512th Fighter Squadron

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512th Fighter Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with 512th Fighter Squadron emblem[b][1]
Patch with 512th Squadron emblem (1952–1955)
512th Fighter Squadron emblem (World War II)[2]
World War II fuselage code[2]L3

The 512th Fighter Squadron is an inactive

86th Fighter Wing at Ramstein Air Base
, Germany, where it was inactivated September 1994.

The squadron was first activated as the 628th Bombardment Squadron in 1943. While retaining its mission as a

V-E Day, the squadron served in the Army of Occupation
until 1946, when it was inactivated and its personnel and equipment transferred to another unit.

The squadron was reactivated in 1952, when it replaced an

air defense
mission and continued with that mission until inactivated in 1959.

The squadron was reactivated as the 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1976 and served in that role until 1994, when it transferred its

wing became an airlift
unit.

History

World War II

The

European Theater of Operations.[1][3]

512th Fighter Squadron P-47D Thunderbolt[c]

The squadron arrived at

dive bombing missions.[3]

The squadron supported

Saar Rivers.[3]

When the Germans launched the counterattack that resulted in the

Ruhr Valley early in 1945 and to assist Allied ground forces in the drive to and across the Rhine.[3]

Following,

AAF Station Nordholz, Germany, where it became part of the Army of Occupation. The squadron was inactivated on 20 August 1946, and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 525th Fighter Squadron. which was activated the same day.[1][3][4]

Air defense in Europe

512th Squadron F-84E Thunderjet 49-2371[d]

The squadron returned to its Fighter-Bomber designation and was activated in July 1952 at

air defense missions.[1][3][5]

512th F-86D Sabre[e]

On 8 September 1955,

87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at RAF Bentwaters[7][8] and resumed its designation as a fighter interceptor unit and mission of augmenting the air defenses of the United Kingdom.[1]

When the

86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. However, while Sembach's runways could accommodate the squadron's Sabres, they were too short to safely operate more modern interceptors[citation needed] and the squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1959.[1]

Tactical fighter operations in Germany

512th F-4E Phantom II[g]

The squadron was reactivated at

McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagles. The squadron upgraded to General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons in 1985. It supported numerous military units located in the area and participated in numerous exercises that provided the wing with air combat tactics training essential to their mission.[citation needed
]

In 1994 the decision was made to change the 86th Wing to the

435th Airlift Wing at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, which was slated for transfer to the German government to be merged into Frankfurt Airport. The 512th was inactivated on 1 October 1994, and most of its aircraft and personnel moved to Aviano Air Base, Italy, where they were used to form the 510th Fighter Squadron.[citation needed
]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 628th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 4 February 1943
Activated on 1 March 1943
Redesignated 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943
Redesignated 512th Fighter Squadron on 30 May 1944
Inactivated on 20 August 1946
  • Redesignated 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 25 June 1952
Activated on 10 July 1952
Redesignated 512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 April 1954
Redesignated 512th Fighter-Day Squadron on 8 August 1954
Redesignated 512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 8 September 1955
Inactivated on 1 July 1959[12]
  • Redesignated 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Activated on 15 November 1976
Redesignated 512th Fighter Squadron on 1 May 1991
Inactivated on 1 October 1994

Assignments

  • 406th Bombardment Group (later 406th Fighter-Bomber Group, 406th Fighter Group), 1 March 1943 – 20 August 1946
  • 406th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 406th Fighter-Interceptor Group), 10 July 1952
  • 406th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 May 1956
  • 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 24 March 1958 – 1 July 1959[12]
  • 86th Tactical Fighter Group, 15 November 1976[13]
  • 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 June 1985[14]
  • 86th Operations Group, 1 May 1991 – 1 October 1994[13]

Stations

  • Key Field, Mississippi, 1 March 1943
  • Congaree Army Air Field, South Carolina, 18 September 1943 – 13 March 1944
  • RAF Ashford (AAF-417),[15] England, 6 April 1944
  • Tour-en-Bessin Airfield (A-13),[16] France, c. 27 July 1944
  • Cretteville Airfield (A-14),[16] France, 17 August 1944
  • Saint-Léonard Airfield (A-36),[16] France, c. 4 September 1944
  • Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield (A-80),[16] France, 24 September 1944
  • Metz Airfield (Y-34),[16]
    France, 31 January 1945
  • Asch Airfield (Y-29),[16]
    Belgium, 8 February 1945
  • Münster-Handorf Airfield (Y-94),[16] Germany, 15 April 1945
  • AAF Station Nordholz (R-56),[16] Germany, c. 5 June 1945 – 20 August 1946
  • RAF Manston, England, 10 July 1952
  • Soesterberg Air Base, Netherlands, 1 November 1954
  • RAF Bentwaters, England, 8 September 1955 – 24 March 1958
  • Sembach Air Base, Germany, 24 March 1958 – 1 July 1959[17]
  • Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 15 November 1976 – 1 October 1994[11]

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation
 7 September 1944 France, 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation 23 December 1944-27 December 1944 Belgium, 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 31 October 1954-31 October 1958 512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award July 1956 – February 1958 512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1981-30 June 1982 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron[18]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 14 June 1985-13 June 1987 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron[18]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 May 1989-30 April 1991 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron[18]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1992–30 June 1994 512th Fighter Squadron[18]

1957 Hughes Trophy[9]

Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 1 March 1943 – 13 March 1944 628th Bombardment Squadron (later 512th Fighter-bomber Squadron)[1]
Air Offensive, Europe 6 April 1944 – 5 June 1944 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 512th Fighter Squadron)[1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater 6 April 1944 – 11 May 1945 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 512th Fighter Squadron)[1]
Normandy 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Northern France 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 512th Fighter Squadron[1]
World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) 9 May 1945 – 20 August 1946 512th Fighter Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 24 September 2008 and converted to a QF-16C drone on 13 November 2019. Baugher, Joe (14 April 2023). "1984 USAF Serial Numbers"
    . Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. proper, over the upper section of the disc, a green dragon, his head and neck moving over the arched division, with his head toward the base
    , breathing red flames of fire, his eyeballs white, his eyes black, with red pupils, all between two back silhouetted jet aircraft flying across the yellow area; and a white lightning bolt charging the black area
  3. ^ Aircraft is Republic P-47D-27-RE Thunderbolt, serial 42-26860, Angie, fuselage code L3-O, at Asch (Asche) Airfield, Belgium in February 1945.
  4. Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center on 8 September 1955, but returned to service in the reserve on 31 May 1956, sold on 12 November 1958 and registered as a civilian aircraft. Baugher, Joe (2 May 2023). "1949 USAF Serial Numbers"
    . Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ Aircraft is North American F-86D Sabre, serial 52-10030. Struck off charge on 19 March 1958. Baugher, Joe (2 May 2023). "1952 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ Under this plan, called the "dual deputy organization" flying squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Operations and maintenance squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance.
  7. Larissa Air Base, Greece. Baugher, Joe (14 April 2023). "1968 USAF Serial Numbers"
    . Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023. This picture was taken in 1979.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 616–617
  2. ^ a b Watkins, pp. 52–53
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 292–293
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 630
  5. ^ Willard, p. 38
  6. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp.157–158
  7. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 299–300
  8. ^ Willard, p. 4
  9. ^ a b "1957 Hughes Trophy". National Museum of the US Air Force. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  10. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 219–220
  11. ^ a b See Fletcher, p. 146 (date stationed at Ramstein)
  12. ^ a b c Lineage information, including assignments and aircraft, through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 616–617.
  13. ^ a b Forte, Maria (4 April 2018). "Factsheet 86 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  14. ^ Forte, Maria (18 April 2018). "Factsheet 86 Airlift Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  15. ^ Station number in Anderson.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Station number in Johnson.
  17. ^ Station information through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 616–617, except as noted.
  18. ^ a b c d "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 12 September 2019. (search)

Bibliography

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

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