76th Fighter Squadron

76th Fighter Squadron

Emblem of the 76th Fighter Squadron
Active
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Fighter

The 76th Fighter Squadron (76 FS) is a United States Air Force Reserve unit. It is assigned to the 476th Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

During World War II, the 76th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23d Fighter Group.

Contents

History

Space Operations era

Lessons from Desert Storm on space power convinced Air Force leaders to reactivate 76th Fighter Squadron as the 76th Space Operations Squadron in December 1995. The 76th Space Operations Squadron (76 SOPS) was activated at the National Test Facility at Falcon AFB, Colorado as a component of the 14th Air Force on 1 December 1995.[1]

The mission of the 76th SOPS was to assist air component commanders in understanding and applying space systems in support of air operations. The unit ensured that command and control, communications, weather, navigation, and other space assets were used to most effectively multiply US and allied combat forces capabilities against an adversary.

The 76th deployed Air Force Space Support Teams to bring space expertise to expeditionary air forces and air operations centers around the world. Over their tenure, the 76th Space Operations Squadron deployed to make significant contributions during JOINT ENDEAVOR, DENY FLIGHT, DESERT FOX, DESERT THUNDER, and ALLIED FORCE.

On Sept. 24, 2004, the 76th SPSC demonstrated Initial Operational Capability of its first Counter Communications System. This system provides a critical counterspace capability never before available to warfighters around the world.

Reborn Fighter Squadron

Lineage

Redesignated as: 76th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Activated on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 5 January 1946
Inactivated on 24 September 1949
Activated on 18 August 1955
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 July 1963
Activated on 1 October 1972
Redesignated 76th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
Inactivated on 29 May 1992
Activated on 1 December 1995
Inactivated on 21 January 2001
Inactivated on 22 January 2008
Activated on 1 February 2009.

Assignments

Stations

  • Wujiaba Airport, Kunming, China, 4 July 1941
  • Kweilin, China, 25 July 1942
  • Kunming, China, 18 August 1942
  • Lingling, China, 13 May 1943
  • Hengyang, China, 11 August 1943
Detachment operated from Suichwan, China, 3 October-7 December 1943
  • Kweilin, China, 21 November 1943
  • Suichwan, China, 26 December 1943
  • Lingling, China, 1 June 1944
  • Liuchow, China, July 1944
  • Luliang, China, c. 12 September 1944
  • Liuchow, China, 24 August 1945
  • Hangchow, China, 15 October-4 December 1945
Deployed aircraft and personnel to King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia, August 1990-April 1991

Aircraft

Operations

The history of the 76th dates to the earliest days of World War II. During the summer of 1941, Claire Lee Chennault formed a small group of American pilots into three fighter squadrons, the American Volunteer Group, of the Chinese Air Force.[2] The unit immediately garnered international attention for their combat successes while defending China and Burma, and they became known as the "Flying Tigers."[2] Some members of the AVG joined or rejoined the United States Air Force after the AVG was disbanded.[3][4][5]

The 76th squadron remained in combat in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater from 18 July 1942 to 11 August 1945, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for missions in China in June 1944.

After World War II, the squadron performed air defense intercept operations in Guam, 1946–1949, in Panama, 1949, and at various bases in the eastern United States, 1955-1963. Trained in and conducted close air support operations, 1972-1992. Portion of squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 and took part in operations against Iraq in early 1991.

Beginning in December 1995, assisted other units to integrate space product applications into current operations procedures. Deployed personnel to air units worldwide to enhance their links to space assets. Provided counterspace capabilities to warfighters worldwide, 2001-2008.

References

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal
World War II portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ^ Space Tactics Bulletin, Vol 3, Issue 1, Winter 1995
  2. ^ a b Rossi, J.R. (1998). "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force". AVG. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/tiger1.htm. 
  3. ^ Rossi, J.R.. "Older biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/bio-older.htm. 
  4. ^ Rossi, J.R.. "Adair biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/bio-adair.htm. 
  5. ^ Rossi, J.R.. "Bailey biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/bio-Bailey.htm. 

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