612th Tactical Fighter Squadron
612th Tactical Fighter Squadron | |
---|---|
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | |
Insignia | |
612th Tactical Fighter Squadron patch showing squadron emblem[b][1] | |
612th Bombardment Squadron Emblem[c] | |
ETO Fuselage Code[2] | FN |
The 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive
The
The squadron was redesignated the 612th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated in 1954 at
History
World War II
Organization and training for combat
The 612th Bombardment Squadron was activated March 1943 at
The ground echelon moved to
After completing training the ground echelon left for overseas on 19 October 1943. After staging at
Combat in the European Theater of Operations
On arrival in England, half of the 401st group's
On 26 November the 612th flew its first combat mission against
A little over a month later, on 20 February, the squadron earned its second DUC for an attack on the Erla Maschinenwerke aircraft manufacturing facilities in Leipzig, Germany. Despite fighter attacks and battle damage to the 612th's planes, 100% of the unit's bombs fell within 1000 feet of the aiming point.[3][10] Beginning in October 1944, the unit concentrated its attacks on Axis oil reserves.[3]
In addition to strategic missions, squadron operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the
The squadron flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945 against
The unit was alerted for redeployment to the Pacific Theater and the last plane departed Deenethorpe in early June. The ground echelon sailed on the
Reserve operations
The squadron was activated at Brooks Field (later
All reserve corollary units were mobilized for the Korean war.[22] The 612th was called up on 1 May 1951. Its personnel were used as fillers for other organizations and it was inactivated on 25 June.[1]
Fighter operations
The squadron was redesignated the 612th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated at
The squadron moved to
In January 1968, the 39th Air Division was inactivated and the
The squadron moved on paper to rejoin the 401st Wing at
Lineage
- Constituted as the 612th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 March 1943
- Activated on 1 April 1943
- Redesignated 612th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy ca. 1 November 1943
- Inactivated on 28 August 1945
- Redesignated 612th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 27 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 26 June 1947
- Redesignated 612th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949
- Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951
- Inactivated on 25 June 1951
- Redesignated 612th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 24 November 1953
- Activated on 8 February 1954
- Redesignated 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958[29]
- Inactivated on 1 October 1991
Assignments
- 401st Bombardment Group, 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945
- 401st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951
- 401st Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 February 1954
- 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing (later Tactical Fighter Wing), 25 September 1957[29]
- 39th Air Division, 3 November 1965[24]
- 475th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 January 1968[30]
- 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 March 1971[26]
- 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 July 1971 – 1 October 1991[31]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945
- North American F-86 Sabre, 1954–1955
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet, 1954–1957
- North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957–1971[26][29]
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, 1971–1983
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1983–1991
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
11 January 1944 | Germany, 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 20 February 1944 | Germany, 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Presidential Unit Citation | 10 October 1966 – 10 April 1967 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[35] | |
Combat "V" Device |
15 March 1971 – 25 June 1971 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[36] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1963 – 31 December 1963 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 8 August 1964 – 15 November 1964 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[35] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1983–30 June 1985 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1989–31 March 1991 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron | |
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
29 June 1966 – 15 July 1971 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[36][g] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Air Offensive, Europe | 4 November 1943 – 5 June 1944 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Central Europe | 2 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 612th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Commando Hunt V | 15 March 1971 – 14 May 1971 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[36] | |
Commando Hunt VI | 15 May 1971 – 15 July 1971 | 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron[36] |
See also
- List of United States Air Force fighter squadrons
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon operators
- List of F-4 Phantom II operators
- List of F-100 units of the United States Air Force
- List of F-86 Sabre units
- List of B-29 Superfortress operators
- B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) on 26 June 1996. Baugher, Joe (3 March 2023). "1981 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ Approved 15 September 1955. Description: On a light sky blue disc, within a border Air Force blue, a fighting American bald eagle, dark brown, wings highlighted Air Force yellow, eyeball green, pupil black, with white highlight, beak and feet Air Force yellow, detail dark brown, talons black, highlights white, tongue red, head and tail feathers white, outlined black; the eagle carrying a large red bomb in his right talons, in base a cloud white.
- ^ The squadron had an earlier emblem portraying the squadron mascot, "Mangler." Closway, p. 36
- McDonnell F-4C Phantom IIs. Baugher, Joe (6 May 2023). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ Aircraft is North American F-100D-85-NH Super Sabre, serial 56-3408. Taken about 1960.
- ^ Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-29-MC Phantom II, serial 66-0261. This airplane was transferred to the Air National Guard in 1980 and to the AMARC on 8 January 1990. It was sold for scrap on 19 May 2000. Baugher, Joe (29 April 2023). "1966 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ In addition, Detachment 1 of the squadron was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the period 1 July 1968 – 31 December 1968, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device for the period 1 May 1966-30 September 1966 and three Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with palm. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 1, p. 438; AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 83
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 684
- ^ a b Watkins, pp. 86–87
- ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 285–286
- ^ Closway, p. 44
- ^ Closway, pp. 44-45
- ^ a b c Closway, p. 45
- ^ Closway, p. 46
- ^ Closway, p. 47
- ^ Closway, pp. 40, 47, 62 (reproducing War Department General Order 50, 17 June 1944)
- ^ Closway, pp. 40, 63 (reproducing War Department General Order 83, 2 October 1945)
- ^ Closway. p. 43
- ^ Closway, p. 55
- ^ Closway, p. 62
- ^ Closway, pp. 56-57
- ^ Closway, p. 58
- ^ Closway, p. 59
- ^ See Mueller, p. 54
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 684-685 (no aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
- ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ Cantwell, p. 73
- ^ Cantwell, p. 87
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 214-215
- ^ a b "Factsheet 39 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ See "Abstract, 39 Air Division History, July-December 1965". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Ravenstein, pp. 60-63
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 65-66
- ^ See Fletcher, p. 190 (simultaneous activation and inactivation of squadrons)
- ^ a b c d Lineage information, including assignments, stations and aircraft through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 684
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 264-265
- ^ Assignment information through 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 214-215
- ^ Station number in Anderson.
- ^ Fletcher, p. 90
- ^ Fletcher, p.190 (through 1982)
- ^ a b AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 1, p. 438
- ^ a b c d AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 83
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Closway, Gordon R., ed. (1946). Pictorial Record of the 401st Bomb Group. San Angelo, TX: Newsfoto Publishing Co. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases, Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- 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.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-1987-7.
- "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 30 September 1976. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.