62d Fighter Squadron (United States)
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| 62d Fighter Squadron | |
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 62d Fighter Squadron Patch |
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| Active | 15 January 1941 - 18 October 1945 1 May 1946 - 30 April 1971 1 September 1974 - 14 May 1993 18 March 1994 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command 19th Air Force 56th Fighter Wing 56th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Luke Air Force Base |
| Decorations |  DUC AFOUA |
The 62d Fighter Squadron (62 FS) is part of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.
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[edit] Mission
[edit] History
The 62d Fighter Squadron was constituted as the 62d Pursuit Squadron as part of the 56th Pursuit Group at Savannah, Georgia, on 15 January 1941. The squadron immediately began training for its wartime missions, rapidly transitioning through the P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft. On 7 December 1941, the 62d stepped up to defend the Northeastern United States from anticipated enemy air attack while it converted to the P-47 aircraft and prepared to deploy overseas. The squadron arrived in England on 9 January 1943, and was declared operationally ready two months later and flew its first combat missions 13 April.[1]
Following World War II the 62d began flying the P-51 and P-80, the squadron performed escort duty for the Strategic Air Command bombers, deploying to Alaska and Europe in this role. In 1948, the squadron converted to the interceptor role, a mission the squadron would maintain until 1971. Stationed in the northern tier of the United States, the 62d Fighter Interceptor Squadron flew the P-80, F-86, and F-101 on patrol against the ever-present Soviet bomber threat. A highlight from this era was the squadron capturing top F-101 squadron honors at the William Tell 1965, USAF Worldwide Weapons Meet. [1]
On 1 September 1974, the squadron became a fighter-training unit. Activating at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, the 62d assumed the mission of training F-4 and F-106 weapons instructors at the United States Air Force interceptor Weapons School. The following October, the flag moved again; this time to rejoin the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and began training F-4 crews for tactical units around the world. On 1 January 1981, the squadron transitioned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon" and continued to train fighter pilots until the squadron's inactivation on 12 May 1993. The 62d Fighter Squadron was reactivated on 18 March 1994, at Luke Air Force Base, where it currently flies the F-16 Block 25 aircraft. [1]
[edit] Operations[2]
[edit] Lineage[2]
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[edit] Assignments[2]
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[edit] Bases stationed[2]
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[edit] Aircraft Operated[2]
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[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c 56 OG Fact Sheet
- ^ a b c d e AFHRA 62 FS Page
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] Also See
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