525th Fighter Squadron
525th Fighter Squadron | |
---|---|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col Matthew “Match” Tromans |
Insignia | |
525th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 29 September 1955)[1] | |
309th Bombardment Squadron emblem[2] |
The 525th Fighter Squadron is a
During the
The squadron was reactivated in its current location in September 2007.
Mission
The combat-ready fighter squadron is prepared for rapid worldwide deployment of a squadron of
History
World War II
The 525th Fighter Squadron originally activated during
In August 1942, the squadron transferred to
Ready to support the war effort, the 309th Bombardment Squadron boarded the
The 309th Bombardment Squadron was redesignated the 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943. While in Italy, the 525th moved several more times while participating in the Rome-Arno campaign. Bases for the 525th included
In 1944, the 525th transitioned to the
Cold War
The 525th moved to
It was reactivated on 20 August 1946, at
The 525th moved to
In 1957, the squadrons of the 86th Group were dispersed throughout Europe to provide better air defense coverage and reduce vulnerability to attack. On 12 February 1957, the squadron moved to
The 525th received its first
In 1965, 1967, and 1971 the 525th was chosen as the Sector III representative to the NATO Air Superiority Competitions. In each competition, the squadron made an outstanding showing, winning the Guynemer Trophy for the best sector performance in 1971.[3]
The 525th became part of the
In 1970 and 1971, the 525th was awarded the Allied Forces Central Europe Scroll of Honor. This award for "outstanding operational achievement" was given for twice consecutively earning the rating of "1" on tactical evaluations by
525th pilots flew the first 23 F-15 Eagles to Europe on 27 April 1977 during a non-stop deployment from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to Bitburg. Operation Ready Eagle became a success when, 18 hours after arrival at Bitburg, the squadron's pilots were sitting five-minute alert status with two of the F-15s. After less than one month on station, the Bulldogs were declared Europe's first operationally ready F-15 squadron on 26 May 1977.[3]
In 1978, the 525th was featured as part of the
Gulf War
In August 1990, Iraqi military forces attacked and occupied the nation of Kuwait, precipitating the Gulf War. As a result, the 525th deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in December 1990. When the squadron arrived at Incirlik it joined General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons from Spain, General Dynamics F-111 Aardvarks from England, Wild Weasels from Germany, Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers from Texas, and Boeing E-3 Sentry and other electronic combat support aircraft from around the world. These units, deployed to Incirlik Air Base, formed the 7440th Combat Wing (Provisional).[3]
On the night of 17 January 1991, the squadron flew its first strike against Iraq. On 19 January 1991, two 525th pilots used
The squadron flew 1,329 combat sorties for a total of 3,550 combat hours during operations against Iraq. The squadron shot down six enemy aircraft without losing any of its own aircraft. On 13 March 1991, the 525th returned to Bitburg. The squadron deployed back to Incirlik AB on 5 April 1991 to support Operation Provide Comfort.[3]
Following the war against Iraq, numerous
Between 5 April and 25 May 1991, the 525th flew 285 sorties over Iraq in support of Operation Provide Comfort without a single Allied aircraft being lost in Iraq due to hostile fire.[3]
Recent Events
The 525th deployed to Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, during October 1991. In December 1991, the Bulldogs deployed to RAF Bentwaters, England, to train on the new North Sea Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation range. The final weapons training deployment for the 525th was at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, from 16–27 March 1992.[3]
The 525th inactivated at Bitburg AB on 1 April 1992. After 15 years of inactivation, Pacific Air Forces activated the 525th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on 29 October 2007. The 525th Fighter Squadron is now armed with the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.[3]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 309th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942
- Activated on 10 February 1942
- Redesignated 309th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 3 September 1942
- Redesignated 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943
- Redesignated 525th Fighter Squadron on 30 May 1944
- Inactivated on 31 March 1946
- Activated on 20 August 1946
- Redesignated 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 January 1950
- Redesignated 525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 9 August 1954
- Redesignated 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1969
- Inactivated on 31 March 1992
- Redesignated 525th Fighter Squadron on 18 September 2007
- Activated on 30 September 2007[1]
Assignments
- 86th Bombardment Group (later 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, 86th Fighter Group), 10 February 1942 – 31 March 1946
- 86th Fighter Group (later 86th Composite Group, 86th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, 86th Fighter-Interceptor Group), 20 August 1946 (attached to 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 22 May 1954 – 7 October 1955 and after 10 August 1956)
- 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (later 86th Air Division), 8 March 1958
- 36th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 36th Fighter Wing), 1 November 1968 – 31 March 1992
- 3d Operations Group, 30 September 2007 – present[1]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
|
|
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e Dollman, TSG David (8 May 2017). "Factsheet 525 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ Hubbard, p. 720
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "525th Fighter Squadron". Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Station number in Johnson.
- ^ Station information in Dollman, except as indicated.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Hubbard, Gerard (1943). "Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth". The National Geographic Magazine. LXXXIII (6). National Geographic Society: 718–722. Retrieved 1 September 2017. (subscription required for web access)
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 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.