17th Weapons Squadron

17th Weapons Squadron
17th Weapons Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F-15E-50-MC Strike Eagle 90-0257
Active	1917–Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Advanced F-15E Strike Eagle Training
Part of	USAF Weapons School
Garrison/HQ	Nellis AFB, Nevada
Tail Code	"WA"
Engagements	World War I (See: 17th and 147th Aero Squadrons) World War II (Asia-Pacific Theater) Vietnam War 1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (3x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3x) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
17th Weapons Squadron emblem

The 17th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

The squadron traces its lineage to the United States Army Air Service 17th Aero Squadron. The 17th Aero Squadron was activated in August 1917 and earned 13 Campaign Streamers in World War I flying the Sopwith Camel. During World War II, the 17th Pursuit Squadron participated in the defense of the Philippines flying the P-40 Warhawk and garnering the first American Ace of World War II. Wiped out during the Battle of the Philippines, some of its squadron members endured the Bataan Death March. Reactivated during the Vietnam War, the squadron went on to fly F-105F Wild Weasles, and in Operation Desert Storm flying the F-16C.

Overview

Flying the F-15E Strike Eagle, the squadron accomplishes its mission by providing graduate-level instructor academic and flying courses to USAF Combat Air Forces (CAF). The squadron conducts extensive technical off-station training and liaises with CAF units.

The 17th patch, adopted in 1917, consists of a Great White Snowy Owl in front of a black triangle with a blue background. Because of its distinctive Owl Patch, the squadron’s nickname is the “HOOTERS".

History

World War I

17th Aero Squadron

Replica 17th Aero Squadron Sopwith F-1 Camel on display at the National Museum of the Air Force, made by USAF personnel from the original World War I factory drawings, completing it in 1974. The aircraft is painted and marked with the squadrons RAF white dumbbell painted on each side of the fuselage aft of the cockpit as the Camel flown by Lt. George A. Vaughn Jr. who earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and was a Silver Star recipient. Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.^[1]

The 17th Aero Squadron was first organized as "Company A", Remount Station, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on 13 May 1917, about a month after the declaration of war by President Wilson. It was later re-designated "Company M", and later, "Company B". On 16 June, it again was re-designated as the 29th Provisional Aero Squadron, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, and then on 30 July, the 17th Aero Squadron. It was made of entirely of volunteers.^[3]

The unit was the first United States Aero Squadron sent to Canada to be trained by the British; the first squadron to be completely trained prior to be sent overseas with its complete quota of trained pilots; the first squadron to be attached to British Royal Air Force squadrons and the first to be sent into combat.^[3][4]

The squadron entered combat as a pursuit unit with British Second and Third Armies from 15 July-28 October 1918 seeing extensive combat during the Battle of the Somme while serving with the RAF. In October 1918 the squadron was requested by the Americans to be transferred to the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and it was reassigned to Second Army on 1 November 1918 and prepared for operations on American front but did not become combat-ready before the end of hostilities on 11 November 1918. It was demobilized in 1919.

On 17 October 1936, the World War I Aero squadron was consolidated with the United States Army Air Corps 17th Pursuit Squadron to preserve the lineage and history of the unit.^[5]

147th Aero Squadron

see: 147th Aero Squadron

Lt. Wilbert Wallace White, 147th Aero Squadron. He was a Flight Commander for the Squadron and gained 9 victories during his service. He was killed on 10 October, when he rammed a German Fokker D.VII on the tail of an inexperienced pilot White was posthumously recommended for the Medal of Honor, but was instead awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Cross^[1][2]

The 147th Aero Squadron was organized at Kelly Field, Texas on 11 November 1917. It was ordered directly to Fort Worth, Texas for training at Everman Field #2, Camp Taliaferro. It trained in Texas until February 1918, when it deployed to France, where additional training was received. It became part of the 1st Pursuit Group in June.^[6]

Initially flying French Nieuport 28 pursuit aircraft, the squadron was heavily engaged in combat in the Toul Sector and the Aisne-Marne Sector. It was part of the defense against the German offensive in mid-July in the Champagne-Marne, then went on the offensive during the Aisne-Marne during July. It took part in the St. Mihiel offensive, and the great American Meuse-Argonne Offensive which continued until the Armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918.^[6][7]

During its time in combat, the squadron gained 62 victories and suffered nine casualties. The squadron flew 2,000 combat hours.^[6] One of the aces serving in the squadron during World War I was Robert Miles Todd.^[8]

Inter-war period

After returning to the United States in April 1919 nearly all of the 147th Aero Squadron personnel were demobilized. The War Department created a new 1st Pursuit Group between late April and mid-August 1919 when it dispatched a small cadre of personnel to Selfridge Field, Detroit, Michigan. New recruits and veterans from other flying units became members of the new 147th Aero Squadron, and by late summer the process was complete. However, on 28 August, the squadron departed by train to Kelly Field, Texas where it became part of the new Advanced Pursuit Training School.^[9]

At Kelly Field, the squadron was assigned to the re-formed 1st Pursuit Group, effective 22 August 1919. The pursuit school was the first step in building a new, permanent air service and by providing a course of instruction for pilots at Kelly, it was a way to transfer the hard-earned knowledge gained during World War I to a new generation of fliers. Pilots received hands-on experience in aircraft and engine maintenance. They also flew a training program that covered formation flying, aerobatics, air-to-air and air to ground gunnery, reconnaissance and patrol tactics. The aircraft used were British Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s and U.S.-built Airco DH.4s that were excess from the war effort.^[9]

Curtiss PW-8 Hawk, 17th Pursuit Squadron, 1925

On 14 March 1921, the 147th Aero Squadron was re-designated as the 17th Squadron (Pursuit) and in July the 1st Pursuit Group moved from Kelly to Ellington Field, near Houston, Texas. In June, 1922, the 1st PG prepared to return to Selfridge. The four squadrons of the group (17th, 27th, 94th and 95th) departed Ellington on 24 June. The long deployment to Michigan was a novelty, and the press followed the group's progress closely. The group arrived at Selfridge Field on 1 July 1922. Selfridge served as the 1st Pursuit Group's home for many years. As the Army's only pursuit group, the War Department took special pains to ensure that it was maintained in a high state of readiness. On 21 January 1924, the War Department sanctioned unit emblems. The "Great Snow Owl", chosen by the World War I 17th Pursuit Group as its emblem when transferred to the American Expeditionary Forces in 1918 was adopted by the 17th Pursuit Squadron on 4 March 1924.^[9]

In May 1924, the group opened a satellite airfield at Osconda, Michigan to function as an Aireal Gunnery Camp for the unit. Loud-Reames Aviation Field, renamed renamed Camp Skeel, for World War I pilot Captain Burt E. Skeel, and was used as an aerial gunnery range and for winter maneuvers by the 1st Pursuit Group. During World War II, the facility would be expanded as Oscoda Army Air Field, as a training base. After the war, it would be expanded and become Wurtsmith Air Force Base.^[9]

During the 1920s, the unit participated in exercises, demonstrations, and maneuvers, events the War Department used as combined training and public relations exercises. Public and congressional interest in aviation was high. Equipped with fast, nimble, pursuit planes such as the Curtiss P-1 Hawk, the unit attracted the attention of the public wherever it appeared. Overall, the Twenties were a productive decade for the unit. The 1st Pursuit Group responded well to being the Air Corps' only group-level pursuit organization, and developed a well-trained force that responded to the demands placed on it.^[9]

Curtiss P-6E Hawk 32-261 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in the colors and markings of the airplane assigned to Capt. Ross G. Hoyt, Commanding Officer of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, based at Selfridge Field, Mich. in 1933.

The 1930s produced a different set of challenges. During the Thirties, the group introduced at least six new aircraft into the Air Corps inventory. It also provided personnel for newly formed squadrons and groups. The onset of the Great Depression gave the unit additional responsibilities in 1931, the group participated in several air shows staged to benefit the unemployed. Squadron involvement ranged from two- and four-ship flights to squadron deployments. Beginning in 1933, the unit saw a handful of its officers detailed to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal program designed to put unemployed youths to work on various conservation projects.^[9]

The P-6E Hawks flown by the squadron were improvements in the line of Hawks since the squadron received the P-1 in 1925. In 1934, it converted to the Boeing P-26A, a low-wing, all-metal monoplane, and in 1937, it received the Seversky P-35, the first single-seat fighter in U.S. Army Air Corps to feature all-metal construction, retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit.^[9] 17 October 1936 saw the Air Corps formally consolidate the 17th Pursuit Squadron with the World War I 17th Aero Squadron. With the consolidation, the combat history and lineage of its World War I predecessor became a part of the 17th.^[9]

The growing threat of war with the Japanese Empire in the Philippine Islands led to the 17th Pursuit Squadron to be relieved from assignment to the 1st Pursuit Group and transferred to the Philippine Department. Leaving Selfridge on 31 October, the squadron was re-assigned to the 4th Composite Group at Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippines, on 14 December 1940.^[9]

World War II

Battle of the Philippines

P-35s of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 1941.

When the 17th Pursuit Squadron arrived in the Philippines, the men of the squadron found they had no aircraft to fly. The Air Corps remedied this by sending 45 Seversky P-35As to the Philippines in February 1941. By late 1941 standards, the P-35A was hopelessly obsolescent. It was too lightly armed and lacked either armor around the cockpit or self-sealing fuel tanks. When new Curtiss P-40Es arrived in September 1941, the 17th PS was happy to hand down the Severskys to the 20th and 34th Pursuit Squadrons who together with the 17th formed the 4th Composite Group.^[10]

After word was received of the attack on Pearl Harbor, FEAF units gathered in anticipation of the Japanese attack everyone knew would be coming. However, attack orders against known Japanese forces on Formosa were not forthcoming. "We can't attack till we're fired on". By 11:00 am both the 20th and 17th Pursuit Squadrons were on the ground at Nielson Field. Both had been flying patrol missions during the morning and needed to refuel. While the planes were being serviced, the pilots had gone after food; but as soon as they had eaten, they returned to their planes and went on alert. The 17th, who had re-fueled first, was ready to go.^[11][12]

About 11:30 am, a message from Iba Field reported a large formation of planes heading west over the China Sea, heading presumably for Manila. The 17th was ordered into the air to patrol over the Battan peninsula and the entrance to Manila Bay and intercept whatever the Japanese tried to send though. At that moment, the first formation of Japanese bombers appeared over Clark Field. They came over the unprotected field in a V-formation at a height estimated at 22,000 to 25,000 feet, dropping their bombs on the aircraft and buildings below, just as the air raid warning sounded. As at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese achieved complete tactical surprise. The 17th and 21st Pursuit Squadrons, on patrol over Bataan and Manila, made no effort to attack the Japanese aircraft, presumably because the communications center at Clark had been bombed out and news of the raid did not reach the Interceptor Command in time to dispatch aid.^[11]

The Japanese followed up their successes of the first day of war with a series of air attacks aimed at destroying or driving American air and naval power from the Philippines. Before dawn of the 9th, 7 Japanese naval bombers struck Nichols Field near Manila. The pattern set at Clark Field two days earlier was repeated. High-level bombers came in first and hit the barracks, offices, and warehouses. The fighters then came in at low level to strafe the grounded planes and installations. American planes returning to refuel were attacked by Zeros and destroyed. There was no antiaircraft fire and no fighter protection over the field; all the pursuits were engaged over Manila Bay.^[11]

By this time American air power was at a low ebb. There were only 22 P-40s in commission, with six more promised if they could be repaired in time. With the Far East Air Force thus reduced in strength, it was decided to use the remaining planes for reconnaissance in order to conserve them as long as possible. The pursuit planes were based at Clark and Nichols, and the heavy bombers were withdrawn to Del Monte. On the morning of the 12th, few American planes remained to hinder the Japanese.^[11]

With almost all of the squadron's aircraft destroyed, the men of the ground echelon were pressed into service as ground infantry under V Interceptor Command. On Christmas Eve of 1941, the 17th's ground echelon evacuated Nilson Field and went by train to Bataan. There they took part in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). However, most of its aircraft were destroyed on the ground, by Japanese air raids. Some 17th PS personnel later fought as infantry during the Battle of Bataan and, after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March.^[11]

Defense of Java

Other members of the 17th PS escaped to Australia, where they collected new P-40s (see Pensacola Convoy) and re-formed as the "17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional)". In January 1942, the squadron undertook a flight across Australia and the Arafura Sea, to Java and took part in the Dutch East Indies Campaign, where it claimed 49 Japanese aircraft destroyed, for the loss of 17 P-40s.^[13] In March, as Japanese ground forces approached, the squadron handed over its aircraft to the Dutch military and returned to Australia.

What remained of the 17th Pursuit Squadron was integrated into other American units in Australia. Fifth Air Force carried the squadron as an active, unmanned unit though the end of the war. Lastly, 2 April 1946, the unit was placed in inactive status. It would remain inactive until almost the end of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War

17th Wild Weasel Squadron F-105G 62-4225 landing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand on last day of the Linebacker II raids, 29 December 1972. It is now on display at Blissfield, MI.

Reactivated in 1971 as the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron on 12 November 1971. Equipped as an F-105G Wild Weasel IV unit, taking over the mission of a provisional squadron. The mission of the 17th WWS was the destruction of North Vietnamese surface-to-air-missile batteries by destroying or otherwise shutting down their guidance radars, leaving enemy missile sites effectively blind and impotent. The electronic weapons officer in the rear seat of the Wild Weasel F-105G operated a battery of sophisticated electronic equipment which was capable of detecting the emissions from enemy radars and determining the exact location of their sources. Once these sites were identified, the Wild Weasel aircraft could attack them with a battery of AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missiles, which were designed to home in on an enemy radar transmission and follow it all the way to its source and destroy it. The Wild Weasel aircraft would also carry powerful jamming equipment which was designed to confuse the enemy radar installation or to misdirect any surface-to-air missiles that might be launched. Alternatively, the Wild Weasel crew could direct other aircraft toward the missile sites, which would be attacked by iron bombs or cannon fire.^[14]

After the end of American military flights over North Vietnam in January 1973, the squadron maintained capability to deliver Wild Weasel support for operations over Cambodia for B-52, F-111, and F-4 aircraft until August 1973, and an alert mission until the squadron was inactivated in 1974. The squadron's aircraft were returned to the United States, being assigned to the Tactical Air Command 35th TFW at George AFB, California.

17th Tactical Fighter Squadron

Re-activated as the 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron in early 1982 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, assigned to the newly re-designated 363d Tactical Fighter Wing as the wing was converting from an RF-4C Phantom II tactical reconnaissance mission to F-16 Fighting Falcons.^[15]

17th FS Block 42J F-16C 90-754

The initial aircraft received were Block 10 F-16A models, but shortly afterwards the first block 15 aircraft started to arrive. The responsibilities of the 17th TFS was close air support, air interdiction, suppression of enemy defenses and armed reconnaissance to support worldwide contingencies. For this mission the aircraft were equipped with the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile. This was one of a few units within the USAF that flew with this missile.^[15]

In 1985 the squadron was upgraded to the Block 25 F-16C from the General Dynamics factory in Fort Worth. These aircraft were more capable in comparison with the former block 15 models. Also new weapon systems could now be introduced, like the CBU-87 Wind Corrected Munition Dispensers (WCMD).^[15]

After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the 24 aircraft of the 17th TFS was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 9 August 1990 and started flying air defense missions over the Saudi kingdom as part of Operation Desert Shield. When Operation Desert Storm started in January 1991 the squadron was at the forefront of air operations.^[15]

Upon their return to the United States, in March 1991, the squadron started receiving some brand-new block 42 F-16s. Their primary mission of air interdiction remained the same. During 1993 the first rumors came that the entire wing was to be disbanded. The news was quickly acknowledged. On 31 December 1993 the squadron was inactivated in favor of squadrons from the senior 20th Fighter Wing, which was moving from the closed RAF Upper Heyford, England to Shaw as part of the USAFE draw-down at the end of the Cold War. The squadron transferred its aircraft and personnel to the 20th, and the 363d FW was inactivated in place.^[15]

Lineage

17th Pursuit Squadron emblem, 1924

World War I 147th Aero Squadron

17th Pursuit Squadron, 1941

17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 1971

• Organized as 147th Aero Squadron on 11 November 1917

Redesignated: 17th Squadron (Pursuit) on 14 March 1921

Redesignated: 17th Pursuit Squadron on 25 January 1923

• Consolidated (17 October 1936) with the 17th Aero Squadron

(Organized as 29th Provisional Aero Squadron on 16 June 1917

Redesignated 17th Aero Squadron on 30 July 1917

Demobilized on 1 April 1919)

Redesignated: 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 December 1939

Inactivated on 2 April 1946

• Redesignated 17th Wild Weasel Squadron on 12 November 1971

Activated on 1 December 1971, assuming personnel and equipment of inactivated 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron

Inactivated on 15 November 1974

• Redesignated 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 11 December 1981

Activated on 1 July 1982

Redesignated 17th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991

Inactivated on 31 December 1993

• Redesignated 17th Weapons Squadron on 24 January 2003

Activated on 3 February 2003.

Assignments

17th Aero Squadron

• Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 16 June-4 August 1917
• Training Section, Air Service, 4 August-12 October 1917

Attached to the Royal Flying Corps for training, entire period

• Post Headquarters, Camp Taliaferro, Texas, 12 October-23 December 1917

Attached to the Royal Flying Corps for training, entire period

• Aviation Concentration Center, 23 December 1917-9 January 1918
• American Expeditionary Forces, 11 February-30 October 1918

Attached to: No. 65 Wing, Royal Flying Corps for operations, 20 June 1918

Attached to: No. 13 Wing, Royal Flying Corps for operations, 18 August-30 October 1918

• 4th Pursuit Group, 4–11 November 1918
• 1st Air Depot, AEF, 12 December 1918-15 January 1919
• Unknown, 15 January-1 April 1919

147th Aero (later 17th Pursuit) Squadron

• Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 10–12 November 1917
• Post Headquarters, Camp Taliaferro, Texas, 12 November 1917-19 February 1918

Attached to the Royal Flying Corps for training entire period

• Aviation Concentration Center, 19 February-5 March 1918
• American Expeditionary Forces, 25 March-1 June 1918

Attached to: Second Air Instructional Center, 25 March-22 April 1918

• 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, 1st Army, AEF, 1 June–December 1918
• Unknown, December 1918-22 August 1919
• 1st Pursuit Group, 22 Aug 1919-consolidation

Consolidated Squadron

• 1st Pursuit Group, from consolidation in 1936
• 4th Composite Group, 14 Dec 1940
• 24th Pursuit Group, 1 Oct 1941-2 Apr 1946
• 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Dec 1971-15 Nov 1974
• 363d Tactical Fighter (later, 363d Fighter) Wing, 1 Jul 1982

Attached to 363d Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional, 9 Aug 1990-13 Mar 1991

• 363d Operations Group, 1 May 1992-31 Dec 1993
• USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003–Present

Stations

17th Aero Squadron

147th Aero (later 17th Pursuit) Squadron

Consolidated squadron

Aircraft

Campaigns

See also

• Howard Burdick
• Howard Knotts
• Robert Todd
• William Tipton
• George Augustus Vaughn, Jr.
• Lloyd Hamilton^[16]
• Robert Olds
• List of American Aero Squadrons

References

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

External links

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