63rd Fighter Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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===World War II=== |
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The 63d was activated on 15 January 1941, at [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] as the 63d Pursuit Squadron. It was originally assigned to the [[56th Pursuit Group]], which, like many pursuit squadrons organized in the early 1940s, initially flew [[Curtiss-Wright|Curtis]] [[Seversky P-35|P-35]] and [[P-36 Hawk]]s. A year later the 63d came under control of the 1st Interceptor Command and switched to the Curtiss [[P-40 Warhawk]]s. A few months later it was re-designated a fighter unit and began flying the new [[Republic Aviation|Republic]] [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]. In 1943, the 63d moved to [[Camp Kilmer]], [[New Jersey]], then to [[England]] where it became one of the most successful squadrons in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] during [[World War II]]. Flying escort for fighter sweeps ahead of U.S. [[bomber]] fleets, the pilots destroyed 167.5 enemy aircraft in the air and 110 on the ground. After [[Germany]]'s surrender, the 63d returned to Camp Kilmer until inactivation on 18 October 1945.<ref name="56 OG Fact Sheet">[http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56 OG Fact Sheet]</ref> |
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: ''see [[56th Operations Group]] for an expansive history of the squadron's World War II history'' |
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The 63d Fighter Squadron was constituted as the 62d Pursuit Squadron as part of the [[56th Pursuit Group]] at [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], on 15 January 1941. The squadron immediately began training for its wartime missions under [[III Fighter Command]], rapidly transitioning through the [[Seversky P-35|P-35]], [[P-36 Hawk|P-36]], [[P-39 Airacobra|P-39]], and [[P-40 Warhawk|P-40]] aircraft. On 7 December 1941, the 62d stepped up to defend the [[Northeastern United States]] from anticipated enemy air attack while it converted to the [[P-47 Thunderbolt|P-47]] aircraft and prepared to deploy overseas, operating under the [[I Fighter Command]], [[New York Fighter Wing]] in the early months of 1942. |
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It was re-designated 62d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942, and deployed to [[RAF Kings Cliffe]] (AAF-367), England on 9 January 1943. It was declared operationally ready two months later and flew its first combat missions 13 April. The squadron was given fuselage code "LM" and operated from several RAF stations during the war, flying the P-47C Thunderbolt as an [[VIII Fighter Command]] bomber-escort unit initially for [[B-17 Flying Fortress]]es and beginning in 1944 for [[B-24 Liberator]]s attacking enemy targets in [[Occupied Europe]]. Flying escort for fighter sweeps ahead of U.S. [[bomber]] fleets, the pilots destroyed 167.5 enemy aircraft in the air and 110 on the ground. After the end of the war in Europe, the squadron demobilized in England, and was inactivated as an administrative unit on 18 October 1945.<ref name="56 OG Fact Sheet">[http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5003 56 OG Fact Sheet]</ref> |
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===Cold War=== |
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A year later, it reopened with the 56th Fighter Group at [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]], and briefly transitioned to the [[North American Aviation|North American]] [[P-51 Mustang]]. In 1947, the 63d became one of the first fighter squadrons equipped with the new Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. Three years later, North American F-86A Sabres arrived, and then in 1954, [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]] [[F-89 Scorpion]]s became the 63d's newest fighters.<ref name="56 OG Fact Sheet"/> |
A year later, it reopened with the 56th Fighter Group at [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]], and briefly transitioned to the [[North American Aviation|North American]] [[P-51 Mustang]]. In 1947, the 63d became one of the first fighter squadrons equipped with the new Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. Three years later, North American F-86A Sabres arrived, and then in 1954, [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]] [[F-89 Scorpion]]s became the 63d's newest fighters.<ref name="56 OG Fact Sheet"/> |
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Revision as of 22:23, 22 May 2011
| 63d Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 63d Fighter Squadron Patch | |
| Active | 15 January 1941 - 18 October 1945 1 May 1946 - 8 January 1958 30 June 1975 - 1 June 2009 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command 19th Air Force 56th Fighter Wing 56th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Luke Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Panthers |
| Engagements | Battle of Normandy Battle of the Bulge |
| Decorations |  DUC  AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) John S. Loisel |
The 63d Fighter Squadron (63 FS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the 56th Operations Group, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operated the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, conducting advanced fighter training until its deactivation on 22 May 2009.
History
World War II
- see 56th Operations Group for an expansive history of the squadron's World War II history
The 63d Fighter Squadron was constituted as the 62d Pursuit Squadron as part of the 56th Pursuit Group at Savannah, Georgia, on 15 January 1941. The squadron immediately began training for its wartime missions under III Fighter Command, rapidly transitioning through the P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft. On 7 December 1941, the 62d stepped up to defend the Northeastern United States from anticipated enemy air attack while it converted to the P-47 aircraft and prepared to deploy overseas, operating under the I Fighter Command, New York Fighter Wing in the early months of 1942.
It was re-designated 62d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942, and deployed to RAF Kings Cliffe (AAF-367), England on 9 January 1943. It was declared operationally ready two months later and flew its first combat missions 13 April. The squadron was given fuselage code "LM" and operated from several RAF stations during the war, flying the P-47C Thunderbolt as an VIII Fighter Command bomber-escort unit initially for B-17 Flying Fortresses and beginning in 1944 for B-24 Liberators attacking enemy targets in Occupied Europe. Flying escort for fighter sweeps ahead of U.S. bomber fleets, the pilots destroyed 167.5 enemy aircraft in the air and 110 on the ground. After the end of the war in Europe, the squadron demobilized in England, and was inactivated as an administrative unit on 18 October 1945.[1]
Cold War
A year later, it reopened with the 56th Fighter Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, and briefly transitioned to the North American P-51 Mustang. In 1947, the 63d became one of the first fighter squadrons equipped with the new Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. Three years later, North American F-86A Sabres arrived, and then in 1954, Northrop F-89 Scorpions became the 63d's newest fighters.[1]
The squadron was again inactivated on 1 November 1957, and reactivated 30 June 1975, as the 63d Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Its mission was to train pilots and weapons systems officers for the F-4 Phantom II. The name changed slightly, but the mission stayed the same when the F-16 Fighting Falcon arrived and the 63d became a tactical fighter training squadron in 1981. On 12 March 1993, the 63d Fighter Squadron transferred to Luke Air Force Base, where it flew the Block 42, F-16CG for just over 16 years until it's deactivation on 22 May 2009. The aircraft, maintainers, and pilots of the 63d FS were transferred to the 309th FS, and remain flying and training there to this day.[1]
Lineage
- Constituted as 63d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940
- Activated on 15 Jan 1941
- Re-designated as: 63d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 Jan 1942
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron on 1 Jun 1942
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944
- Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945
- Activated on 1 May 1946
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled, on 24 Apr 1947
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 14 Jun 1948
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jan 1950
- Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958
- Re-designated as 63d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 12 May 1975
- Activated on 30 Jun 1975
- Re-designated as: 63d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 Oct 1981
- Re-designated as: 63d Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991.
- Inactivated on 22 May 2009
Assignments
- 56th Pursuit (later, 56th Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941-18 Oct 1945
- 56th Fighter (later, 56th Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 1 May 1946
- 4708th Defense Wing, 6 Feb 1952
- 4706th Defense Wing, 1 Jul 1952
- 527th Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953
- 56th Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958
- 56th Tactical Fighter (later, 56th Tactical Training; 56th Fighter) Wing, 30 Jun 1975
- 56th Operations Group, 1 Nov 1991
- 58th Operations Group, 25 Feb 1993
- 56th Operations Group, 1 Apr 1994-22 May 2009
Stations
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Aircraft
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Operations
References
Notes
- ^ a b c 56 OG Fact Sheet
- ^ a b c d e AFHRA 63 FS Page
Bibliography
See also
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