60th Fighter Squadron

60th Fighter Squadron

Five 60th Fighter Squadron F-15Cs, from the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the mountains ranges of Alaska during their overseas deployment to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in Red Flag Alaska 07-1
Active 15 January 1941 – 8 December 1945
20 August 1946 – 30 April 1971
1 September 1971 – 1 January 2009
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Nickname(s) Fighting Crows
Engagements

  • EAME Theater World War II

  • Asia-Pacific Theater World War II

  • 1991 Gulf War
Decorations

  • Distinguished Unit Citation

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Daniel James, Jr.
Insignia
Emblem of the 60th Fighter Squadron

The 60th Fighter Squadron (60 FS) is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. It was last assigned to the 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 January 2009.

History

World War II

Activated in 1940 at Mitchel Field, New York as the 60th Pursuit Squadron, the unit was attached to the 33d Pursuit Group on 15 January 1941. Re-designated as the 60th Fighter Squadron "Fighting Crows" on 15 May 1942, the unit was responsible for the continual mission of air defense of the United States until October 1942. In late 1942, the 60th joined the United States' effort in World War II by participating in combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater and the China-Burma-India Theater. As a result of superior performance in central Tunisia, the 60th earned the Distinguished Unit Citation for combat operations on 15 January 1944. Following its service in World War II, the 60th was assigned to the 33d Fighter Group at Neubiberg Air Base, Germany in August 1946 and flew the P-51 Mustang.[1]

Air Defense Command

North American F-86A-5-NA Sabre, AF Ser. No. 49-1143, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, circa 1951
60th FIS McDonnell F-101B, AF Ser. No. 57-0376, circa 1960

In 1947, the 60th transferred to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico and soon afterward, in June 1948, converted to the F-84 Thunderjet. In November 1948, the 60th transferred to Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts and by June of the following year had completed a conversion to the new F-86 Sabre. On 9 August 1950, the 60th moved to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts and on 1 January 1951 became part of the Air Defense Command. From 1952-1959, the 60th, flying the F-86 Sabre and the F-94 Starfire, was assigned to various organizations including, the 4707th Defense Wing, 4735th Air Defense Group and the Boston Air Defense Sector, all located at Otis Air Force Base.[1]

On 5 January 1959, the 60th was the first Air Defense Command squadron to receive the new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo interceptor. The unit was additionally tasked as part of the joint test force (teamed with members at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida) to test the F-101's operational capabilities prior to its entrance into active service. The F-101B proved to be a quite successful interceptor. assigned alongside the F-101B interceptor was the F-101F operational and conversion trainer. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable.[1]

During the 1960s, the 60th participated in various tests, exercises, and operations in the Air Defense Command. In October and November 1962, the unit was placed on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis,and several planes with weapons and support crews were deployed to support potential combat needs. Planes remaining at Otis continued to perform the Air Defense Command continental air defense mission. Although it has been stated that F-101B Voodoos from the 60th were used in the production of the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, the film, although set in New England, was actually shot on the West Coast for financial reasons and the fighters were from the 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, based at Hamilton AFB, California.[2] The 60th inactivated on 30 April 1971.

Tactical Air Command

In September 1971, the squadron was reactivated at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida as the 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing, flying the F-4E Phantom II until transitioning to the F-15A Eagle in the late 1970s. In 1979, the unit participated in the "Kadena Ready Eagle" program in which the members of the 60th trained new F-15 pilots stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.[1]

The 60th made its first combat deployment since World War II when it sent ten F-15s to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury, the rescue of American medical students held in Grenada in the mid-1980s. The unit continued to train and until it was called upon to fly support missions for Operation Just Cause (the removal of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from Panama in the early 1990s).[1]

Modern era

The 60th Fighter Squadron flew the F-15 Eagle and supported the various combatant commanders by providing air superiority on call. It flew its last F-15 mission on 5 December 2008.

The squadron was inactivated on 1 January 2009.[1]

Lineage

60th FIS (Air Defense Command)
Activated on 15 Jan 1941
Re-designated: 60th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Re-designated: 60th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 8 Feb 1945
Inactivated on 8 Dec 1945
Activated on 20 Aug 1946
Re-designated: 60th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 14 Jun 1948
Re-designated: 60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jan 1950
Inactivated on 30 Apr 1971
Activated on 1 Sep 1971
Re-designated: 60th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991
Inactivated on 1 January 2009[3]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "60th Fighter Squadron". 33rd Fighter Wing. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Overview for The Russians are Coming, the Russians are coming". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: 1 January 2009
  3. 1 2 3 4 "60 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 7 March 2008. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2017.

See also

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