131st Fighter Squadron

131st Fighter Squadron
131st Fighter Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F-15C-21-MC Eagle 78-0476
Active	1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Fighter
Part of	Massachusetts Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
Nickname(s)	Barnestormers
Tail Code	"MA" Red tail stripe
Insignia
131st Fighter Squadron emblem

The 131st Fighter Squadron (131 FS) is a unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing located at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts. The 131st is equipped with the F-15C/D Eagle.

History

World War II

Established in August 1942 at Bellows Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory. Initially part of the air defense of Hawaii, equipped with P-39 Aircobras. Also used as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU), flew reconnaissance patrols over Hawaii until late 1943.

Deployed to Central Pacific as part of Thirteenth Air Force island hopping campaign against Japanese in late 1943. Engaged in combat with until April 1944, returning to Hawaii and being re-equipped and trained with long-range P-51 Mustangs. Re-deployed to Western Pacific, being stationed on Iwo Jima while battle for the island was still ongoing and engaged in long-range B-29 Superfortress escort missions over Japan; continuing that mission until the end of hostilities in August 1945. Reassigned to Mariana Islands, as a Far East Air Force fighter squadron, inactivated 1946.

Lineage

Legacy 333d Fighter Squadron emblem

• Constituted 333d Fighter Squadron on 18 Aug 1942

Activated on 23 Aug 1942

Inactivated on 12 Jan 1946

• Re-designated 131st Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Massachusetts ANG, on 24 May 1946

Extended federal recognition on 24 Feb 1947

Re-designated: 131st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Nov 1951

Re-designated: 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron 10 Nov 1958

Re-designated: 131st Fighter Squadron, 1 June 1992-present.

Assignments

• 18th Fighter Group, 23 Aug 1942
• 318th Fighter Group, 11 Jan 1943-12 Jan 1946
• 102d Fighter Group, 24 February 1947
• 102d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 August 1952
• 102d Tactical Fighter Group, 10 November 1958
• 104th Tactical Fighter Group, 15 Oct 1962
• 104th Fighter Group, 15 Mar 1992
• 104th Operations Group, Oct 1995-present

Stations

• Bellows Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory, 23 August 1942
• Canton Army Airfield, Phoenix Islands, 11 September 1942
• Hilo Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory, 6 April 1943
• Bellows Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory, 28 July 1943
• East Field, Saipan, Mariana Islands, 6 July 1944
• Ie Shima Airfield, Ryukyu Islands, 30 April 1945

• Naha Airfield, Okinawa, November–December 1945
• Fort Lewis, Washington, 11–12 January 1946.
• Barnes Municipal Airport, Massachusetts, 14 May 1946–present

Deployed to: Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base, France, 1 October 1961 – 20 August 1962

Aircraft

• P-39 Aircobra, 1942–1944
• P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944–1945
• P-38 Lightning, 1944–1945
• P/F-47D Thunderbolt, 1947–1951
• F-51D Mustang, 1951–1954
• F-94A Starfire, 1954–1957

• F-86H Sabre, 1957–1965
• F-84F Thunderstreak, 1965–1971
• F-100D Super Sabre, 1971–1979
• A-10 Thunderbolt II, 1979–2007
• F-15C Eagle, 2007–present

References

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

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
• 104th Fighter Wing history