Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
121st FIGHTER SQUADRON
Lineage. Designated 121st Observation Squadron and allotted to NG on 30 Jul 1940. Activated on 10 Apr 1941. Ordered to active service on 1 Sep 1941. Redesignated: 121st Observation Squadron (Light) on 13 Jan 1942; 121st Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1942. Redesignated 121st Liaison Squadron on 2 Apr 1943. Activated on 30 Apr 1943. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated: 121st Fighter Squadron, and allotted to ANG on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 26 Oct 1946. Redesignated: 121st Fighter Squadron (Jet) in Dec 1949; 121st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Feb 1951; 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1958; 121st Fighter Squadron on 15 Mar 1992-.
Assignments. District of Columbia National Guard, 10 Apr 1941; 65th Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941-18 October 1942. 76th Reconnaissance Group, 30 Apr 1943; I Air Support Command (later I Tactical Air Division), 11 Aug 1943; AAF, MTO, Mar 1944 (attached to Fifth Army after 30 Sep 1944; two flights assigned to US Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 1 Nov 1944, to Ninth Air Force, 29 Nov 1944, and to First Tactical Air Force [Prov], 22 Dec 1944-1 Mar 1945, with attachment to Sixth Army Group, Sep 1944-1 Mar 1945); Twelfth Air Force, 25 Feb 1945 (attached to Fifth Army to c. July 1945); Third Air Force, 25 Aug-7 Nov 1945. 113th Fighter Group (later 113th Fighter-Interceptor; Tactical Fighter ), 24 May 1946; 4710th Defense Wing, 6 Feb 1952; 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, 9 Dec 1974; 113th Operations Group, 15 Mar 1992-.
Stations. Washington, DC, 10 Apr 1941; Owens Field, SC, 23 Sep 1941; Lexington County Airport, SC, 8 Dec 1941; Langley Field, VA, 26 Dec 1941; Birmingham, AL, 18 Oct 1942. Vichy AAF, MO, 30 Apr 1943; Morris Field, NC, 8 May 1943; Raleigh-Durham AAF, NC, 27 Aug 1943-18 Feb 1944; Oran, Algeria, 20 Mar 1944; Telergma, Algeria, 17 Apr-9 Jul 1944; Pomigliano, Italy, 24 Jul 1944 (A flight at St Tropez, France, 1 Sep 1944, Lyons, France 15 Sep 1944, and Vittel, France, 3 Oct 1944-1 Mar 1945; D flight at Vittel, France, 7 Oct 1944-1 Mar 1945; other flights at various points in Italy during period Sep 1944-May 1945); Florence, Italy, 6 Oct 1944; Verona, Italy, 3 May 1945; Manerba, Italy, 16 May 1945; Florence, Italy, 16 Jul-Aug 1945; Drew Field, FL, 25 Aug 1945; Muskogee AAF, OK, 13 Sep-17 Nov 1945. Andrews AAF (later AFB), Maryland, 20 Oct 1946-. (operated from: New Castle County AFB, DE, 1 Feb 1951; Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 26 Jan 1968)
Aircraft. Included O-38, O-47, O-49, 0-52, O-58, and apparently B-18 during the period 1941-1942. In addition to L-4, L-5 and L-6, included RA-24, 1943-1944; A-20, 1944; L-4 and L-5, 1944-1945; UC-78, 1945. P-47D, 1947-1949; F-84C, 1949-1951; F-94B, 1951-1952; F-51H, 1952-1954; F-86A, 1954-1955’ F-86E, 1955-1957; F-86H, 1957-1960; F-100C/F, 1960-1971; F-105D/F, 1971-1982; F-4D. 1981-1990; F-16A, 1989-1994; F-16C/D, 1994-.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, c. Dec 1941-Oct 1942. Combat in MTO and ETO, Sep 1944-3 May 1945. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up. Called to active duty as part of the Berlin Crisis, but remained at Andrews AFB. Called to active duty as part of the Pueblo Crisis call-up and acted as F-100 CCTS in Jan 1968. Deployed for Operations: Coronet Shield, Jun 1983; Coronet Kiowa, 1986; Southern Watch, 1996; Northern Watch, 1997, 1998; Iraqi Freedom, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010; Enduring Freedom, 2012.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Antisubmarine, American Theater; Rome-Arno; Rhineland; North Apennines; Po Valley.
Decorations. None.
Emblem. Approved in 1943, revised, 4 Sep 1951.