Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
561st JOINT TACTICS SQUADRON (ACC)
Lineage. Constituted as 561st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec 1942. Activated on 24 Dec 1942. Redesignated 561st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 561st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jun 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 561st Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 5 Nov 1953. Activated on 23 Nov 1953. Inactivated on 10 Dec 1957. Redesignated 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron, and activated on 1 May 1962. Organized on 1 Oct 1962. Redesignated 561st Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 30 Jun 1992. Activated on 1 Feb 1993. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1996. Redesignated 561 Joint Tactics Squadron on 1 May 2007. Activated on 22 May 2007.
Assignments. 388th Bombardment Group, 24 Dec 1942-28 Aug 1945. 338th Bombardment Group, 12 Jun 1947-27 Jun 1949. 388th Fighter-Bomber Group, 23 Nov 1953-10 Dec 1957 (attached to 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 Jul-10 Dec 1957). Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1962; 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Oct 1962; 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 Feb 1964 (attached to 41st Air Division, 6 Mar-8 Jul 1965); 832d Air Division, 1 Jul 1972 (attached to 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1-14 Jul 1973); 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jul 1973; 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 Mar 1981; 35th Tactical Fighter (later, 35th Fighter) Wing, 5 Oct 1989-30 Jun 1992 (attached to 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Provisional, 16 Aug 1990-Mar 1991). 57th Operations Group, 1 Feb 1993-1 Oct 1996. USAF Warfare Center, 22 May 2007-.
Stations. Gowen Field, ID, 24 Dec 1942; Wendover Field, UT, c. 1 Feb 1943; Sioux City AAB, IA, 1 May-7 Jun 1943; Knettishall, England, Jun 1943-c. 6 Aug 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, c. 13-28 Aug 1945. Orchard Place Aprt, IL, 12 Jun 1947; General Billy Mitchell Field, WI, 2 Sep 1948-27 Jun 1949. Clovis AFB, NM, 23 Nov 1953-28 Nov 1954; Hahn AB, Germany, 12 Dec 1954; Etain/Rouvres AB, France, 1 Dec 1955-10 Dec 1957. McConnell AFB, KS, 1 Oct 1962 (deployed at Yokota AB, Japan, 6 Mar-8 Jul 1965; George AFB, CA, 16-26 May 1966, 23 Sep-17 Oct 1966, 17 Feb-9 Mar 1967, 4-18 Aug 1967, 23 Jan-8 Feb 1968, 18 Jun-3 Jul 1968, 15-27 Nov 1968, 6-21 May 1969, and 12 Nov-c. 2 Dec 1969); George AFB, CA, 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1992 (deployed at Shaikh Isa, Bahrain, 16 Aug 1990-Mar 1991). Nellis AFB, NV, 1 Feb 1993-1 Oct 1996. Nellis AFB, NV, 22 May 2007-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945. Unkn, 1947-1949. F-86, 1954-1956; F-100, 1957. F-105, 1964-1980; F-4, 1981-1992. F-4, 1993-1996.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 17 Jul 1943-21 Apr 1945. Stood alert in Korea, Mar-Jul 1965. Replacement training, Jan 1966-1 Jul 1970. Portion of squadron flew combat from Korat RTAFB, Thailand, Apr-Sep 1972. Wild Weasel training, Sep 1973-30 Jun 1992. Combat in Southwest Asia, Jan-Feb 1991. Provided combat ready F-4 Wild Weasel aircraft and aircrews to perform defense suppression mission, 1993-1996. From Aug 1990- Oct 1996, maintained a continuous deployment to the Middle East. Deployment-preparation training and in capturing tactical lessons learned. Rapidly compile and disseminate evolving tactics, techniques and procedures in the battlespace to ensure that deploying Air Expeditionary Forces are current, relevant and extremely well prepared for combat on day-one in theater.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Southwest Asia Ceasefire.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, 17 Aug 1943; for three missions (Hannover, Germany, 26 Jul 1943; Brux, Czechoslovakia, 12 May 1944; and from England to Russia, 21 Jun 1944). Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 6 Apr 1972-27 Jan 1973. Meritorious Unit Award: [22 May 2007]-31 May 2008. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1970-15 Jun 1971; 2 Feb 1976-31 Mar 1977; 1 Jun 1985-31 May 1987. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-28 Jan 1973.
Emblem. Approved on 13 Oct 1993.