense Weapons Center located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it continued to fly the F-106. On 1 February, 1982, the unit was redesignated the 2d Fighter Weapons Squadron, and it had the privilege of training the last active duty F-106 pilots. The unit received another Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities during 1981-1982 at Tyndall. In May 1984 the squadron was re-designated as the 2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, and transitioned to the F-15 Eagle and continues to train pilots for integration into Combat Air Forces worldwide. The 2d also maintains the capability to provide augmentation to air defense forces. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

The name was changed to the 2d Fighter Squadron on 1 November, 1991. It received another Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its activities between 1999 and 2000. [ [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2 FS Fact Sheet] ]

Operations [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp AFHRA 2 FS Page] ]

*World War II

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp AFHRA 2 FS Page] ]

*2d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1940 - 1942)
*2d Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1944)
*2d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1944 - 1946)
*2d Fighter Squadron (All Weather) (1946 - 1948)
*2d Fighter Squadron, All Weather (1948 - 1950)
*2d Fighter-All Weather Squadron (1950 - 1951)
*2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1951 - 1974)
*2d Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron (1974 - 1982)
*2d Fighter Weapons Squadron (1982 - 1984)
*2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (1984 - 1991)
*2d Fighter Squadron (1991 - Present)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp AFHRA 2 FS Page] ]

*52d Fighter Group (1941 - 1945, 1946 - 1952)
*4709th Defense Wing (1952 - 1953)
*568th Air Defense Group (1953 - 1954)
*4709th Air Defense Wing (1954 - 1955)
*52d Fighter Wing (1955 - 1969)
*23d Air Division (1971 - 1973)
*USAF Air Defense Weapons Center (1974 - 1981)
*325th Fighter Wing (1981 - Present)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp AFHRA 2 FS Page] ]

*Selfridge Field, Michigan (1941, 1942)
*Norfolk, Virginia (1941 - 1942)
*Florence, South Carolina (1942)
*Wilmington, North Carolina (1942)
*Grenier Army Air Field, New Hampshire (1942)
*RAF Eglinton, Northern Ireland (1942)
*RAF Goxhill, England (1942)
*La Senia, Algeria (1942)
*Orleansville, Algeria (1942 - 1943)
*Relizane, Algeria (1943)
*Biskra, Algeria (1943)
*Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria (1943)
*Ain M’Lila, Algeria (1943)
*Youks–les–Bains, Algeria (1943)
*Le Sers, Tunisia (1943)
*La Sebala, Tunisia (1943)
*Bocca di Falco, Sicily (1943)
*Borgo, Haute-Corse, Corsica (1943 - 1944)
*Aghione Airfield, Corsica (1944)
*Madna Airfield, Italy (1944 - 1945)
*Piagiolino Airfield, Italy (1945)
*Lesina Airfield, Italy (1945)
*Drew Field, Florida (1945)
*Schweinfurt, Germany (1946 - 1947)
*Bad Kissingen, Germany (1947)
*Mitchel Air Force Base, New York (1947 - 1949)
*McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey (1949 - 1955)
*Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York (1955 - 1969)
*Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan (1971 - 1973)
*Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida (1974 - Present)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp AFHRA 2 FS Page] ]

*P-40 Warhawk (1941 - 1942)
*P-39 Airacobra (1942)
*Supermarine Spitfire (1942 - 1944)
*P-51 Mustang (1944 - 1945)
*A-26 Invader (1946 - 1947)
*P-61 Black Widow (1947 - 1948)
*F-82 Twin Mustang (1948 - 1950)
*F-94 Starfire (1950 - 1953)
*F-84 Thunderjet (1953)
*F-86 Sabre (1953 - 1957)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (1957 - 1959)
*F-101 Voodoo (1959 - 1969, 1974 - 1981)
*F-106 Delta Dart (1971 - 1973, 1974 - 1984)
*F-15 Eagle (1984 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0002fs.asp USAF 2d Fighter Squadron History]
* [http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4860 2d Fighter Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also