311th Fighter Squadron
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2017) |
311th Fighter Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–1946; 1952–1958; 1970–1994; 1995; 2014–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Fighter Training |
Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
Nickname(s) | Sidewinders[citation needed] |
Engagements |
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Decorations |
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Clarence L. Tinker |
Insignia | |
311th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 18 July 1995)[1] | |
311th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 9 October 1943)[2] |
The 311th Fighter Squadron (Sidewinders) is part of the 54th Fighter Group at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico which is a geographically separated unit under the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training. The squadron previously operated the Fighting Falcon conducting advanced fighter training at Luke and was inactivated due to budget constraints after the end of the Cold War. It was recently reactivated at Holloman and the aircraft were received from the 309th Fighter Squadron.
The squadron was first activated during
History
World War II
The 311th Fighter Squadron was constituted on 21 January 1942, as the 311th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) and was activated on 9 February at
Was converted into an operational squadron in March 1943 at
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
Cold War
Reactivated during the
After the armistice in 1953, the squadron was moved to Osan Air Base on 19 March 1955. Remained in South Korea to provide deterrence against any armistice violations by North Korea. Inactivated 1 July 1958 due to budget restraints.
Pilot training
Reactivated in January 1970 as the 311th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, assuming personnel and equipment of the provisional 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron, carried tail code "LA" with yellow fin cap. Initially operated the
Re-equipped with Block 1, 5 and 10
Reactivated in January 1995 with F-16C/D block 42s to train Foreign Military Sales customers, mission and aircraft reassigned to the
The 311th Fighter Squadron was reactivated in 2014 as a part of the also newly reactivated 54th Fighter Group. The group is an element of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.[3]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 311th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 21 January 1942
- Activated on 9 February 1942
- Redesignated 311th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated 311th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 20 February 1946
- Redesignated 311th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 25 June 1952
- Activated on 10 July 1952
- Inactivated on 1 July 1958
- Redesignated 311th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 12 January 1970
- Activated on 18 January 1970
- Redesignated 311th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
- Inactivated on 1 April 1994
- Activated on 1 January 1995
- Inactivated on 1 December 1995
- Activated on 1 March 2014[1]
Assignments
- 58th Pursuit Group(later 58th Fighter Group), 9 February 1942
- Fifth Air Force, 27 January 1946 – 20 February 1946
- 58th Fighter-Bomber Group, 10 July 1952 (attached to 58th Fighter-Bomber Wingafter 1 March 1957)
- 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 8 November 1957 – 1 July 1958
- 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (later 58th Tactical Training Wing), 18 January 1970
- 58th Operations Group, 1 October 1991 – 1 April 1994
- 56th Operations Group, 1 January–1 December 1995
- 54th Fighter Group, 1 March 2014 – present[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
- Bell P-39 Airacobra (1942)
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1942–1943)
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1945)
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet (1952–1954)
- North American F-86 Sabre (1954–1958)
- North American F-100 Super Sabre (1970–1971)
- McDonnell F-4 Phantom II(1970–1983)
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1982–1994,2014– )[1]
References
- Notes
- ^ Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16D Block 42E Fighting Falcon serial 89-2157
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h Robertson, Patsy (21 April 2014). "Factsheet 311 Fighter Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 378–379
- ^ Cannon, A1C Chase; Podner, Arian (11 March 2014). "The F-16 training mission has arrived at Holloman Air Force Base". Alamogordo News. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.