68th Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 68th Fighter Squadron


caption= 68th Fighter Squadron Patch
dates= 15 January 1941 - 30 June 1971
30 September 1973 - 1 April 2001
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Fighter
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Lightning Lancers
patron=
motto=
colors=
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mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= Joseph Ralston
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 68th Fighter Squadron (68 FS) was most recently part of the 347th Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operated F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

History

The 68th provided air defense of Tongatabu from, June–October 1942 before going on to participating in combat missions in South and Southwest Pacific from, 12 November 1942–13 August 1945. The squadron also saw combat in Korea from, 27 June 1950–23 March 1952. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0068fs.html AFHRA 68 FS Page] ]

It conducted air defense of southern Japan from, March 1952–1 June 1964. It again participated in combat operatinos in Southeast Asia from, August–December 1965.

It deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia from, 26 June–22 December 1991.

=Operations=

*World War II
*Korean War
*Vietnam War

=Lineage=

*68th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1940 - 1942)
*68th Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*68th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1943 - 1944)
*68th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine (1944 - 1946)
*68th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1946 - 1947)
*68th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) (1947 - 1948)
*68th Fighter Squadron, All Weather (1948 - 1950)
*68th Fighter-All Weather Squadron (1950 - 1951)
*68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1951 - 1964)
*68th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1964 - 1991)
*68th Fighter Squadron (1991 - Present)

=Assignments=

*58th Fighter Group (1941 - 1942)
*347th Fighter Group (1942 - 1945)
*18th Fighter Group (1945)
*8th Fighter Group (1945 - 1947)
*347th Fighter Group (1947 - 1950)
**Attached: 315th Composite Wing (10 April - 24 November 1947)
**Attached: 8th Fighter-Bomber Group (1 March - 11 August 1950)
*5th Air Force (1950)
**Attached: 49th Fighter-Bomber Group (11 August - 30 September 1950)
**Attached: 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1 October - 1 December 1950)
*314th Air Division (1950 - 1952)
**Attached: 6160th Air Base Wing (1 December 1950 - 20 October 1954)
*Japan Air Defense Force (1952 - 1954)
*5th Air Force (1954 - 1955)
**Attached: 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing (20 October 1954 - 1 March 1955)
*43d Air Division (1955 - 1957)
*41st Air Division (1957 - 1962)
**Attached: 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (1 December 1961 - 15 June 1964)
*5th Air Force (1962 - 1964)
*32d Tactical Fighter Wing (1964)
*8th Tactical Fighter Wing (1964 - 1965)
**Attached: 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing (c. 27 August - 6 December 1965)
*831st Air Division (1965 - 1968)
*479th Tactical Fighter Wing (1968)
*4531st Tactical Fighter Wing (1968 - 1970)
**Attached: 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (20 June - 9 December 1969)
*31st Tactical Fighter Wing (1970)
*4403d Tactical Fighter Wing (1970 - 1971)
*405th Fighter Wing (1973 - 1974)
*3d Tactical Fighter Wing (1974 - 1975)
*347th Fighter Wing (1975 - 2001)
**Attached: 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (30 May - 5 July 1990)

=Bases stationed=

*Selfridge Field, Michigan (1941)
*Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1941 - 1942)
*Oakland, California (1942)
*Camp Ascot, Australia (1942)
*Amberly Field, Australia (1942)
*Tongatabu, Tonga Islands (1942)
*Nouméa, New Caledonia (1942)
*Guadalcanal (1942 - 1943)
*Fiji Islands (1943 - 1944)
*Bougainville, Solomon Islands (1944)
**Operated From: Ondonga, New Georgia (27 January - 10 February 1944)
*Middleburg Island, Dutch New Guinea (1944 - 1945)
*San Jose, Mindoro (1945)
**Operated From: Morotai (12 February - 25 March 1945)
*Puerto Princesa, Palawan (1945)
*Fukuoka, Japan (1945 - 1946)
*Ashiya, Japan (1946)
*Itazuke Air Base, Japan (1946 - 1948)
**Deployed: Miyazaki, Japan (10 - 24 August 1947)
**Deployed: Tsuiki, Japan (29 May - 9 June 1948)
*Bofu Air Base, Japan (1948 - 1949)
*Ashiya Air Base, Japan (1949 - 1950)
*Itazuke Air Base, Japan (1950 - 1964)
**Deployed: Osan Air Base, South Korea (18 July - c. August 1960)
*George Air Force Base, California (1964 - 1968)
**Deployed: Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (27 August - 24 November 1965)
**Deployed: Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (c. 24 November - 6 December 1965)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1968 - 1970)
**Deployed: Kunsan Air Base, South Korea (20 June - 9 December 1969)
*England Air Force Base, Louisiana (1970 - 1971)
*Clark Air Force Base, Luzon (1973 - 1975)
*Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (1975 - 2001)
**Deployed: Ramstein Air Base, Germany (30 May - 5 July 1990)

=Aircraft Operated=

*P-35 (1941)
*P-36 Hawk (1941)
*P-43 Lancer (1941)
*P-40 Warhawk (1941 - 1943
*P-39 Airacobra (1942 - 1944)
*O-47 (1942)
*P-400 (1942 - 1943)
*P-38 Lightning (1942 - 1945)
*P-51 Mustang (1947 - 1947)
*P-61 Black Widow (1947 - 1950)
*F-82 Twin Mustang (1949 - 1952)
*F-94 Starfire (1951 - 1954)
*F-80 Shooting Star (1953 - 1954)
*F-86 Sabre (1954 - 1960)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (1959 - 1964)
*F-4 Phantom II (1964 - 1969, 1975 - 1987)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1970 - 1971)
*F-16 Fighting Falcon (1987 - 2001)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0068fs.html USAF 68th Fighter Squadron History]

Also See