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==History==
==History==
The 4th was activated at [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]] on 15 January 1941 and moved to several U.S. bases before relocating to [[Northern Ireland]] in 1942. For the next three years, until its inactivation in November 1945, the 4th traveled between 13 bases in [[Europe]] and [[North Africa]]. During [[World War II]], the squadron flew [[P-39 Airacobra]]s, [[P-40 Warhawk]]s, [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfires]] and [[P-51 Mustang]]s. The 4th destroyed 109 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and produced three [[Flying ace|aces]] during World War II.<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>
The 4th was activated at [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]] on 15 January 1941 and trained under [[Third Air Force]] as a tactical fighter squadron. Moved to several U.S. bases before relocating to [[Northern Ireland]] and [[England]] in 1942. Equipped with the British [[Supermarine Spitfire]], was assigned to [[Twelfth Air Force]] during the [[North African Campaign]] in late 1942. Moved across [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] flying ground support missions for American ground forces; taking part in the invasion of [[Sicily]] and [[Italy]] in 1943. Participated in the liberation of [[Corsica]] in 1943; then returning to Italy and being re-equipped with [[P-51D Mustang]]s in May 1944. Participated in Northern Italian Campaign, returning to the United States in August 1945 and inactivating.<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>


Reactivated as part of [[Thirteenth Air Force]] in [[Okinawa]], assuming personnel and [[P-61 Black Widow]]s of the inactivated [[418th Night Fighter Squadron]]. Performed air defense role over Okinawa during Chinese Civil War on the mainland during 1947-1950. Re-equipped with new [[F-82|F-82G Twin Mustangs]] in 1949, retiring war-weary F-61s in early 1950. Deployed flight of F-82s to [[Japan]] in June 1950 as part of [[Far East Air Force]] mobility upon breakout of [[Korean War]]. Engaged in combat operations over South Korea during 1950, until [[F-51D Mustang]]s and [[F-84 Thunderjet]]s arrived in the Korean AOR. Then few combat missions from Japan, rotating flights of F-82s from Okinawa during 1950-1951, largely performing long-range weather reconnaissance flights over [[North Korea]]. Began receiving [[F-94C Starfire]] jet interceptors to replace F-82s in 1951, retiring the last of its Twin Mustangs in late 1951. Continued air defense mission of Okinawa until 1954; moving to Japan and taking over interceptor mission until 1954 flying first F-86D Sabres then F-102As. Also traine pilots of the [[Japanese Self-Defense Forces]], the [[Republic of Korea Air Force|Republic of Korea]] and the [[Royal Thai Air Force]], and flew combat missions over [[Korea]] and [[Vietnam]].<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>
The 4th was reactivated at [[Yontan Air Base]], [[Japan]], flying [[P-61 Black Widow]]s in February 1947. The unit was assigned to [[Naha Air Base]], Japan, in 1948. It was there that the squadron adopted the [[Fūjin]], the Japanses god of wind, as its emblem after half of its combat aircraft were destroyed by a freak windstorm. The squadron remained in Okinawa flying the [[F-82 Twin Mustang]] from 1950 to 1952 and [[F-94 Starfire]] from 1951 to 1954. There they provided air defense of the [[Ryukyu Islands]] during the [[Korean War]].<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>

The 4th moved to [[Misawa Air Base]], Japan, where squadron members flew [[F-86 Sabre]]s and [[F-102 Delta Dagger]]s until 1965. During that period, the it participated in air defense of Japan, trained pilots of the [[Japanese Self-Defense Forces]], the [[Republic of Korea Air Force|Republic of Korea]] and the [[Royal Thai Air Force]], and flew combat missions over [[Korea]] and [[Vietnam]].<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>


In June 1965, the 4th moved to [[Eglin Air Force Base]], [[Florida]], and was renamed the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the fourth Air Force fighter squadron trained in the [[F-4 Phantom II]]s. During July 1967, squadron aircraft, crews and maintenance troops deployed to [[Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base]], [[Thailand]], where they were designated as the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron and immediately began combat operations. In April 1969, the squadron deployed to [[Da Nang Air Base]], [[Republic of Vietnam]] and flew escort missions as part of the [[366th Fighter Wing|366th Tactical Fighter Wing]]. Transferring to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, in mid-1972, squadron aircrews flew air superiority missions over [[Vietnam]]. The squadron attained the U.S. Air Force's last Southeast Asia aerial victory, downing a [[MiG-21]] on 8 January 1973. In all the 4th downed four enemy aircraft in combat over Vietnam.<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>
In June 1965, the 4th moved to [[Eglin Air Force Base]], [[Florida]], and was renamed the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the fourth Air Force fighter squadron trained in the [[F-4 Phantom II]]s. During July 1967, squadron aircraft, crews and maintenance troops deployed to [[Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base]], [[Thailand]], where they were designated as the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron and immediately began combat operations. In April 1969, the squadron deployed to [[Da Nang Air Base]], [[Republic of Vietnam]] and flew escort missions as part of the [[366th Fighter Wing|366th Tactical Fighter Wing]]. Transferring to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, in mid-1972, squadron aircrews flew air superiority missions over [[Vietnam]]. The squadron attained the U.S. Air Force's last Southeast Asia aerial victory, downing a [[MiG-21]] on 8 January 1973. In all the 4th downed four enemy aircraft in combat over Vietnam.<ref name="4 FS Fact Sheet"/>

Revision as of 02:54, 19 April 2010

4th Fighter Squadron
4th Fighter Squadron Patch
Active15 January 1941 - 7 November 1945
20 February 1947 - Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeFighter
Part ofAir Combat Command
12th Air Force
388th Fighter Wing
388th Operations Group
Decorations DUC
PUC
AFOUA w/V Device
RVGC w/ Palm

The 4th Fighter Squadron (4 FS) is part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

Mission

Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations for daylight and nighttime missions.[1]

History

The 4th was activated at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 15 January 1941 and trained under Third Air Force as a tactical fighter squadron. Moved to several U.S. bases before relocating to Northern Ireland and England in 1942. Equipped with the British Supermarine Spitfire, was assigned to Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign in late 1942. Moved across Algeria and Tunisia flying ground support missions for American ground forces; taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Participated in the liberation of Corsica in 1943; then returning to Italy and being re-equipped with P-51D Mustangs in May 1944. Participated in Northern Italian Campaign, returning to the United States in August 1945 and inactivating.[1]

Reactivated as part of Thirteenth Air Force in Okinawa, assuming personnel and P-61 Black Widows of the inactivated 418th Night Fighter Squadron. Performed air defense role over Okinawa during Chinese Civil War on the mainland during 1947-1950. Re-equipped with new F-82G Twin Mustangs in 1949, retiring war-weary F-61s in early 1950. Deployed flight of F-82s to Japan in June 1950 as part of Far East Air Force mobility upon breakout of Korean War. Engaged in combat operations over South Korea during 1950, until F-51D Mustangs and F-84 Thunderjets arrived in the Korean AOR. Then few combat missions from Japan, rotating flights of F-82s from Okinawa during 1950-1951, largely performing long-range weather reconnaissance flights over North Korea. Began receiving F-94C Starfire jet interceptors to replace F-82s in 1951, retiring the last of its Twin Mustangs in late 1951. Continued air defense mission of Okinawa until 1954; moving to Japan and taking over interceptor mission until 1954 flying first F-86D Sabres then F-102As. Also traine pilots of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the Republic of Korea and the Royal Thai Air Force, and flew combat missions over Korea and Vietnam.[1]

In June 1965, the 4th moved to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and was renamed the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the fourth Air Force fighter squadron trained in the F-4 Phantom IIs. During July 1967, squadron aircraft, crews and maintenance troops deployed to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where they were designated as the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron and immediately began combat operations. In April 1969, the squadron deployed to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam and flew escort missions as part of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. Transferring to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, in mid-1972, squadron aircrews flew air superiority missions over Vietnam. The squadron attained the U.S. Air Force's last Southeast Asia aerial victory, downing a MiG-21 on 8 January 1973. In all the 4th downed four enemy aircraft in combat over Vietnam.[1]

For the next two years, the squadron remained at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, flying cover for evacuations of Phnom Pehn, Cambodia and Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. The 4th performed strike missions in support of a recovery operation for the S.S. Mayagüez, a merchant freighter captured by Cambodian Khmer Rouge guerillas in May 1975.[1]

In December 1975, the 4th moved to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and formed the initial cadre of the relocation of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing flying the F-4D Phantom IIs.[1]

In March 1980, the squadron began conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon as the Air Force's first operational F-16 tactical fighter squadron. The squadron upgraded to the F-16C Block 40 in January 1990.[1]

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the 4th found deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Their deployment took 16 hours non-stop with 10 aerial refuelings (five at night). This set a record as the longest distance flown non-stop in the F-16.[1] The squadron dropped more than 2,000 tons of conventional munitions on strategic and tactical targets in Iraq and Kuwait during more than 1,000 daytime combat sorties while only two of their aircraft were damaged by enemy fire and none lost in combat.[1]

Lineage[2]

  • Constituted 4th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940
Activated on 15 Jan 1941
Redesignated: 4th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 4th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943
Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945
  • Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 19 Dec 1946
Activated on 20 Feb 1947, absorbing personnel and equipment of 418th Night Fighter Squadron
Redesignated: 4th Fighter Squadron, All Weather, on 10 Aug 1948
Redesignated: 4th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 Jan 1950
Redesignated: 4th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 25 Apr 1951
Redesignated: 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 20 Jun 1965
Redesignated: 4th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991.

Assignments[2]

Attached to: 51st Fighter [later, 51st Fighter-Interceptor] Group), 20 Feb 1947-
Remained attached to: 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group to 24 Jun 1950
Flight of 8 aircraft assigned to 347th Provisional Fighter Group (All-Weather), 27 June-5 July 1950 for combat missions in Korea
Attached to: 6302d Air Base Group, 20 Sep 1950-24 Jun 1951 for combat missions in Korea
Attached to: 6351st Air Base Wing, 25 Jun 1951-unkn for combat missions in Korea
Attached to: 39th Air Division, 10 Aug 1954-
Remained attached to: 39th Air Division
Attached to: 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (Deployed) [later, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)] , 28 Aug 1990-27 Mar 1991

Stations[2]

Aircraft Operated[2]

Operations[2]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 4 FS Fact Sheet
  2. ^ a b c d e AFHRA 4 FS Page

Bibliography

See also

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