306th Tactical Fighter Squadron

Not to be confused with the World War II 306th Fighter Squadron

F-16A block 15 #83-1077 taking off during the 'Long Rifle III' competition at McDill AFB on 28 August 1987. The semi-annual air-to-ground gunnery competition tests tactical air crews` abilities to plan and execute long-range missions, execute attacks on first-look targets and accurately deliver ordnance. Retired to AMARC as FG0303 Dec 14, 1994. To Portugal AF in 1999 as FAP 15134 under Peace Atlantis II

McDonnell F-4D-27-MC Phantom 65-0621 Homestead AFB, Florida, 1981. Aircraft crashed 68 nm ESE of Key West, FL 5 Jul 1983

306th TFS North American F-100D-90-NA Super Sabre 56-3311 with a full bomb load after takeoff from Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 1967

1950s squadron emblem

The 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing. stationed at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 October 1986.

Upon inactivation, all personnel, equipment and aircraft were redesignated as the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

History

Established as a fourth F-100 Super Sabre Fighter Squadron (D/F) in 1957 at Turner AFB, Georgia for the 31st FBW, aircraft carried a green motif, aircraft transferred to 356th TFS, 354th TFW, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, 15 March 1959. Administratively reassigned to George AFB, California, same date, assumed F-100D/F aircraft of 1st TFS, 413th TFW, carried a red motif. Participated in four rotational tactical deployments to USAFE from 1960-1962 to bolster the US military forces in Europe

Moved to Homestead AFB, Florida in late 1962 stood air defense alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis from October–November 1962. Maintained training regiment until 1966 when deployed to Southeast Asia, engaged in combat operations in South Vietnam 1966-1970. F-100s flew with tail code "SD" at Tuy Hoa AB, using red tail stripe. Inactivated as part of draw down of forces in South Vietnam, reactivated at Homestead later in 1970, being re-equipped with F-4E Phantom II, tail coded "ZD", gold tail stripe. Inactivated due to budget reductions, July 1971.

Re-activated in 1978 with F-4Es as a F-4 Replacement Training Unit, again as the 4th squadron of the 31st TTW. Carried yellow stripe, tail coded ZF, re-equipped with F-4Ds in 1980. Inactivated in 1983 when the wing compressed back down to three squadrons. Activated again in 1985 with mixture of F-16A/B Block 15 Falcons for combat readiness operations. Inactivated after about a year again due to budget reductions, aircraft and personnel merged into 308th TFS.

Lineage

• Constituted as 306th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 September 1957

Activated on 25 September 1957

Re-designated: 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958

Inactivated on 28 September 1970

• Re-activated on 30 October 1970

Inactivated on 15 July 1971

• Re-activated on 1 July 1978

Re-designated: 306th Tactical Training Squadron on 30 March 1981

Inactivated on 1 September 1983

• Re-designated as 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and activated on 1 October 1985

Inactivated on 31 October 1986

Assignments

• 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing, 25 September 1957
• 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 July 1958 – 28 September 1970; 30 October 1970 – 15 July 1971; 1 July 1978

Attached to 7227th Combat Support Group, 8 April – 16 July 1960; 15 February – 1 March 1961; 20 August – 1 September 1961; 24 April – 19 July 1962

Attached to 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 27 June – 30 September 1963

Attached to 7231st Combat Support Group, 1 May – 8 August 1964

Attached to 4505th Fighter Wing, 7 July 1965 – 27 January 1966

• 31st Tactical Training Wing, 30 March 1981 – 1 September 1983
• 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 October 1985 – 31 October 1986

Stations

• Turner AFB, Georgia, 1957
• George AFB, California, 1959

Deployed to: Aviano AB, Italy, 1960-1962 (numerous deployments)

• Homestead AFB, Florida, 1962-1966

Deployed to: Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1963

Deployed to: Cigli Air Base, Turkey, 1964

Deployed to: Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 1965-1966.

• Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 25 December 1966 – 28 September 1970
• Homestead AFB, Florida, 1970-1971; 1978-1983, 1985-1986

Aircraft

• F-100 Super Sabre, 1957-1970
• F-4E Phantom II, 1978-1980
• F-4D Phantom II, 1980-1983
• F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1985-1986

Notes

References