| 13th Fighter Squadron | |
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13th Fighter Squadron Patch |
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| Active | 13 January 1942 - 10 October 1943 2 May 1966 - 30 June 1975 15 January 1976 - 1 July 1982 1 June 1985 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces 5th Air Force 35th Fighter Wing 35th Operations Group |
| Nickname | "The Panther Pack" |
| Mascot | black Panther |
| Engagements | World War II Vietnam War |
| Decorations | PUC AFOUA w/V Device RVGC w/ Palm |
The 13th Fighter Squadron (13 FS) is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
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It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.
The 13th flew antisubmarine patrols in the Gulf of Mexico from, June–August 1942 and served as an operational and replacement training unit from, April 1942–October 1943. It flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, 15 May 1966–30 June 1975.
During the Vietnam War, while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, the squadron's mascot was a full-grown black panther (Asian leopard), named Eldridge. The cat was given to the squadron in 1970, as the story went by an Air America (CIA) pilot who picked it up in Laos. Eldridge was kept in a large cage near the Squadron building and often taken for walks around the Base. Although tame, he was still a wild animal and after the war was given to the Phoenix Arizona zoo in 1973. The squadron adopted the nickname "The Panther Pack," and the image of the black panther appears on the unit emblem. The name Eldridge was chosen as a nod to Eldridge Cleaver (August 31, 1935 – May 1, 1998) a radical and author, who served as the Minister of Information for the Black Panther Party.
The squadron performed tactical fighter training for pilots and weapons systems officers from, January 1976–June 1982 and since 1985.[1]
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