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354th Fighter Squadron

US Air Force unit


US Air Force unit

FieldValue
unit_name354th Fighter Squadron
native_name[[File:ACC Shield.svg60px]]
image354th Fighter Squadron Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 78-0670.jpg
image_size300
captionAn A-10 Thunderbolt from the 354th Fighter Squadron
dates1942–1946; 1952–1958; 1962–1982; 1991–2024
country
branch
roleClose Air Support, Air Interdiction Forward Air Control Airborne, and Combat Search and rescue
nicknameBulldogs
battlesEuropean Theater of Operations
Vietnam War
decorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
identification_symbol[[File:354th Fighter Squadron.jpg165px]]
identification_symbol_label354th Fighter Squadron emblem
identification_symbol_2[[File:354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Emblem.png170px]]
identification_symbol_2_labelOriginal 354th Fighter Squadron emblem
identification_symbol_3**WR**
identification_symbol_3_labelWorld War II fuselage code
identification_symbol_4**DM**
identification_symbol_4_labelTail code post 1970

Vietnam War Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 354th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force. It was last stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it was part of the 355th Fighter Wing, Arizona. It operated A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.

The squadron conducted close air support, air Interdiction, forward air control – airborne, and combat search and rescue for theater commanders worldwide.

History

World War II

The 354th flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 September 1943 to 25 April 1945.

Vietnam War

The squadron flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 13 March to 12 June 1965, 28 November 1965 – 7 October 1970, and c. 14 January–3 July 1973.

Training

It conducted combat crew training from, 1971–1982 and forward air control training since 1991. The A-10s were the first of several theater security package deployments to Europe, U.S. Air Force officials said, adding that rotations generally will last six months, depending on mission and United States European Command requirements.

In mid-October 2023, the A-10 aircraft of the 354th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the US Central Command to enhance air operations throughout the Middle East in response to the Gaza war. The squadron finished its last operational deployment in April 2024 and flew its last operational mission in June. Its A-10s were transferred to the 190th Fighter Squadron of the Idaho Air National Guard or moved across Davis-Monthan to the "boneyard". and inactivated in September.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 12 November 1942 : Redesignated 354th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 August 1944 : Inactivated on 20 November 1946
  • Redesignated 354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952 : Activated on 1 November 1952 : Inactivated on 8 January 1958
  • Redesignated 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 13 April 1962 (not organized) : Organized on 25 April 1962 : Redesignated 354th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 April 1979 : Inactivated on 30 April 1982
  • Redesignated 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 1 November 1991. : Inactivated c. 20 September 2024

Assignments

  • 355th Fighter Group: 12 November 1942 – 20 November 1946
  • 27th Air Division: 1 November 1952
  • 533d Air Defense Group: 16 February 1953
  • 355th Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958
  • Tactical Air Command: 13 April 1962 (not organized)
  • 831st Air Division: 25 April 1962
  • 355th Tactical Fighter Wing: 8 July 1962
  • Thirteenth Air Force: 10 December 1970
  • 4453d Combat Crew Training Wing: 1 April 1971
  • 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 355th Tactical Training Wing): 1 July 1971 – 30 April 1982
  • 602d Air Control Wing: 1 November 1991
  • 355th Operations Group: 1 May 1992 – c. 20 September 2024

Stations

  • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 12 November 1942
  • Zephyrhills Army Air Field, Florida, 30 January 1943
  • Norfolk Municipal Airport, Virginia, 18 February 1943
  • Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 4 March 1943
  • Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey, 5 May - 16 June 1943
  • RAF Steeple Morden, England, 6 July 1943
  • Gablingen, Germany, 17 July 1945
  • Schweinfurt, Germany, 15 April 1946
  • Mitchel Field, New York, 1 August – 20 November 1946
  • Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, 1 November 1952
  • Oxnard Air Force Base, California, 16 December 1952 (operated From: Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, 8 May – 10 June 1955
  • McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee, 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958
  • George Air Force Base, California, 25 April 1962 (operated from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska 24 January – 14 February 1964, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey 5 May – 18 September 1964)
  • McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 15 October 1964 – 27 November 1965 (deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, then Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (6 March – 18 June 1965)
  • Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 28 November 1965
  • Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 15 April 1970 – 30 April 1982 (deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 14 January – 4 July 1973)
  • Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 November 1991
  • McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 5 January 1993
  • Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 October 1994 – c. 20 September 2024

Aircraft

  • Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1944)
  • North American P-51 Mustang (1944–1946, 1952–1953)
  • Lockheed F-94C Starfire (1953–1955)
  • North American F-86D Sabre (1955–1957)
  • Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1962–1970)
  • LTV A-7D Corsair II (1971–1979)
  • Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (1979–1982, 1991–2024)

Awards and campaigns

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Air Offensive, Europe6 July 1943 – 5 June 1944354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Air Combat, EAME Theater6 July 1943 – 11 May 1945354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Defensive6 March 1965 – 30 January 1966354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air31 January 1966 – 28 June 1966354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air Offensive29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 1970354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 15 April 1970354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Southwest Monsoon354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer VS.PNG200px]]Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign14 January 1973 – 28 January 1973354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer SAS.PNG200px]]Southwest Asia Cease-Fire12 April 1991 – 30 November 1995354th Fighter Squadron
[[File:Streamer NOS E.JPG200px]]World War II Army of Occupation (Germany)9 May 1945 – 1 August 1946354th Fighter Squadron

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

: Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. (2 December 2011). "Factsheet 354 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  2. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', 439–440
  3. Freeman, images between p. 282 and p. 283
  4. (22 May 2012). "Factsheet 355th Operations Group". 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.
  5. (18 February 2015). "Theater security package begins rotation in Europe". 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs.
  6. (11 February 2015). "Aircraft Deploy to Europe to Boost Interoperability With Allies". DoD News.
  7. Staff writer, no byline. (2023-10-14). "F-15E Strike Eagles bolster U.S. defense posture in the Middle East". Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Public Affairs.
  8. Staff writer, no byline. (7 July 2024). "Last operational Thunderbolt mission for Bulldogs". Dutch Aviation Society.
  9. Staff writer, no byline. (16 September 2024). "Two historic A-10 squadrons inactivate at DM". 355th Wing Public Affairs.
  10. Lineage through August 2011 in Robertson, Factsheet.
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