334th Fighter Squadron

334th Fighter Squadron

334th Fighter Squadron Insignia
Active 22 August 1942 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Attack
Role Sustained Combat Operations
Garrison/HQ Seymour Johnson AFB
Equipment F-15E Strike Eagle
Engagements World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Gulf War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
334th Fighter Squadron F-15E-43-MC Strike Eagle 87-0189 taking off
McDonnell Douglas F-4E-51-MC Phantom 72-0142 Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, 1978. Retired to AMARC as FP0685 Jun 5, 1991.
North American F-86E-10-NA Sabre 51-2802 "Bonnie and Cuddles", K-14 (Kimpo AB), South Korea, 1952
334th Fighter Squadron in January 1945
Spitfire MK V of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group in 1941.

The 334th Fighter Squadron (334 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 4th Operations Group and stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

The 334th was constituted on 22 August 1942 as an incorporation of the No. 71 Squadron RAF, an Eagle Squadron of American volunteers in Great Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF). After the United States entered the war, the squadron was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). It was officially constituted by War Department letter on 12 August 1942, and was activated at Bushey Hall, England on 12 September 1942.

Overview

The "Eagles" fly the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle. Its aircraft are identified by the "SJ" tail code and blue fin flash.

Currently, the squadron provides worldwide deployable aircraft and personnel capable of executing combat missions in support of worldwide Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployments to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism.

History

World War II

The 334th, along with the 335th and 336th, were assigned to the VIII Fighter Command 4th Fighter Group, which was the first United States Army Air Forces unit activated in the European Theater during World War II, which was located in Essex, England.

The 334th flew British Supermarine Spitfire fighters until the arrival of P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft in 1943. After about a year the squadron switched to P-51 Mustangs. During World War II, the 334th had a total of 395 kills against the German Luftwaffe; 210 kills in the air and 185 on the ground.

Korean War

Equipped with the F-80 Shooting Star, the 334th moved to Andrews AFB in April 1947. In 1949 the 334th moved to Langley AFB, where they were reequipped with the F-86 Sabre.

In November 1950, the 334th were sent to the war in Korea. During the war they were credited with 142 kills, and they had six pilots who achieved ace status.

The 334th remained in Korea until 8 December 1957. They were reassigned to Seymour Johnson AFB as a unit of the 4th Fighter Wing. The 334th flew the F-100 Super Sabre until 1959, when the squadron started to fly the F-105 Thunderchief.

Major James Jabara, Captain Manuel J. "Pete" Fernandez, Major George A. Davis, Medal of Honor recipient and Major Frederick "Boots" Blesse; the second, third, fourth and sixth (respectively) leading aces of the Korean War were assigned to the 334th. Future Astronaut Captain Gus Grissom was assigned to the 334th during the Korean War.

Vietnam War

In September 1965 the 334th TFS relocated to Holmsted AFB because the runway at their home base Seymour-Johnson AFB was being re-built. In August the 334th TFS moved to McConnel AFB, Kansas and exchanged F105Fs for F-105Ds, and flew non-stop to Hickam AFB, then on to Anderson AFB, Guam, and on to Takhli AB, Thailand. From Takhli AB Combat missions were flown combat missions to North Vietnam and Laos. Being TDY, the 334th TFS left their Thuds to be part of the developing 355 TFW, and in February 1966 returned to Seymour-Johnson AFB. In January 1968 the 334th went to Korea to support operations during the Pueblo incident. The 334th then returned to Seymour Johnson AFB.

From February 1968 through June 1969, 4TFW Commander Colonel Chuck Yeager flew with the 334th as an 'attached' pilot.

In April 1972, in the midst of an Tactical Air Command ORI, the 334th TFS was deployed to Ubon AB, Thailand after which the squadron was attached to the 25th TFS. The unit began combat operations almost immediately. Soon after the deployment to SEA, the operations officer, Maj Tokanel, lobbied for missions specifically flagged for the 334th TFS. The unit was deployed through Linebacker I and Linebacker II, flying air-to-ground and air-to-air combat missions. The squadron was redeployed back to Seymour Johnson AFB in March 1973.

Gulf War

The 334th flew its first sorties with the F-15E on 1 January 1991. Throughout the month the 334th served as the host unit for multiple units deploying to Operation Desert Shield. Also, 334th aircrews and support personnel deployed to Operation Desert Storm as augmentees. On 18 June 1991, the squadron became operational on the F-15E, and deployed to Saudi Arabia the next day to relieve elements of the 335th Fighter Squadron, providing combat air patrol and ground alert forces supporting withdrawal of troops from Operation Desert Storm

Lineage

Activated on 12 September 1942
Redesignated 334th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 10 November 1945
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled, on 23 April 1947
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 14 June 1948
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 8 March 1955
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Day Squadron on 25 April 1956
Redesignated: 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991

Assignments

Attached to: 65th Air Division, 1 April – 13 August 1963
Attached to: Seventeenth Air Force, 15 February – 29 May 1965
Attached to: 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 2 September 1965 – 5 February 1966
Attached to: 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, 16 December 1969-c. 31 May 1970
Attached to: 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 11 April – 5 August 1972 and 30 September 1972 – 18 March 1973
Attached to: 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, 28 August – 29 September 1980, 26 August – 29 September 1981, and 22 May – 20 June 1984

Stations
Deployed at: McCoy AFB, Florida, 21 October – 29 November 1962
Deployed at: Moron AB, Spain, 1 April – 13 August 1963
Deployed at: Incirlik AB, Turkey, 15 February – 29 May 1965
Deployed at: Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 2 September 1965 – 5 February 1966
Deployed at: Kunsan AB, South Korea, 16 December 1969-c. 31 May 1970
Deployed at: Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, 11 April – 5 August 1972 and 30 September 1972 – 18 March 1973
Deployed at: Ramstein AB, West Germany, 28 August – 29 September 1980, 26 August – 29 September 1981, and 22 May – 20 June 1984
Deployed to: Undisclosed locations in Central and Southwest Asia, 2001-present

Aircraft

Notable squadron members

Emblems

References

Notes

     This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

    Bibliography
    • Global Security
    • Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air Force Historical Studies Office, 1969. ISBN 0-89201-097-5.

    External links

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