The 354th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force. It was last stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it was part of the 355th Fighter Wing, Arizona. It operated A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.
The squadron conducted close air support, air Interdiction, forward air control – airborne, and combat search and rescue for theater commanders worldwide.
History
World War II
The 354th flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 September 1943 to 25 April 1945.
Vietnam War
The squadron flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 13 March to 12 June 1965, 28 November 1965 – 7 October 1970, and c. 14 January–3 July 1973.
Training
It conducted combat crew training from, 1971–1982 and forward air control training since 1991. In February 2015, the squadron was deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Twelve A-10s and approximately 300 airmen were deployed. The unit will train alongside NATO allies and deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations to further enhance interoperability. The A-10s were the first of several theater security package deployments to Europe, U.S. Air Force officials said, adding that rotations generally will last six months, depending on mission and United States European Command requirements.
In mid-October 2023, the A-10 aircraft of the 354th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the US Central Command to enhance air operations throughout the Middle East in response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 12 November 1942
- Redesignated 354th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 August 1944
- Inactivated on 20 November 1946
- Redesignated 354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952
- Activated on 1 November 1952
- Inactivated on 8 January 1958
- Redesignated 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 13 April 1962 (not organized)
- Organized on 25 April 1962
- Redesignated 354th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 April 1979
- Inactivated on 30 April 1982
- Redesignated 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 1 November 1991.
- Inactivated c. 20 September 2024
Assignments
- 355th Fighter Group: 12 November 1942 – 20 November 1946
- 27th Air Division: 1 November 1952
- 533d Air Defense Group: 16 February 1953
- 355th Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958
- Tactical Air Command: 13 April 1962 (not organized)
- 831st Air Division: 25 April 1962
- 355th Tactical Fighter Wing: 8 July 1962
- Thirteenth Air Force: 10 December 1970
- 4453d Combat Crew Training Wing: 1 April 1971
- 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 355th Tactical Training Wing): 1 July 1971 – 30 April 1982
- 602d Air Control Wing: 1 November 1991
- 355th Operations Group: 1 May 1992 – c. 20 September 2024
Stations
- Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 12 November 1942
- Zephyr Hills Army Air Field, Florida< 30 January 1943
- Norfolk Municipal Airport, Virginia, 18 February 1943
- Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 4 March 1943
- Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey, 5 May - 16 June 1943
- RAF Steeple Morden, England, 6 July 1943
- Gablingen, Germany, 17 July 1945
- Schweinfurt, Germany, 15 April 1946
- Mitchel Field, New York, 1 August – 20 November 1946
- Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, 1 November 1952
- Oxnard Air Force Base, California, 16 December 1952 (operated From: Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, 8 May – 10 June 1955
- McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee, 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958
- George Air Force Base, California, 25 April 1962 (operated from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska 24 January – 14 February 1964, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey 5 May – 18 September 1964)
- McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 15 October 1964 – 27 November 1965 (deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, then Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (6 March – 18 June 1965)
- Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 28 November 1965
- Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 15 April 1970 – 30 April 1982 (deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 14 January – 4 July 1973)
- Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 November 1991
- McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 5 January 1993
- Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 October 1994 – c. 20 September 2024
Aircraft
Awards and campaigns
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
- 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016.
- "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. 21 (1). Aerospace Defense Command: 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.
- 355th Operations Group Fact Sheet
External links
- White, Matt (September 2024). "End of an era for legendary Air Force A-10 squadron". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- No byline (2024). "The Hall of Valor Project: Awards Royce Priest". Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 18 September 2024. (Distinguished Service Cross)
- No byline (2024). "Stories of Sacrifice: Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen". Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 18 September 2024. (Medal of Honor)
