81st EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTER SQUADRON – DESERT

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Description

Computer made   4.0 inch-100mm

 

81st FIGHTER SQUADRON (USAFE)

Lineage. Constituted as 81 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 Jan 1942.  Activated on 15 Jan 1942.  Redesignated as: 81 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Special) on 28 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 21 Jan 1944; 81 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944.  Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 81 Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 13 May 1947.  Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947.  Redesignated as: 81 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 20 Jun 1949; 81 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Mar 1950.  Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 2 Jun 1951.  Redesignated as 81 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953.  Redesignated as: 81 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958; 81 Fighter Squadron on 1 Oct 1991.  Inactivated on 18 Jun 2013.

Assignments. 50 Pursuit (later, 50 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1942-7 Nov 1945.  454 Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947; 50 Fighter (later, 50 Fighter Interceptor) Group, 20 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951.  50 Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 Jan 1953; 50 Fighter-Bomber (later, 50 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Dec 1957; 86 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jul 1971; 52 Tactical Fighter (later, 52 Fighter) Wing, 15 Jan 1973; 52 Operations Group, 31 Mar 1992-18 Jun 2013.

Stations. Key Field, MS, 15 Jan 1942; Orlando AB, FL, 22 Mar 1942; Cross City AAFld, FL, 18 Jun 1943; Orlando AB, FL, 1 Feb-13 Mar 1944; Lymington, England, 5 Apr 1944; Carentan, France, 25 Jun 1944; Meautis, France, 16 Aug 1944; Orly, France, 5 Sep 1944; Laon, France, 15 Sep 1944; Lyons/Bron, France, 29 Sep 1944; Toul/Ochey, France, 3 Nov 1944; Giebelstadt, Germany, 20 Apr 1945; Mannheim, Germany, 21 May-c. 23 Jun 1945; La Junta AAFld, CO, 6 Aug-7 Nov 1945.   McChord Field, WA, 12 Jul 1947; Otis AFB, MA, 20 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951. Clovis AFB, NM, 1 Jan-22 Jul 1953; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Aug 1953; Toul/Rosieres AB, France, 10 Jul 1956; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Dec 1959; Zweibrucken AB, Germany, 15 Jun 1971; Spangdahlem AB, Germany, 15 Jan 1973-18 Jun 2013.

Aircraft. P-40, 1942-1943; P-47, 1943-1945. F-51, 1953; F-86, 1953-1958; F-100, 1958-1966; F-4, 1966-1993; F-16, 1987-1990, 1993-1994; OA/A-10, 1994-2013.

Operations. Conducted air defense training and trained cadres of other units in fighter tactics, 22 Mar 1942-28 Jan 1944; combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 1 May 1944-7 May 1945. Trained in close air support and reconnaissance since 1953; added defense-suppression mission late 1969. In the 1970s, flew F-4 Wild Weasel aircraft; tasked to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft. Deployed personnel and equipment to Shaik Isa, Bahrain, to support operations in Southwest Asia, Sep 1990-Jun 1991. Served as only A-10 squadron based in Europe, 1994-. Took part in combat operations over Serbia in 1999. After terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, supported Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Service Streamers.  World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II:  Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease Fire Campaign.  Kosovo: Air Campaign.  Afghanistan: Consolidation I; Consolidation II; Consolidation III.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, 13-20 Mar 1945; Germany, 25 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Sep 1990-26 Feb 1991. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1970-15 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Aug 1995-31 Jul 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1999; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2010.  Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944.

Emblem. Approved on 3 Jul 1967; newest rendition approved on 12 Apr 2007.

Additional information

Weight 0.0000 kg
Dimensions 0.00 × 0.00 × 0.00 cm