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===Tactical Air Command===
===Tactical Air Command===
On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. There the squadron began flying the A-7D "Corsair II" aircraft. The unit has remained at England Air Force Base since then, flying the A-7D until 1981 when conversion to the A-10 "Thunderbolt II" was completed.
On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. There the squadron began flying the A-7D "Corsair II" aircraft. Took part in a variety of operational exercises both in the United States and overseas, including tactical bombing competitions against the Royal Air Force at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, during October 1977 and July 1978.

Flew the A-7D until 1981 when conversion to the A-10 "Thunderbolt II" was completed. Became an A-10 training unit and remained at England AFB supporting the deployments of the 74th and 76th TFS. On 2 December 1991, the 75th Fighter Squadron was inactivated as part of the conversion to the Objective Wing and drawdown of the Air Force after the end of the Cold War.


===Modern era===
===Modern era===

Revision as of 13:59, 6 November 2011

75th Fighter Squadron
75th Fighter Squadron Patch
Active4 July 1942 - 5 January 1946
10 October 1946 - 24 September 1949
12 January 1951 - 30 June 1968
30 September 1968 - 30 November 1969
1 July 1972 - 2 December 1991
1 April 1992 - present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeAttack
Part ofAir Combat Command
9th Air Force
23d Wing
23d Fighter Group
Garrison/HQMoody Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Tiger Sharks
Decorations DUC
AFOUA
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol David "Steamer" Trucksa
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D-11-CV Corsair II Serial No: 71-0338 of the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, taken in May 1973.
75th FIS (Air Defense Command)
75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86A-5-NA Sabre 49-1280 flying with a Navy Grumman F9F-6 Cougar over Long Island, 1952. The F9F-6 Cougar was the first F9F variant with swept wings

The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23d Fighter Group.

On 17 December 1941, the AVG 2d Fighter Squadron was redesignated as the 23d Pursuit Group 75th Pursuit Squadron and subsequently the 75th Fighter Squadron

History

World War II

The 75th Fighter Squadron's first assignment as an active unit was in the China-Burma-India theatre. Some members of the famous American Volunteer Group known as the "Flying Tigers" joined the 75th Fighter Squadron after the AVG was disbanded.[1][2] This group of men, under the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault, engaged in aerial combat against the Japanese very soon after December 7 1941.[3]

On the same day as its activation, the 75th scored its first major victory during a night interception flight against Japanese bombers. This was the first night interception ever attempted over the China theatre and gave the Japanese quite a shock. The intercepting pilots were credited with the destruction of two enemy bombers and two probables.

During the early days of its history, the 75th's mission was to attack and destroy the enemy by strafing airfields, troops, and supply depots, while maintaining air superiority so that the Japanese could not locate and bomb targets in China. Operating from numerous airfields within China, the 75th Fighter Squadron compiled an impressive record during World War II and received the Presidential Unit Citation. After World War II, the squadron returned to the United States and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. There the squadron was inactivated on 5 January 1946.

Air Defense Command

Following a period of activations and inactivations, during which the squadron was assigned to such bases as Northwest Field, Guam, and Howard Air Force Base, Canal Zone, the squadron returned to active duty on 12 January 1951 as the 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron stationed at Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine. During this period, the 75th served under the Air Defense Command and flew the F-86 with a mission to maintain a high degree of operational proficiency so that it might repel any possible enemy air attack. The squadron left Presque Isle on 16 October 1952 and was reassigned to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, where the squadron remained for three years before returning to Presque Isle.

The squadron continued to fly the F-86 until 1955 when it converted to the F-89. It continued operations out of Presque Isle until later moving to Dow Air Force Base, Maine.

In 1959 the squadron converted to the F-101, remaining at Dow Air Force Base until 1968 when it was transferred to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. The squadron inactivated there on 30 November 1969.

Tactical Air Command

On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. There the squadron began flying the A-7D "Corsair II" aircraft. Took part in a variety of operational exercises both in the United States and overseas, including tactical bombing competitions against the Royal Air Force at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, during October 1977 and July 1978.

Flew the A-7D until 1981 when conversion to the A-10 "Thunderbolt II" was completed. Became an A-10 training unit and remained at England AFB supporting the deployments of the 74th and 76th TFS. On 2 December 1991, the 75th Fighter Squadron was inactivated as part of the conversion to the Objective Wing and drawdown of the Air Force after the end of the Cold War.

Modern era

On 18 November 1991, the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron deactivated at England Air Force Base. On 3 April 1992, the squadron was again activated, this time under the "Flying Tiger" flag as the 75th Fighter Squadron located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. In April 1992, A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were transferred to the 75th Fighter Squadron from the 353d FS / 354th FW at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina prior to the wing's deactivation and the bases closure in January 1993. In June 1993.

The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. Within 72 hours, the 75th Fighter Squadron redeployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, becoming the first U.S. fixed-wing aircraft to be stationed in that country since the end of the Gulf War.

The squadron moved to Moody AFB, GA in 2008 due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel recommendations. On 19 December 2007, the last three of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft left for Moody AFB.

Lineage

  • 75th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (1941–1942)
  • 75th Fighter Squadron (1942–1944)
  • 75th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1944–1949)
  • 75th Fighter Squadron, Jet (1949–1950)
  • 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1950–1972)
  • 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1972–1991)
  • 75th Fighter Squadron (1991–present)

Assignments

Attached: 46th Fighter Wing (December 1947 - 16 August 1948)

Stations

Aircraft

References

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

  1. ^ Rossi, J.R. "Rodewald biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force.
  2. ^ Rossi, J.R. "Hill biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force.
  3. ^ Rossi, J.R. (1998). "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force". AVG.
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