43rd Fighter Squadron

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43rd Fighter Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
43d Fighter Squadron emblem
43d School Squadron emblem (approved 22 May 1924)[1]

The 43rd Fighter Squadron is part of the

F-22 Raptor
pilots.

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 13 June 1917, when it was organized at

American Expeditionary Force during World War I. The squadron saw combat during World War II, served in the Vietnam War and later became part of the Alaskan Air Command (AAC) during the Cold War
.

Mission

The 43d Fighter Squadron is responsible for providing air dominance training for the F-22 Raptor.[2]

History

World War I

The 43d Fighter Squadron traces its lineage to the 43d Aero Squadron, first activated 13 June 1917, at

Camp Kelly, Texas. In March 1918, the squadron moved to England, where it trained until reassigned to France where it landed on 25 October, reaching on the same day the Air Service Replacement Concentration Barracks at St. Maixent. Ordered to 3rd Aviation Instruction Center, the squadron arrived at the Issoudun Aerodrome on 1 November. The Armistice signed on 11 November made it redundant, and it stayed at Issoudun until early 1919, when it moved to the harbor of Bordeaux, France, leaving France on 18 March, bound for the United States[3][2]

Inter-war years

The 43d was reactivated on 22 July 1922, at Kelly Field, Texas, and was redesignated the 43d School Squadron in January 1923. The squadron flew various aircraft, including the

Yellow Jacket," the most formidable of the wasp family, surrounded by an ovate cloud. The emblem was approved in 1924 and the Hornet signifies the speed, agility and hard-hitting capabilities of the squadron while the cloud represents their domain - the skies.[2]
In March 1935, the 43d was redesignated the 43d Pursuit Squadron, flying as part of the 3d Wing Advanced Flying School until it was inactivated in September 1936.

World War II

43d Fighter Squadron P-40N Warhawk, Howard Field, Canal Zone, May 1944

Re-established in 1939 as the 43d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) and activated on 1 February 1940 at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone. This unit was part of the build-up of the Canal Zone's defenses as war approached. Assigned to the

Zandery Field, Surinam
, by January 1942.

After the Japanese

Antilles Air Task Force
, although its personnel returned home to the main body of the squadron.

Operating air defense patrols throughout 1943 from La Joya, pn 9 February 1944, the squadron finally moved to

32d Fighter Squadron
.

Unit activities ran down with the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. The squadron ceased all flying activities in June. By October 1945, the squadron was reduced to a non-operational administrative organization. Inactivated on 15 October 1946.

Vietnam War

McDonnell Douglas F-4E-35-MC Phantom II, AF Serial No. 67-0305 of the 43d TFS.

The squadron lay dormant nearly two decades before it was awakened as the 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron at

F-4 Phantom II, and in August 1965, deployed to Clark Air Base, Philippines, where they were in reserve support to the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron who were flying combat missions over Southeast Asia from Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.[2]

In November 1965, the Hornets became the first fighter squadron assigned to

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its service. In January 1966, the 43rd TFS returned to MacDill AFB, to serve as an F-4 replacement-training unit until March 1970.[2]

Alaskan Service

43rd F-4 flying near Mt. McKinley about 1977.
F-15 Eagle
banks left. The F-22 is slated to replace the F-15C/D.

In June 1970, the 43 TFS was moved to

U.S. Army
forces. In addition to flying out of Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, the squadron also sat air defense alert at King Salmon and Galena Air Force Stations.

The squadron assumed

North American Aerospace Defense Command air defense alert in October 1970 and between 1970 and 1982, the squadron's pilots intercepted more than 100 Soviet aircraft in Alaskan air space.[2]
In 1977 the 43rd TFS won the Hughes Trophy for the best air-to-air squadron in the United States Air Force.

In 1982, the 43 TFS began converting to the

McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle. Without help from a combat ready unit, the squadron developed its own F-15 training program and completed the first ever F-15 low runway condition reading tests. The squadron continued to provide air defense for North America until 1 January 1994, when it was inactivated.[2]

Return to fighter training

On 25 October 2002, The 43d Fighter Squadron was reactivated with a new mission and a new aircraft. Assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, the 43 FS is the first squadron to provide training for Air Force pilots in the F-22 Raptor.[2] The squadron transitioned to Air Combat Command when the 325th Fighter Wing assumed an operational mission, however the 43 FS continued to train Raptor pilots.

Lineage

43d Aero Squadron
  • Organized as the 43d Provisional Squadron on 13 June 1917
Redesignated 43d Aero Squadron on 26 June 1917
Demobilized on 17 April 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated with the 43d School Squadron on 8 April 1924[1][4]
43d Pursuit Squadron
  • Authorized as the 43d School Squadron on 10 June 1922
Organized as the 43d Squadron (School) on 7 July 1922
Redesignated 43d School Squadron on 25 January 1923
Consolidated with the 43d Aero Squadron on 8 April 1924[4]
Redesignated 43d Pursuit Squadron on 1 March 1935
Inactivated on 1 September 1936
Disbanded on 1 January 1938
  • Consolidated with the 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 27 March 1964 effective 22 December 1939[1]
43d Fighter Squadron
  • Constituted as the 43d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939
Activated on 1 February 1940
Redesignated: 43d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 43d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 12 April 1944
Redesignated: 43d Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 13 January 1945
Redesignated: 43d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 8 January 1946
Inactivated on 15 October 1946
  • Redesignated 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron, activated and organized on 8 January 1964
  • Consolidated with the 43d Pursuit Squadron on 27 March 1964 effective 22 December 1939
Redesignated 43d Fighter Squadron on 26 September 1991
Inactivated on 1 January 1994
  • Activated on 1 October 2002[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

See also

  • List of American Aero Squadrons

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft are Lockheed Martin Block 10 F-22A Raptor 00-4019 and 02-4034.
  2. Grantham, and Beaulieu
    , after 14 August 1918.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bailey, Carl E. (18 December 2007). "Factsheet 43 Fighter Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Tyndall AFB Library: Factsheet 43rd Fighter Squadron". 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  3. ^ Maurer, [page needed]
  4. ^ a b Clay, p. 1407

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links
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