History 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron

1 history

1.1 world war ii
1.2 cold war
1.3 korean duty
1.4 post-vietnam era
1.5 lineage
1.6 assignments
1.7 stations

history
world war ii

activated on 15 november 1942 @ hamilton field, california, equipped p-39 airacobras , assigned iv fighter command training. moved several bases in california , nevada portland army air base, oregon, in june 1943 , re-equipped new p-51b mustangs. transitioned mustang throughout summer of 1943 deployed european theater of operations (eto), being assigned ix fighter command in england.

in late 1943, strategic bombardment campaign on occupied europe , nazi germany being conducted viii bomber command taking heavy losses in aircraft , flight crews viii fighter command s p-38 lightnings , p-47 thunderbolts lacked range escort heavy b-17 flying fortress , b-24 liberator bombers deep germany attack industrial , military targets. p-51 had range perform escort duties , unit s operational control transferred headquarters, eighth air force perform escort missions. base @ raf boxted, unit flew long-range strategic escort missions viii bomber command groups, escorting heavy bombers targets such frankfurt, leipzig, augsburg, , schweinfurt, engaging luftwaffe day interceptors frequently, p-51s outperforming german me-109 , fw 190 interceptors, causing heavy losses luftwaffe. remained under operational control of eighth air force until april 1944, when sufficient numbers of p-51d mustangs , arrived united states , assigned viii fighter command units escort duty.

was relieved escort duty , re-equipped p-47d thunderbolts, , reassigned raf lashenden on southern coast of england. mission redefined provide tactical air support forthcoming invasion of france, support third, , later ninth united states armies. flew fighter sweeps on normandy , along english channel coast of france , low countries, april–june 1944, engaged in heavy tactical bombing of enemy military targets roads, railroads , bridges in normandy area support ground forces in immediate aftermath of d-day.

moved advanced landing grounds in france beginning @ end of june, 1944, moving eastwards combat airfields , liberated french airports supporting allied ground forces advanced across northern france. later, in 1944, squadron became involved in dive-bombing , strafing missions, striking railroad yards, bridges, troop concentrations, , airfields. participated in attacks on german forces in belgium in aftermath of battle of bulge, moved eastward part of western allied invasion of germany. squadron flew last mission of war on 7 may 1945 captured luftwaffe airfield @ ansbach (r-45).

remained in occupied germany part of united states air forces in europe xii tactical air command occupying force after german capitulation, being stationed @ aaf station herzogenaurach. inactivated on 31 march 1946.

cold war

reactivated tactical air command, united states air force on 19 november 1956, being assigned reactivated 354th fighter-day group @ new myrtle beach air force base, south carolina. equipped north american f-100 super sabre fighters, squadron participated in exercises, operations, tests, , firepower demonstrations conducted tactical air command within , abroad. unit deployed aviano air base, italy , wheelus air base, libya. deployed europe during 1958 lebanon crisis , moved mccoy afb, florida in 1962 during cuban missile crisis.

korean duty

during vietnam war, unit deployed misawa air base, japan on 16 march 1965. @ misawa, assigned 39th air division, mission support misawa, taegu air base , kunsan air base in south korea had been reactivated.

from misawa, aircraft , personnel of 356th rotated 6 f-100d aircraft every ten days kunsan , taegu performing nuclear alert duty. 356th on tdy status misawa ab until 13 august 1965 when permanently reassigned 39th ad.

in august 1967, f-100 s sent vietnam replacement aircraft , 356 tfs converted f-4 phantom ii.

on 15 january 1968, 475th tactical fighter wing activated @ misawa , took on host unit 39th air division.

on 23 january 1968, response capture north koreans of uss pueblo, 356 tfs dispatched kunsan. week, 356 tfs deterrent @ kunsan until 4th tactical fighter wing deployed seymour johnson air force base, nc , took on alert duties.

when 354 tfw became permanent host unit @ kunsan ab in july 1968, 356th not assigned 354th tfw host unit @ myrtle beach afb. @ kunsan, 356 tfs part of detachment 1, 475th tactical fighter wing, separate operating unit. on 15 march 1971, 3d tactical fighter wing replaced 475 tfw @ misawa , absorbed assets. 356 tfs inactivated , squadron reassigned 354 tfw @ myrtle beach afb.

post-vietnam era

returning myrtle beach afb in 1971, unit re-equipped a-7d corsair ii fighter-bombers. 1971-1977 squadron remained @ myrtle beach afb , became lift training squadron, not being on operational deployment status, supporting 353d , 355th tactical fighter squadrons deployed thailand combat operations, 1972–1974, , nato bases in germany (1975–1976). interchanged personnel provisional 4554th tactical fighter training squadron assigned 354th @ myrtle beach.

the 356th tactical fighter squadron re-equipped republic a-10 thunderbolt ii in 1977, , on 1 july 1977 first squadron in usaf declared operationally ready a-10. unit deployed king fahd international airport, saudi arabia 15 august 1990. during desert storm, squadron engaged in combat operations, january–february 1991, inflicting heavy damage enemy armor , artillery emplacements, cut off enemy supply lines, , engaged in search , rescue operations.

returned united states in march 1991, , returned peacetime training operations. began phasing down designated brac 1990 closure of myrtle beach afb , pending inactivation of host wing. squadron s aircraft dispersed, being reassigned air national guard , other active air force fighter squadrons throughout balance of 1991 , 1992. squadron inactivated 10 june 1992.

lineage

constituted 356th fighter squadron 12 november 1942.


activated 15 november 1942.
inactivated 31 march 1946.


redesignated 356th fighter-day squadron 28 september 1956.


activated 19 november 1956.
redesignated 356th tactical fighter squadron 1 july 1958.
redesignated 356th fighter squadron 1 november 1991
inactivated 10 june 1992

assignments

354th fighter group, 12 november 1942 – 31 march 1946
354th fighter-day group, 19 november 1956
354th fighter-day (later, tactical fighter) wing, 25 september 1957
39th air division, 29 november 1965
475th tactical fighter wing, 15 january 1968


attached to: detachment 1 or detachment 2, 475th tactical fighter wing, 15 january 1968 – 15 march 1971

attachments 10-day periods, rotating every 30 days




3d tactical fighter wing, 15 march 1971
354th tactical fighter (later, fighter) wing, 15 may 1971 – 10 june 1992

stations