356th Tactical Fighter Squadron

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North American F-100D-50-NH Super Sabre Serial 55-52879 of the 356 TFS on nuclear alert duty, Kusan Air Base South Korea, 1965

McDonnell F-4C-16-MC Phantom Serial 63-7433 of the 356 TFS while based at Misawa Japan, 1968

The 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force fighter squadron. During the Vietnam War, the unit was deployed to Misawa AB, Japan on 16 March 1965. At Misawa, it was attached to the 39th Air Division, whose mission was to support Misawa, Taegu AB and Kusan AB in South Korea which all had just been reactivated.

From Misawa, aircraft and personnel of the 356th rotated six F-100D aircraft every ten days to Kusan and Taegu performing Nuclear alert duty. The 356th was on a TDY status to Misawa AB until 13 August 1965 when it was permanently reassigned to the 39th AD.

In August 1967, the F-100's were sent to Vietnam as replacement aircraft and the 356 TFS converted to the F-4C.

On 15 January 1968, the 475th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at Misawa and took over as host unit from the 39th Air Division. Squadrons assigned to the 475th were:

356 Tactical Fighter: 15 January 1968 - 15 March 1971 (F-4C) (Tail Code: UK)
67 Tactical Fighter: 15 January 1968 - 15 March 1971 (F-4C) (Tail Code: UP)
391 Tactical Fighter: 22 July 1968 - 28 February 1971 (F-4C) (Tail Code: UD)
16 Tactical Reconnaissance: 16 March 1970 - 15 February 1971 (RF-4C) (Tail Code: UE)

The 67th was assigned to the 475th from the 18 TFW at Kadena Air Base Okinawa, and the 391st from the 12 TFW at MacDill Air Force Base Florida. The 16th TRS was transferred from the 460 TRW at Tan Son Nhut Air Base South Vietnam.

On 23 January 1968, as a response to the capture by the North Koreans of the USS Pueblo, the 356 TFS was immediately dispatched to Kusan. For a week, the 356 TFS was the only deterrent at Kunsan until the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing was deployed from Seymour Johnson AFB, NC and took over alert duties.

It should be noted that when the 354 TFW became the permanent host unit at Kusan AB in July 1968, the 356th was NOT assigned to the 354th. At Kusan, the 356 TFS was part of Detachment 1, 475th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was a separate operating unit.

On 15 March 1971, the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing replaced the 475 TFW at Misawa and absorbed its assets. The 475th was reassigned to Yokota Air Base and inherited the wing structure there as an Air Base Wing. The 356 TFS was deactivated and the squadron was reassigned back to the 354 TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB.

The 67 TFS was reassigned back to the 18 TFW; the 319th was assigned to the 366 TFW at Mountain Home Air Force Base Idaho, and the 16 TRS was assigned to the 363 TRS at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina.