History 353d Combat Training Squadron

1 history

1.1 world war ii
1.2 cold war
1.3 united states air forces in europe
1.4 vietnam war
1.5 post vietnam era
1.6 modern era
1.7 lineage
1.8 assignments
1.9 stations
1.10 aircraft
1.11 campaign streamers
1.12 decorations

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.

united states air forces in europe

in 1966 353d tactical fighter squadron reassigned 401st tactical fighter wing, torrejon ab, spain when strategic air command ended b-47 stratojet deployments base , reassigned united states air forces in europe.

the host 401st tfw reassigned torrejon england afb, louisiana, operational fighter squadrons being deployed pacific air forces in south vietnam combat missions during vietnam war. 353d, along 307th tfs homestead , 613th england provide 401st full complement of aircraft.

at torrejon, squadron continued fly f-100d “super sabre.” major operations consisted of maintaining combat readiness; rotating units other bases in europe or middle east , participating in various united states air force, north atlantic treatyorganization , spanish air defense exercises. in 1970 squadron had aging f-100 fleet replaced, being re-equipped f-4d phantom ii aircraft, personnel being drawn existing usafe squadrons or new assignments united states. 353d s f-4 s tail-coded tk, , torrejon, squadron made periodic partial deployments wheelus ab, libya , incirlik ab, turkey, weapons training. beginning in june 1970, 401st tfw re-equipped f-4e s.

vietnam war

in 1971, 612th , 613th tactical fighter squadrons reassigned 401st tfw deployment in south vietnam part of drawdown of usaf forces in southeast asia. result, on 15 july, 353 tfs inactivated , reassigned without equipment or personnel 354 tfw @ myrtle beach afb.

at myrtle beach, squadron assumed personnel , a-7d corsair iis of inactivating 511th tactical fighter squadron, , begin training flights myrtle beach new equipment. on 12 october 1972, 353rd (commanded lt. col brown g. howard iii) deployed korat royal thai air force base, thailand part of 354th tactical fighter wing (forward), , engaged in combat operations in vietnam war. squadron used a-7 aircraft close air support , in search , rescue operations. in january 1973, vietnam war ceasefire in place, squadron reassigned deployed aircraft newly activated 3d tactical fighter squadron, 388th tactical fighter wing @ korat, , personnel returned myrtle beach afb without equipment.

the squadron received new a-7d corsair iis upon return myrtle beach afb, , unit resumed training. again deployed korat 31 march 1973, flew bombing missions until bombing halt on 15 august 1973. 353rd claims distinction of dropping last bomb , making last strafing run of war.

post vietnam era

on 18 october 1973 squadron returned myrtle beach afb , resumed normal training activities. in 1978 squadron obtained a-10 aircraft , flew training missions a-10s on decade, being deployed nato bases in germany annual training exercises.

the 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 on 15 december 1992.

modern era

in august 1993, unit activated @ eielson afb, alaska. became responsible coordination of red flag-alaska exercises , controlled local training ranges.

lineage

constituted 353d fighter squadron 12 november 1942.


activated 15 november 1942.
inactivated 31 march 1946.


redesignated 353d fighter-day squadron 28 september 1956.


activated 19 november 1956.
redesignated 353d tactical fighter squadron 1 july 1958.
redesignated 353d fighter squadron 1 november 1991
inactivated 15 december 1992


activated 20 august 1993


redesignated 353d combat training squadron 1 august 1994

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
401st tactical fighter wing, 27 april 1966
354th tactical fighter (later, fighter) wing, 15 july 1971 – 15 december 1992
354th operations group, 20 august 1993
611th air operations group, 4 september 2003
354th operations group, 1 october 2006 – present

stations

aircraft

campaign streamers

world war ii: air offensive, europe; normandy; northern france; rhineland; ardennes-alsace; central europe; air combat.
vietnam war: vietnam ceasefire
southwest asia: defense of saudi arabia; liberation , defense of kuwait

decorations

distinguished unit citation: european theater of operations, december 1943 – 15 may 1944; france, 25 august 1944.
presidential unit citation: southeast asia, 12 october 1972 – 21 january 1973.
french croix de guerre palm: 1 december 1943 – 31 december 1944
republic of vietnam gallantry cross palm: 12 october 1972 – 28 january 1973
air force outstanding unit awards: 1 october 1962 – 1 december 1963; 15 july 1971 – 31 may 1972; 1 may 1974 – 30 april 1976; 1 july 1978 – 31 may 1979; 1 june 1979 – 22 may 1981; 1 july 1985 – 30 june 1987; 1 may 1990 – 15 march 1992; 20 august 1993 – 31 august 1993; 11 september 2000 – 10 september 2002.