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25th Fighter Squadron

The 25th Fighter Squadron is part of the US Air Force's 51st Operations Group, 51st Fighter Wing, at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.

25th Fighter Squadron
A-10 Thunderbolt II 80-213 taking off from Osan AB
Active1941–1945; 1946–1960; 1965–1990; 1993–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter
Part ofPacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQOsan Air Base
Nickname(s)Assam Draggins[1]
Motto(s)"PILSUNG!" (Korean: Certain Victory)[1]
ColorsGreen[citation needed]
Mascot(s)Elvis[citation needed]
EngagementsChina-Burma-India Theater
Korean War
Vietnam War[2]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[2]
Insignia
25th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 22 May 1996)[2]
25th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 1 August 1947)[3]
25th Fighter Squadron emblem (World War II)[4][note 1]

Mission edit

History edit

The squadron was originally created as the 25th Pursuit Squadron and activated at Hamilton Field, California on 15 January 1941. By March it was assigned to the 51st Pursuit Group at March Field, California. In July the squadron received Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft.

World War II edit

The 25th sailed to combat operations in the Pacific Theater aboard the SS  President Coolidge on 11 January 1942. The squadron was part of the first deployment of U.S. forces leaving the mainland after the declaration of war. The journey to Melbourne, Australia, took 20 days. By late March the 25th Pursuit Squadron had arrived in Karachi, India, and set up wartime operations.[5]

The 25th flew its first aerial combat mission over The Hump on 25 September 1942, flying a combat escort mission. After the squadron moved to Dinjan Airfield in Assam, India, combat activity increased. Due to the terrain, the pilots would usually "drag in" on their passes. It was there that the 25th picked up the name Assam Draggins.[5]

Operations from Dinjan were concentrated against the Japanese in northern Burma along the upper Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers. In February 1943 the 25th Fighter Squadron was tasked to defend Fort Hertz near Myitkyina. Fort Hertz was a vital cog in air operations near The Hump. The 25th bombed and strafed enemy troops, concentrations, supply dumps, bridges, and enemy communication lines for twelve consecutive days, but failed to slow the Japanese advance on Fort Hertz. North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were needed to halt the Japanese drive, but none were available. Lieutenant Colonel John E. Barr, the executive officer for the 51st Fighter Group, modified a P-40 to carry 1,000 pound bombs, and by May 1943, the Japanese offensive had been halted.[5]

The 25th Fighter Squadron encountered more combat activity than any other unit within the 51st Fighter Group during the war. The squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated on 12 December 1945.[5]

Postwar edit

On 15 October 1946, the 25th was reactivated at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, where the squadron was assigned Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star aircraft. As part of the occupation force, the 25th provided defense for the Ryukyu Islands.[5]

Korean War edit

 
New F-80C Shooting Stars at Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 1950[note 2]

The 25th was placed on alert when hostilities erupted in Korea in June 1950. The unit moved to Itazuke Air Base, Japan, in September, and to Kimpo Air Base, Korea, by October. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army intervention in December 1950 forced a retreat of U.N. forces from North Korea into the South. The 25th flew more than 21 sorties each day that month to save the 2nd Infantry Division, which had been cut off by the enemy near Kunuri, from being overrun. Air cover was officially credited with preventing disastrous losses to the division.[5]

On 20 November 1951, squadron pilots received their new North American F-86 Sabre aircraft and went to face the Chinese, North Korean, and Soviet pilots in their MiG-15 aircraft. Major William T. Whisner Jr. got his fifth MiG kill on 23 February 1952, becoming an ace.[5]

Post Korean War edit

 
Squadron F-86E Sabre at Mangun AB[note 3]

After the war, the 25th was assigned to the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base, Okinawa. While there, the pilots were deployed for one week at a time to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. From 1960–1965, the 25th Fighter Squadron remained in a state of suspended animation with virtually no mission and only 20 percent manning. On 17 June 1965, the unit was re-designated the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.[5]

Vietnam War edit

 
25th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D Phantom II[note 4]

On 31 May 1968, the 25th was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and stationed at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, later moving to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, once again seeing combat in the skies of Vietnam. Flying McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft, the 25th received the Presidential Unit Citation (1971), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (1967–1973), and five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (1967–1973).[5]

Post Vietnam War – Present edit

When the Air Force began its withdrawal from Thailand, the 25th was reassigned the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where it remained until 1 February 1981. On that date, the 25th was relocated without personnel or equipment to Suwon Air Base, Republic of Korea, and assigned to the 51st Composite Wing.[5]

On 28 January 1982, the 25th received its first Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The squadron's presence helped maintain a peaceful armistice between North and South Korea until 2 October 1989. It was during that time that the 25th began transferring aircraft to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron and other stateside units. The 25th was then inactivated on 1 July 1990. On 1 October 1993, the 25th Fighter Squadron was reactivated under the 51st Wing at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Syd McPherson. The 25th has since added six A-10 aircraft to its fleet, making it a dual qualified A/OA-10 squadron.[5]

Lineage edit

  • Constituted as the 25th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 25th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 12 March 1941
Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 28 February 1944
Inactivated on 12 December 1945
  • Activated on 15 October 1946
Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 19 February 1947
Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 10 August 1948
Redesignated 25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 February 1950
Discontinued on 8 June 1960
  • Redesignated 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 18 June 1965
Organized 20 June 1965
Inactivated 31 July 1990
  • Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron and activated on 1 October 1993[2]

Assignments edit

Stations edit

Aircraft edit

References edit

Notes edit

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Watkins depicts the emblem in shades of green, rather than blue. This is likely to the use of black and white photographs as a source.
  2. ^ Lockheed F-80C-LO serial 49-801 is in the foreground.
  3. ^ Aircraft is North American F-86E-10-NA Sabre serial 51-2737 at K-12 (Mangun AB), South Korea, 1952.
  4. ^ Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-32-MC Phantom serial 66-8709 at Korat RTAFB, 1974. This aircraft was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as FP0164 on 6 October 1988.
Citations
  1. ^ a b Renner, Lt Col Stephen (11 May 2011). "HARRUMPH! – A war cry echoing throughout the 25th FS". Warthog News. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Robertson, Patsy (19 December 2008). "Factsheet 25 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 130–131)
  4. ^ Watkins, pp. 30–31)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k No byline (6 May 2007). . 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2018.

Bibliography edit

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

  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-5273-7.

25th, fighter, squadron, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, april, 2018, part, force, 51st, operations, group, 51st, fighter, wing, . This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article April 2018 The 25th Fighter Squadron is part of the US Air Force s 51st Operations Group 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base South Korea It operates the Fairchild Republic A 10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions 25th Fighter SquadronA 10 Thunderbolt II 80 213 taking off from Osan ABActive1941 1945 1946 1960 1965 1990 1993 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleFighterPart ofPacific Air ForcesGarrison HQOsan Air BaseNickname s Assam Draggins 1 Motto s PILSUNG Korean Certain Victory 1 ColorsGreen citation needed Mascot s Elvis citation needed EngagementsChina Burma India TheaterKorean WarVietnam War 2 DecorationsDistinguished Unit CitationPresidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V DeviceAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 2 Insignia25th Fighter Squadron emblem approved 22 May 1996 2 25th Fighter Squadron emblem approved 1 August 1947 3 25th Fighter Squadron emblem World War II 4 note 1 Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2 1 World War II 2 2 Postwar 2 3 Korean War 2 4 Post Korean War 2 5 Vietnam War 2 6 Post Vietnam War Present 3 Lineage 3 1 Assignments 3 2 Stations 3 3 Aircraft 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyMission editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it July 2010 History editThe squadron was originally created as the 25th Pursuit Squadron and activated at Hamilton Field California on 15 January 1941 By March it was assigned to the 51st Pursuit Group at March Field California In July the squadron received Curtiss P 40 Warhawk aircraft World War II edit The 25th sailed to combat operations in the Pacific Theater aboard the SS President Coolidge on 11 January 1942 The squadron was part of the first deployment of U S forces leaving the mainland after the declaration of war The journey to Melbourne Australia took 20 days By late March the 25th Pursuit Squadron had arrived in Karachi India and set up wartime operations 5 The 25th flew its first aerial combat mission over The Hump on 25 September 1942 flying a combat escort mission After the squadron moved to Dinjan Airfield in Assam India combat activity increased Due to the terrain the pilots would usually drag in on their passes It was there that the 25th picked up the name Assam Draggins 5 Operations from Dinjan were concentrated against the Japanese in northern Burma along the upper Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers In February 1943 the 25th Fighter Squadron was tasked to defend Fort Hertz near Myitkyina Fort Hertz was a vital cog in air operations near The Hump The 25th bombed and strafed enemy troops concentrations supply dumps bridges and enemy communication lines for twelve consecutive days but failed to slow the Japanese advance on Fort Hertz North American B 25 Mitchell medium bombers were needed to halt the Japanese drive but none were available Lieutenant Colonel John E Barr the executive officer for the 51st Fighter Group modified a P 40 to carry 1 000 pound bombs and by May 1943 the Japanese offensive had been halted 5 The 25th Fighter Squadron encountered more combat activity than any other unit within the 51st Fighter Group during the war The squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated on 12 December 1945 5 Postwar edit On 15 October 1946 the 25th was reactivated at Naha Air Base Okinawa where the squadron was assigned Republic P 47 Thunderbolt and Lockheed P 80 Shooting Star aircraft As part of the occupation force the 25th provided defense for the Ryukyu Islands 5 Korean War edit nbsp New F 80C Shooting Stars at Itazuke Air Base Japan 1950 note 2 The 25th was placed on alert when hostilities erupted in Korea in June 1950 The unit moved to Itazuke Air Base Japan in September and to Kimpo Air Base Korea by October The Chinese People s Volunteer Army intervention in December 1950 forced a retreat of U N forces from North Korea into the South The 25th flew more than 21 sorties each day that month to save the 2nd Infantry Division which had been cut off by the enemy near Kunuri from being overrun Air cover was officially credited with preventing disastrous losses to the division 5 On 20 November 1951 squadron pilots received their new North American F 86 Sabre aircraft and went to face the Chinese North Korean and Soviet pilots in their MiG 15 aircraft Major William T Whisner Jr got his fifth MiG kill on 23 February 1952 becoming an ace 5 Post Korean War edit nbsp Squadron F 86E Sabre at Mangun AB note 3 After the war the 25th was assigned to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base Okinawa While there the pilots were deployed for one week at a time to Kadena Air Base Okinawa From 1960 1965 the 25th Fighter Squadron remained in a state of suspended animation with virtually no mission and only 20 percent manning On 17 June 1965 the unit was re designated the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base Florida 5 Vietnam War edit nbsp 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron F 4D Phantom II note 4 On 31 May 1968 the 25th was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and stationed at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base later moving to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand once again seeing combat in the skies of Vietnam Flying McDonnell F 4 Phantom II aircraft the 25th received the Presidential Unit Citation 1971 the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1967 1973 and five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 1967 1973 5 Post Vietnam War Present edit When the Air Force began its withdrawal from Thailand the 25th was reassigned the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base Okinawa where it remained until 1 February 1981 On that date the 25th was relocated without personnel or equipment to Suwon Air Base Republic of Korea and assigned to the 51st Composite Wing 5 On 28 January 1982 the 25th received its first Fairchild Republic A 10 Thunderbolt II aircraft The squadron s presence helped maintain a peaceful armistice between North and South Korea until 2 October 1989 It was during that time that the 25th began transferring aircraft to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron and other stateside units The 25th was then inactivated on 1 July 1990 On 1 October 1993 the 25th Fighter Squadron was reactivated under the 51st Wing at Osan Air Base Republic of Korea under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Syd McPherson The 25th has since added six A 10 aircraft to its fleet making it a dual qualified A OA 10 squadron 5 Lineage editConstituted as the 25th Pursuit Squadron Interceptor on 20 November 1940Activated on 15 January 1941 Redesignated 25th Pursuit Squadron Fighter on 12 March 1941 Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron Twin Engine on 15 May 1942 Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron on 1 June 1942 Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron Single Engine on 28 February 1944 Inactivated on 12 December 1945Activated on 15 October 1946Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron Jet Propelled on 19 February 1947 Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron Jet on 10 August 1948 Redesignated 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 1 February 1950 Discontinued on 8 June 1960Redesignated 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 18 June 1965Organized 20 June 1965 Inactivated 31 July 1990Redesignated 25th Fighter Squadron and activated on 1 October 1993 2 Assignments edit 51st Pursuit Group later 51st Fighter Group 15 January 1941 12 December 1945 51st Fighter Group later 51st Fighter Interceptor Group 15 October 1946 attached to 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing after 1 July 1957 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing 25 October 1957 8 June 1960 Tactical Air Command 18 June 1965 not organized 33d Tactical Fighter Wing 20 June 1965 8th Tactical Fighter Wing 28 May 1968 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing later 432d Tactical Fighter Wing 5 July 1974 3d Tactical Fighter Wing 18 December 1975 18th Tactical Fighter Wing 19 December 1975 18th Tactical Fighter Group 1 May 1978 51st Composite Wing later 51st Tactical Fighter Wing 1 February 1981 31 July 1990 51st Operations Group 1 October 1993 present 2 Stations edit Hamilton Field California 15 January 1941 March Field California 11 June 1941 10 June 1942 Karachi India 12 March 1942 Dinjan Airfield India 22 November 1942Detachment operated from Sadiya India 6 November 1942 2 April 1943 Detachment operated from Jorhat India 2 April 14 September 1943Yunnani China 14 September 1943Detachment operated from Poashan China 30 November 1944 January 1945 Detachment operated from Leangshan China 10 January February 1945 Detachment operated from Poseh China 4 February 28 May 1945Loping China September November 1945 Fort Lewis Washington 11 12 December 1945 Yontan Airfield Okinawa 15 October 1946 Naha Airfield Okinawa 22 May 1947 Itazuke Air Base Japan 22 September 1950 Kimpo Air Base South Korea 23 October 1950 Itazuke Air Base Japan 4 January 1951 Tsuiki Air Base Japan 22 January 1951 Suwon Air Base South Korea 20 July 1951 Naha Air Base Okinawa 1 August 1954 8 June 1960 Eglin Air Force Base Florida 20 June 1965 25 May 1968 Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 28 May 1968 Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 5 July 1974 Clark Air Base Philippines 18 December 1975 Kadena Air Base Japan 19 December 1975 Suwon Air Base South Korea 1 February 1981 Osan Air Base South Korea c 10 November 1989 31 July 1990 Osan Air Base South Korea 1 October 1993 present 2 Aircraft edit Curtiss P 40 Warhawk 1941 1945 Lockheed P 38 Lightning 1944 North American P 51 Mustang 1944 1945 Republic P 47 Thunderbolt 1946 1947 Lockheed F 80 Shooting Star 1947 1951 North American F 86D Sabre 1951 1960 McDonnell F 4 Phantom II 1965 1980 Fairchild Republic A 10 Thunderbolt II 1982 1989 1993 present 2 References editNotes edit Explanatory notes Watkins depicts the emblem in shades of green rather than blue This is likely to the use of black and white photographs as a source Lockheed F 80C LO serial 49 801 is in the foreground Aircraft is North American F 86E 10 NA Sabre serial 51 2737 at K 12 Mangun AB South Korea 1952 Aircraft is McDonnell F 4D 32 MC Phantom serial 66 8709 at Korat RTAFB 1974 This aircraft was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as FP0164 on 6 October 1988 Citations a b Renner Lt Col Stephen 11 May 2011 HARRUMPH A war cry echoing throughout the 25th FS Warthog News Retrieved 5 April 2018 a b c d e f g Robertson Patsy 19 December 2008 Factsheet 25 Fighter Squadron PACAF Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 5 April 2018 Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 130 131 Watkins pp 30 31 a b c d e f g h i j k No byline 6 May 2007 Library Fact Sheet 25th Fighter Squadron 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs Archived from the original on 27 September 2015 Retrieved 6 April 2018 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Watkins Robert A 2017 Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U S Army Air Force In World War II Vol VI China Burma India amp The Western Pacific Atglen PA Shiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 5273 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 25th Fighter Squadron amp oldid 1067896204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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