466th Fighter Squadron

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466th Fighter Squadron

Official crest of the 466th Fighter Squadron
Active 5 October 194425 November 1945
19 June 195211 May 1956
23 June 19721 February 1992
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
Tenth Air Force
419th Fighter Wing
419th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Hill Air Force Base
Nickname Diamondback
F-16 Fighting Falcon see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
Decorations see "Lineage and honors" section below

The 466th Fighter Squadron (466 FS) is the 419th Fighter Wing's designated flying squadron. They are located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 419th uses 15 F-16C/D model aircraft, which are light, air to air daytime fighters. The 466th Fighter Squadron first saw action in 1998, participating for the first time in the exercise Cape Tiger. This is a drill which puts reserve pilots shoulder to shoulder with members of the Thailand and Singapore Air Forces. Later that year, the 466th was deployed to Kuwait in time for Operation Southern Watch. The 466th was part of a unit attempting to hold off Iraqi movements toward Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabia.

Contents

[edit] History

The 466th aided in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and replacement recruit training from January through August 1945. They then provided air defense of Japan during deployments in 1953 and 1954. Since 1973, the 466th has trained to fly interdiction, close air support, and counter-air missions. Deployed periodically for contingency operations, or for training exercises with other units, the 466th has kept active to this day.

[edit] Background of name


[edit] Mission


[edit] Operations


[edit] Lineage and honors

Constituted as 466th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 October 1944. Activated on 12 October 1944. Inactivated on 25 November 1945.

Redesignated 466th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 19 June 1952. Activated on 1 July 1952. Redesignated 466th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953. Inactivated on 11 May 1956.

Redesignated 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 23 June 1972. Activated in the Reserve on 1 January 1973. Redesignated 466th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992.

[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

  • World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4): 1 August 198131 July 1983; 2 August 19832 August 1985; 1 July 198731 August 1989; 1 April 199431 March 1996.

[edit] Emblem

Approved on 29 March 1995.

[edit] Assignments

508 Fighter Group, 12 October 194425 November 1945.

508 Fighter-Escort (later, 508 Strategic Fighter) Wing, 1 July 195211 May 1956.

508 Tactical Fighter Group, 1 January 1973; 301 Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 March 1973; 508 Tactical Fighter Group, 17 October 1975; 419 Tactical Fighter (later, 419 Fighter) Wing, 1 October 1982; 419 Operations Group, 1 August 1992

[edit] Stations

[edit] Aerospace vehicles

Primarily P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944–1945; and P-51 Mustang, 1945; but also included AT-6 Texan, 1945; and UC-78 Bobcat, 1945.

F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1956.

F-105 Thunderchief, 1973–1984; T-33 Shooting Star, 1973–1980; F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1984–

[edit] Commanders

  • Unknown, 1 January 1973–c. June 1973;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Larry M. Davis, by c. June 1973;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E. Flowers, 15 February 1977;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Reich, 27 April 1978;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Clayton B. Lyle III, by c. September 1980;
  • Major Wayne F. Conroy, 14 November 1983;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Reese R. Nielsen, 1 May 1984;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Tom L. King, 12 March 1988;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Barry D. Wyttenbach, 29 October 1989;
  • Lieutenant Colonel David J. Towers, 9 June 1991;
  • Lieutenant Colonel F. P. Bernard, 1 June 1992;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Wayne F. Conroy, by c. February 1993;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ward, 10 December 1995-.

[edit] References


[edit] External links