14th Fighter Squadron

14th Fighter Squadron

Squadron F-16C during a training exercise at Eielson AFB[note 1]
Active 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1952–1953; 1966–1975; 1987–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type fighter
Part of Pacific Air Forces
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
14th Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 7 January 1993[1]
Patch with 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (Approved 7 December 1943)[2]
World War II fuselage code[note 2] QU

The 14th Fighter Squadron is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting Wild Weasel missions. The squadron has been stationed at Misawa since 1987.

The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron moved to the European Theater of Operations. where it flew combat reconnaissance missions. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for missions flown over France between 31 May 1944 and the end of June. The squadron flew sorties to support Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy and Operation Market Garden, the airborne attack in the Netherlands. It conducted bomb damage assessment of Germany after VE Day. The squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation in December 1945.

The squadron served in the reserves as a reconnaissance unit from November 1947 to June 1947 at Binghamton, New York and as a troop carrier unit at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York from 1952 until it was replaced in 1953 by a squadron that had been called to active duty for the Korean War.

The squadron returned to the reconnaissance mission in April 1967 and after training in Texas moved to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base and flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from November 1967 until August 1973, earning two Presidential Unit Citations. For a period in 1971, it was the only reconnaissance squadron in Southeast Asia. The squadron was inactivated in June 1975 with the United States withdrawal from Southeast Asia.

Mission

The squadron operates General Dynamics F-16CJ Wild Weasel aircraft. It conducts Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses air operations.[3]

History

World War II

Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI in squadron markings

The squadron was first activated at Colorado Springs, Colorado in June 1942 as the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, although it was more than a month before it moved to nearby Peterson Field and began training with Lockheed F-4 Lightnings under the 3d Photographic Group.[1] In August 1942, the 3d Group moved to England. The squadron remained assigned to the 3d, but remained in Colorado, where it was attached to Second Air Force.[4] In July 1943, the squadron was assigned to the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group and moved on paper with the 7th Group to England. The 7th Group drew on the 13th Photographic Squadron, which was already flying Lightnings in England for its cadre. The 14th Squadron began to train with Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V fighters in July 1943 before equipping with the photographic reconnaissance Mk. XI version of the Spitfire in late summer.[5]

The 14th flew combat reconnaissance missions in the European Theater of Operations from 12 August 1943 until 25 April 1945. The squadron's Spitfires flew the majority of the target photography missions (including the first Spitfire reconnaissance mission over Berlin in March 1944), while the other squadrons of the 7th, equipped with Lightnings, concentrated on photographic mapping. Squadron deep penetration missions included reconnaissance of oil refineries to determine when repairs had been performed that could justify returning them to Eighth Air Force's target list.[6] It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for reconnaissance missions flown over France between 31 May 1944 and the end of June. The squadron flew over 300 successful sorties to support Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. It flew missions over the Netherlands to support Operation Market Garden in October 1944 and conducted damage assessment of Germany until 23 July 1945.[1] In late 1944, the squadron's unarmed aircraft, flying by themselves, began to prove vulnerable to the jet powered Messerschmitt Me 262s entering service with the Luftwaffe. A squadron aircraft lost on 5 September 1944 was probably the first Army Air Forces loss to a German jet fighter.[6] The unit turned its aircraft in to depots during the late summer and early fall of 1945.[5] Squadron personnel returned to the United States and the unit was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation in December 1945[1]

Air Force Reserves

The squadron was activated in November 1947 at Binghamton, New York as a reserve reconnaissance unit and assigned to the 65th Reconnaissance Group, which was located at nearby Rome Army Air Field.[7] The squadron did not possess any tactical aircraft, but was assigned North American T-6 Texans and Beechcraft AT-11 Kansans for proficiency flying.[1] Binghamton's airport had not been completed at this time, so it seems probable that the aircraft operated from Tri-Cities Airport in nearby Endicott. President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[8] and the 14th was inactivated and not replaced[1] as reserve flying operations at Binghamton ceased.

In June 1952, the squadron was redesignated the 14th Troop Carrier Squadron and again activated as part of the 65th Troop Carrier Wing, which replaced the 914th Reserve Training Wing at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York. The squadron began to train with the Curtiss C-46 Commando with the assistance of the regular Air Force 2233d Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center.[9] On 1 April 1953, the 514th Troop Carrier Wing, which had been mobilized for the Korean War, was returned to the reserves and replaced the 65th Wing.[10] As part of this reorganization, the 14th Troop Carrier Squadron was inactivated in April 1953 and its personnel, equipment and mission was assumed by the 337th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was simultaneously transferred to the reserves at Mitchel.[1][11]

Vietnam War

Squadron RF-4C landing at Udorn RTAFB in 1968[note 3]

The squadron returned to the reconnaissance mission when it was organized at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas in April 1967 as the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. After equipping with the McDonnell RF-4 Phantom II, the squadron trained in reconnaissance with the 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing until October.

The squadron took three days to move to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base and flew its first combat missions in Southeast Asia on 2 November 1967. The Phantoms of the squadron replaced the McDonnell RF-101 Voodoos of the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which was inactivated on 1 November 1967.[12] It continued for fly combat until August 1973. For a period in 1971, it was the only reconnaissance squadron in Southeast Asia. It documented by aerial photography the communist takeover of Cambodia and the Republic of Vietnam in 1975.[1]

Fighter operations in Japan

Squadron F-16C at MCAS Iwakuni[note 4]

The squadron was again activated in 1987 as the 14th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan. It initially trained for close air support using conventional weapons. It also provided for the air defense of northern Japan. The squadron has provided personnel and aircraft to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.[1]

Lineage

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Decorations
Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation31 May 1944-30 June 1944France, 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation[28 October] 1967-1 November 1968Southeast Asia, 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation1 November 1968-31 October 1969Southeast Asia, 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation1 April 1972-22 October 1972Southeast Asia, 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device21 November 1969-20 November 197014th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device21 November 1970-6 April 197114th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device18 December 1972-27 January 197314th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device5 January 1975-12 April 197514th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1991-31 December 199114th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1992-30 September 199414th Tactical Fighter Squadron (later 14th Fighter Squadron)[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1995-30 September 199614th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1997-30 Sep 199914th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1999-30 September 200114th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2001-30 September 200314th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2004-31 May 200614th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2008-30 September 201014th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 March 2011-28 February 201314th Fighter Squadron[1]
French Croix de Guerre with Palm194414th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm[28 October] 1967-28 January 197314th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Campaigns
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Air Offensive, Europe12 May 1943 – 5 June 194414th Photographic Squadron (later 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron)[1]
Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 194414th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 194414th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 194514th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 194514th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 194514th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater12 May 1943 – 11 May 194514th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II28 October 1967 – 31 March 196814th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 196814th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 196814th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 196914th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 196914th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 196914th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 197014th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 30 June 197014th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Southwest Monsoon1 July 1970 – 30 November 197014th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Commando Hunt V1 December 1970 – 14 May 197114th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Commando Hunt VI15 May 1971 – 31 July 197114th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Commando Hunt VII1 November 1971 – 29 March 197214th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign39 March 1972-28 January 197314th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[1]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16C block 50 serial 92-3892, taken on 24 July 2006.
  2. ↑ The squadron's aircraft did not display this code until after the end of the war in Europe for security reasons. Post-war it was carried on the wing, rather than the fuselage. Watkins, pp. 106-109
  3. ↑ Aircraft is McDonnell RF-4C-31-MC Phantom II serial 66-447. The plane was hit by ground fire and shot down over the Sông Gianh River on 15 August 1968. The pilot, Lt.Col. Terrin Hicks, was killed, the weapons system officer, Capt. Joseph Shanahan, became a prisoner of war.
  4. ↑ Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16C block 50 serial 90-825, taken on 13 March 2011.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Robertson, Patsy (March 17, 2015). "Factsheet 14 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp.79-80
  3. ↑ "35th Operations Support Squadron Factsheet". 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Freeman, p. 238
  5. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, p. 239
  6. 1 2 Freeman, pp. 199-200
  7. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 131-132
  8. ↑ Knaack, p. 25
  9. ↑ See "Abstract, History 2233 AF Reserve Training Center Jul-Dec 1952". Air Force History Index. Retrieved April 19, 2016. (center report including report for 65th Wing) "Abstract, Initial History 2233d AF Reserve Training Center". Air Force History Index. Retrieved April 19, 2016. (at Mitchel Air Force Base)
  10. ↑ Ravenstein, pp. 281-283
  11. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (March 16, 2015). "Factsheet 337 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ See Ravenstein, pp. 225-227 (showing assignment dates of the two squadrons to the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing).
  13. 1 2 Station number in Anderson
  14. ↑ Station number in Anderson and Johnson

Bibliography

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