69th Fighter Squadron

69th Fighter Squadron
F-16C Block 32C Fighting Falcon 86-0240 over Arizona
Active	15 January 1941 – 27 January 1946 10 July 1952 – 1 July 1958 15 October 1969 – 16 March 1983 1 July 1983 - 2 February 2001 1 February 2010 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Training
Motto	Werewolves
Engagements	World War II American Theater World War II Asia-Pacific Theater Korean War 1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (2×) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7×) Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
69th Fighter Squadron emblem

The 69th Fighter Squadron (69 FS) is a United States Air Force Reserve fighter squadron. It is assigned to the 944th Operations Group, stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

The 69th Fighter Squadron replaced the 301st Fighter Squadron in 2010. It trains Air Force Reserve Command pilots combat tactics with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is integrated with the 56th Operations Group. The squadron flies Block 42 F-16Cs, tail code "LF", 69th FS carrying a black tail band.

History

World War II

Activated in 1941 as a single-engine fighter operational and replacement training unit, initially assigned to III Fighter Command, reassigned to I Fighter Command in 1942. Used P-39 Airacobras and P-40 Warhawks for training. Converted to an operational squadron, 1943, re-eqipped with P-47 Thunderbolts.

Deployed to South Pacific Area, 1943, being assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. Began combat operations in February 1944, providing protection for U.S. bases and escorting transports initially, then escorting bombers over New Guinea and sea convoys to Admiralty Islands. From Noemfoor, bombed and strafed Japanese airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands.

Moved to the Philippines in Nov, flew fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported U.S. ground forces, and protected sea convoys and transport routes. Beginning in July 1945, attacked railways, airfields, and enemy installations in Korea and Kyushu, Japan from Okinawa.

After V-J Day, flew reconnaissance missions over Japan. Moved without personnel or equipment to the Philippines in December and demobilized, aircraft sent to depots in the Philippines, inactivated in January 1946.

Korean War

69th Fighter Squadron F-84E Thunderjet 51-535 Taegu Air Base (K-2), South Korea, 1952

Reactivated at Tageu AB (K-2) South Korea in 1952, absorbing Federalized Texas Air National Guard personnel and F-84D Thunderjets. Squadron provided close air support for United Nations ground forces and attacked enemy airfields and installations. Transitioned in late 1952 to the new F-84G, designed with more speed and range. New targets included enemy ports, railroads, and airfields. The squadron attacked the major supply port of Sinuiju in September, inflicting heavy damage without loss of personnel or aircraft. Combining with other fighter-bomber units, it attacked the Kumgang Political School at Odong-ni in October 1952 and the North Korean tank and infantry school at Kangso in February 1953. In May, the 58th FBG bombed North Korean dams, flooding enemy lines of communication and rice fields. On 27 July 1953, attacked runway at Kanggye and, with the 49 FBG, bombed Sunan Airfield for the final action of fighter-bombers in the Korean War.

Re-equipped with F-86 Sabres after the 1953 armistice, remained in South Korea to enforce cease-fire with North Korea, squadron elements rotating frequently to Taiwan until inactivated in 1958 due to budget reductions.

F-104 Training Unit

An F-4C-15-MC Phantom II (s/n 63-7420), top, and a German Lockheed F-104G Starfighter (63-13269) aircraft on a training mission from Luke AFB

Reactivated at Luke AFB, Arizona in October 1969 when the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (TFTW) was activated, replacing the provisional 4510th CCTW as the host unit at Luke. Concurrently, the 69th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (TFTS) and the 418th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (TFTS) were activated as F-104G training units, replacing the provisional 4512th CCTS and 4518th CCTS to support Foreign Military Sales of the F-104. Pilots from Greece, Norway, Turkey, Denmark, and Spain were trained at Luke. In addition, many F-104Gs owned by the West German Luftwaffe actually operated with the 58th TFTW where they sported USAF insignia and carried USAF serial numbers.

Training of West German Air Force pilots in the F-104G continued until late 1982. The Germans flew more than 900 Starfighters totaling an excess of 269, 750 hours and produced 1,868 F-104 pilots. The 69th TFTS inactivated on 16 March 1983

Tactical Fighter Squadron

F-4E-39-MC Phantom II (s/n 68-0424) from the 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1981

Reactivated as an F-4E Phantom II tactical fighter squadron at Moody AFB, Georgia on 1 July 1983, assuming the personnel and aircraft of the 339th Tactical Fighter Squadron which inactivated the same day. Tail coded "MY", carried a silver/red tail stripe. Conducted frequent exercise deployments in the U.S. and overseas to maintain capabilities specializing in air-to-ground attack using precision-guided weapons. Transitioned to F-16A/B aircraft, 1988–1989, and oriented mission planning toward NATO requirements by conducting squadron-strength deployments to Europe. Began upgrading to F-16C/D in Jan 1990 and in Aug 1990 became first operational TAC unit to employ the LANTIRN all-weather/night navigation and bombing system.

Moody AFB 69th FS F-16D Block 40J Fighting Falcon 90-0794

Deployed to Southwest Asia, January–February 1991, engaging in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm flying more than 1,500 combat sorties. Following the ceasefire, continued to support peace-keeping operations with periodic aircraft deployments to Saudi Arabia. Continued training operations from Moody AFB throughout the 1990s, stood down in early 2001 when Moody was realigned to a Rescue/Special Operations base and host 347th Fighter Wing was inactivated.^[1]

Modern era

Reactivated in February 2010 at Luke AFB in the Air Force Reserve with a mission to train Air Force Reserve Command pilots in combat tactics with the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Lineage

Emblem of the World War II 69th Fighter Squadron

Constituted as 69th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940

Activated on 15 Jan 1941

Re-designated as: 69th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942

Re-designated as: 69th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943

Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946

Re-designated as 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 25 Jun 1952

Activated on 10 Jul 1952

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1958

Re-designated as 69th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 22 Aug 1969

Activated on 15 Oct 1969

Inactivated on 16 Mar 1983

Re-designated as 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 14 Apr 1983

Activated on 1 Jul 1983

Re-designated as 69th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991

Inactivated on 2 Feb 2001

Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 2010, assuming personnel and equipment of 301st Fighter Squadron (Inactivated).^[1]^[2]

Assignments

58th Fighter Group (1941–1946)
58th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1952–1958)

Attached: Thirteenth Air Force (26 January – 16 February 1955)

Attached: Air Task Force Five, Provisional (17 February – 9 March 1955)

Attached: Air Task Force Thirteen, Provisional (2 April – 2 June 1956)

Attached: Air Task Force Thirteen, Provisional (c. 11 October – 30 November 1956)

Attached: Air Task Force Thirteen, Provisional (18 September – 10 December 1957)

58th Tactical Training Wing (15 October 1969 – 16 March 1983)
347th Fighter Wing, 1 Jul 1983

Attached: 388th Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional (8 January – 15 March 1991)

Attached: 4404th Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional (16 March – 30 June 1991)

347th Operations Group, 1 May 1991 – 2 Feb 2001

Remained attached to 4404th Composite Wing [Provisional] to 30 Jun 1991

944th Operations Group, 1 Feb 2010 – present^[1]

Stations

Selfridge Field, Michigan,15 January 1941
Harding Field, Louisiana (1941–1942)
Dale Mabry Field, Florida (1942)
Drew Field, Florida (1942)
Sarasota, Florida (1942)
Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia (1942)
Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania (1942–1943)
Bradley Field, Connecticut (1943)
Bedford Army Air Base, Massachusetts (1943)
Suffolk County Air Base, New York (1943)
Grenier Field, New Hampshire (1943)
Archerfield Airport (Brisbane), Australia (23 November 1943)
Dobodura Airfield, Ora, New Guinea (29 December 1943)
Saidor Airfield, Madang, New Guinea (3 April 1944)
Kornasoren Airfield, Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, New Guinea (30 April 1944)
San Roque Airfield (Moret Field), Leyte, Philippines (18 November 1944)
McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines (22 December 1944)
Mangaldan Airfield, Pangasinan, Luzon, Philippines (7 April 1945)
Porac Airfield, Pampanga, Luzon, Philippines (17 April 1945)
Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa (8 July 1945)
Japan (26 October 1945)

Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines (28 December 1945 - 27 January 1946)
Taegu Air Base, South Korea (1952–1955)

Deployed: Clark Air Base, Philippines (26 January – 16 February 1955)

Deployed: Chia Yi Field, Formosa (17 February - c. 8 March 1955)

Osan Air Base, South Korea (1955–1958)

Deployed: Tainan Air Base, Taiwan (2 April – 2 June 1956)

Deployed: Tainan Air Base, Taiwan (c. 11 October – 30 November 1956)

Deployed: Kimpo Air Base, South Korea (19 July – 10 September 1957)

Deployed: Tainan Air Base, Taiwan (18 September – 4 November 1957)

Deployed: Chia Yi Air Base, Taiwan (5 November – 10 December 1957)

Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (15 October 1969 - 16 March 1983)
Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (1 July 1983 - 1 February 2001)

Deployed: Al Minhad, United Arab Emirates (8–28 January 1991)

Deployed: King Fahd Air Base, Saudi Arabia (29 January – 4 March 1991)

Deployed: Al Minhad, United Arab Emirates (5–15 March 1991)

Deployed: Al Khaj, Saudi Arabia (16 March – 15 June 1991)

Deployed: Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia (16–30 June 1991)

Luke AFB, Arizona, 1 Feb 2010 – Present^[1]

Aircraft

Seversky P-35 (1941–1942)
P-36 Hawk (1941–1942)
P-39 Airacobra (1941–1942)
P-40 Warhawk (1942–1943)
P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1945)

F-84 Thunderjet (1952–1954)
F-86 Sabre (1954–1958)
F-104 Starfighter (1969–1983)
F-4 Phantom II (1983–1988)
F-16 Fighting Falcon (1988–2001, 2010 – present^[1]

References

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

USAF 311th Fighter Squadron History
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Martin, Patrick. Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Publishing, 1994. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
USAF 69th Fighter Squadron History

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, December 15, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.