76th Fighter Squadron (United States)

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The 76th Fighter Squadron (76 FS) is a Reserve associate unit based at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

[edit] History

The history of the 76th dates to the earliest days of World War II. During the summer of 1941, Army Captain Claire Lee Chennault formed a small group of American pilots into the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, Aviation Volunteer Group. The unit immediately garnered international attention for their combat successes while defending China, and they became known as the "Flying Tigers."

On 18 December 1941, the 3rd was redesignated as the 76th Pursuit Squadron and subsequently the 76th Fighter Squadron on May 15, 1942. The unit fought the remainder of the war under the 23d Fighter Group, Fourteenth Air Force.

Following World War II the 76th was deactivated and reactivated a number of times. Over this period, the squadron conducted P-47, RF-80, F-89, F-102, A-7, and A-10 flying operations. These operations included distinguished service during Operation DESERT STORM where the unit earned the Defense of Saudi Arabia and Defense of Kuwait campaign streamers.

From 1995 to 2007 this lineage was carried by the 76th Space Control Squadron. [1]