8th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 8th Fighter Squadron


caption= 8th Fighter Squadron
dates= 15 January 1941 - 2008
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Fighter
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
12th Air Force
49th Fighter Wing
49th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= The Black Sheep
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= John D. W. Corley
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 8th Fighter Squadron (8 FS) was part of the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operated the F-117 Nighthawk aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The 8 FS was inactivated on May 16th, 2008 following the reactivation of the 7th Combat Training Squadron now 7th Fighter Squadron for the arrival of the F-22A Raptor.

Mission

Deploy worldwide as tasked by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, using special low-observable technologies to deliver precision-guided weapons against high-value, heavily defended targets. [ [http://www.holloman.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4453 49 OG Fact Sheet] ]

History

The 8th has flown combat missions in the Southwest Pacific from, c. 20 April 1942–4 August 1945, in Korea from, 2 July 1950–27 July 1953, and in Southeast Asia from, c. 12 May–2 October 1972. Portions of the squadron deployed to Southwest Asia to fly combat air patrol missions from, 19 September–19 December 1991. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

Operations [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

*World War II
*Korean War
*Vietnam War
*Operation Desert Shield
*Operation Desert Storm

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

*8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1940 - 1942)
*8th Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*8th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1943 - 1944)
*8th Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine (1944 - 1946)
*8th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1946 - 1948)
*8th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled (1948)
*8th Fighter Squadron, Jet (1948 - 1950)
*8th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1950 - 1958)
*8th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958 - 1991)
*8th Fighter Squadron (1991 - 2008)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

*49th Fighter Wing (1941 - 2008)
**Attached: 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (12 September - 11 October 1970, 10 September - 6 October 1971)
**Attached: 50th Tactical Fighter Wing (3 March - 5 April 1973, 5 September - 6 October 1975)
**Attached: 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (21 September - 20 October 1976, 22 August - 22 September 1977)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

*Selfridge Field, Michigan (1941, 1942)
*Morrison Field, Florida (1941 - 1942)
*Melbourne, Australia (1942)
*Canberra, Australia (1942)
*Darwin, Australia (1942)
*Port Moresby, New Guinea (1942 - 1943)
*Dobodura, New Guinea (1943)
*Tsili Tsili, New Guinea (1943)
*Gusap, New Guinea (1943 - 1944)
*Hollandia, New Guinea (1944)
*Biak (1944)
*Tacloban, Leyte (1944 - 1945)
*San Jose, Mindoro (1945)
*Lingayen, Luzon (1945)
*Okinawa (1945)
*Atsugi, Japan (1945 - 1946)
*Chitose Air Base, Japan (1946 - 1948)
*Misawa Air Base, Japan (1948 - 1950)
*Ashiya Air Base, Japan (1950)
*Itazuke Air Base, Japan (1950)
*Taegu Air Base, South Korea (1950 - 1953)
*Kunsan Air Base, South Korea (1953)
*Misawa Air Base, Japan (1953 - 1957)
*Etain-Rouvres Air Base, France (1957 - 1959)
*Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany (1959 - 1968)
*Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico (1968 - 2008)
**Deployed: Ramstein Air Base, Germany (c. 12 September - c. 11 October 1970, 10 September - 6 October 1971)
**Deployed: Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (12 May - 4 October 1972)
**Deployed: Hahn Air Base, Germany (3 March - 5 April 1973, 5 September - 6 October 1975)
**Deployed: Ramstein Air Base, Germany (21 September - 20 October 1976, 22 August - 22 September 1977)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html AFHRA 8 FS Page] ]

*P-35 (1941)
*P-40 Warhawk (1942 - 1944)
*P-47 Thunderbolt (1943 - 1944)
*P-38 Lightning (1944 - 1946)
*P-51 Mustang (1946 - 1949, 1950)
*P-80 Shooting Star (1948 - 1951)
*F-84 Thunderjet (1951 - 1957)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1957 - 1962)
*F-105 Thunderchief (1962 - 1967)
*F-4 Phantom II (1967 - 1978)
*F-15 Eagle (1978 - 1992)
*AT-38 Talon (1992 - 2008)
*F-117 Nighthawk ( - 2008)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0008fs.html USAF 8th Fighter Squadron History]
* [http://www.holloman.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4453 49th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

ee also