In 1974, its mission changed to training for a combat search and rescue role, while continuing to perform traditional humanitarian/non-combat search and rescue. The squadron's mission changed again in 1987 to a fighter role, training for counterair, interdiction, and close air support missions.
The unit that had been the 302d was reflagged as the 71st Special Operations Squadron and physically relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Concurrently, a new AFRES fighter squadron was established at Luke AFB, AZ and took over the 302d lineage as the 302d Tactical Fighter Squadron. With the transition of AFRES to Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), the squadron deployed several times since late 1992 to Turkey to help enforce the no-fly zone over Iraq and to Italy to support UN air operations in the Balkans.[1]
In 2007, the squadron relocated from Luke AFB to Elmendorf AFB, AK and transitioned from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-22 Raptor, which it operates as an Associate AFRC unit the active duty Air Force's 3rd Wing.
Lineageedit
302d Fighter Squadron (World War II)
Constituted as the 302d Fighter Squadron on 4 July 1942
Activated on 13 October 1942
Redesignated 302d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 August 1944
Inactivated on 6 Mar 1945
Consolidated with the 302d Special Operations Squadron as the 302d Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
302d Fighter Squadron
Constituted as the 302d Air Rescue Squadron on 1 August 1956
Activated in the reserve on 8 October 1956
Redesignated 302d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 18 January 1966
Redesignated 302d Special Operations Squadron on 10 April 1974
Consolidated with the 302d Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1985
Redesignated 302 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1987
Redesignated 302d Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992[1]
^Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16D Block 32 serial 87-381. This F-16 was assigned to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds between 1992 and 1999.
Citationsedit
^ abcdefghijRobertson, Patsy (17 March 2015). . Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. 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. ISBN0-405-12194-6. 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. ISBN0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
April 11, 2024
302nd, fighter, squadron, united, states, japanese, unit, 302nd, tactical, fighter, squadron, jasdf, 302d, fighter, squadron, part, force, reserve, command, 477th, fighter, group, elmendorf, force, base, alaska, operates, lockheed, martin, raptor, conducting, . For the Japanese unit see 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron JASDF The 302d Fighter Squadron is part of the Air Force Reserve Command s 477th Fighter Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska It operates the Lockheed Martin F 22 Raptor conducting an air superiority mission 302d Fighter SquadronThe 302d Flighter Squadron flagship F 22 Raptor 05 4102 at Joint Base Elmendorf RichardsonActive1942 1945 1956 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleFighterPart ofAir Force Reserve CommandGarrison HQElmendorf Air Force BaseMotto s So That Others May Live 1956 1974 Anywhere Anytime 1974 1987 EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations 1 DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 Insignia302d Fighter Squadron emblem approved 25 May 2007 1 302d Air Rescue Squadron emblem302d Fighter Squadron emblem approved 2 November 1944 1 Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2 1 World War II 2 2 Air force reserve 3 Lineage 3 1 Assignments 3 2 Stations 3 3 Aircraft 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 5 3 BibliographyMission editThe 302d Fighter Squadron trains in the fighter missions of offensive counter air defensive counter air as well as strategic attack and interdiction History editWorld War II edit The 302d was one of four African American fighter squadrons to enter combat during World War II It saw combat in the European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theater of Operations from 17 February 1944 20 February 1945 Air force reserve edit From 1956 to 1974 the squadron was assigned to the Air Force Reserve where it trained for and performed search and rescue in addition to aeromedical evacuation missions mainly in the southwestern United States nbsp 944th Fighter Wing F 16 Fighting Falcon taxis onto the runway at Luke AFB note 1 In 1974 its mission changed to training for a combat search and rescue role while continuing to perform traditional humanitarian non combat search and rescue The squadron s mission changed again in 1987 to a fighter role training for counterair interdiction and close air support missions The unit that had been the 302d was reflagged as the 71st Special Operations Squadron and physically relocated to Davis Monthan AFB AZ Concurrently a new AFRES fighter squadron was established at Luke AFB AZ and took over the 302d lineage as the 302d Tactical Fighter Squadron With the transition of AFRES to Air Force Reserve Command AFRC the squadron deployed several times since late 1992 to Turkey to help enforce the no fly zone over Iraq and to Italy to support UN air operations in the Balkans 1 In 2007 the squadron relocated from Luke AFB to Elmendorf AFB AK and transitioned from the F 16 Fighting Falcon to the F 22 Raptor which it operates as an Associate AFRC unit the active duty Air Force s 3rd Wing Lineage edit302d Fighter Squadron World War II Constituted as the 302d Fighter Squadron on 4 July 1942Activated on 13 October 1942 Redesignated 302d Fighter Squadron Single Engine on 21 August 1944 Inactivated on 6 Mar 1945Consolidated with the 302d Special Operations Squadron as the 302d Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 302d Fighter SquadronConstituted as the 302d Air Rescue Squadron on 1 August 1956Activated in the reserve on 8 October 1956 Redesignated 302d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 18 January 1966 Redesignated 302d Special Operations Squadron on 10 April 1974 Consolidated with the 302d Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1985 Redesignated 302 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1987 Redesignated 302d Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992 1 Assignments edit 332d Fighter Group 13 October 1942 6 March 1945 2348th Air Reserve Flying Center 8 October 1956 Fourth Air Force 24 June 1960 Sixth Air Force Reserve Region 1 September 1960 Western Air Force Reserve Region 31 December 1969 Tenth Air Force 8 October 1976 Fourth Air Force 1 March 1983 944th Tactical Fighter Group later 944 Fighter Group 1 July 1987 944th Operations Group 1 August 1992 477th Fighter Group 1 October 2007 present 1 Stations edit Tuskegee Army Air Field Alabama 13 October 1942 Selfridge Field Michigan 29 March 1943 Oscoda Army Air Field Michigan 19 November 1943 Selfridge Field Michigan 1 22 December 1943 Taranto Italy 1 February 1944 Montecorvino Airfield Italy 7 February 1944 Capodichino Airport Italy 6 March 1944 Ramitelli Airfield Italy c 28 May 1944 6 March 1945 Williams Air Force Base Arizona 8 October 1956 Luke Air Force Base Arizona 23 October 1960 Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska 1 Oct 2007 present 1 Aircraft edit Bell P 39 Airacobra 1943 1944 Curtiss P 40 Warhawk 1943 Republic P 47 Thunderbolt 1944 North American P 51 Mustang 1944 1945 Grumman HU 16 Albatross 1956 1971 HH 34 Choctaw 1971 1974 CH 3 Sea King 1974 1987 HH 3 Jolly Green Giant 1985 1987 General Dynamics F 16 Fighting Falcon 1987 2007 Lockheed Martin F 22 Raptor 2007 present 1 See also editTuskegee AirmenReferences editNotes edit Aircraft is General Dynamics F 16D Block 32 serial 87 381 This F 16 was assigned to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds between 1992 and 1999 Citations edit a b c d e f g h i j Robertson Patsy 17 March 2015 Factsheet 302 Fighter Squadron AFRC Air Force Historical Research Agency Archived from the original on 27 September 2015 Retrieved 14 August 2017 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Cantwell Gerald T 1997 Citizen Airmen a History of the Air Force Reserve 1946 1994 Washington D C Air Force History and Museums Program ISBN 0 16049 269 6 Retrieved 17 December 2016 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 302nd Fighter Squadron United States amp oldid 1170734428, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
