The squadron returned to the United States in 1965, and reformed as the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1969, it moved to Thailand, where it flew missions during the Vietnam War. After the war, the squadron moved to its current base at Hill. It again entered combat when it deployed as part of a provisional fighter wing during Operation Desert Storm. In 2019, the unit completed the first operational combat deployment of the F-35A, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom's Sentinel
Mission
Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations for daylight and nighttime missions.[4]
History
World War II
The 4th was activated as the 4th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 15 January 1941 as one of the original three squadrons of the 52d Pursuit Group and trained under Third Air Force as a tactical fighter squadron. Moved to several U.S. bases before relocating to Northern Ireland and England in 1942. Equipped with the British Supermarine Spitfire, was assigned to Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign in late 1942. Moved across Algeria and Tunisia flying ground support missions for American ground forces; taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Participated in the liberation of Corsica in 1943; then returning to Italy and being re-equipped with North American P-51D Mustangs in May 1944. Participated in Northern Italian Campaign, returning to the United States in August 1945 and inactivating.[4]
A flight of 8 aircraft assigned to 347th Provisional Fighter Group (All-Weather), 27 June – 5 July 1950 for combat missions in Korea Engaged in combat operations over South Korea during 1950, until F-51D Mustangs and Republic F-84 Thunderjets arrived in +the Korean theater. Then few combat missions from Japan, rotating flights of North American F-82 Twin Mustangs from Okinawa during 1950–1951, largely performing long-range weather reconnaissance flights over North Korea. Began receiving Lockheed F-94C Starfire jet interceptors to replace F-82s in 1951, retiring the last of its Twin Mustangs in late 1951. Continued air defense mission of Okinawa until 1954; moving to Japan and taking over interceptor mission until 1954 flying first North American F-86D Sabres then Convair F-102A Delta Daggers. Also train pilots of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the Republic of Korea Air Force and the Royal Thai Air Force, and flew combat missions over Korea and Vietnam.[4]
Vietnam War
In June 1965, the 4th moved to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and was renamed the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, under the aegis of the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing, becoming the fourth Air Force fighter squadron trained in the McDonnell F-4C Phantom IIs. Deployed in July 1967, to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where they were designated as the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron and immediately began combat operations. It moved in 1969 to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam; flying tactical bombing missions over North Vietnam as part of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. Remained in Vietnam until United States redeployment from Da Nang in mid-1972. The squadron attained the U.S. Air Force's last Southeast Asia aerial victory, downing a MiG-21 on 8 January 1973. In all the 4th downed four enemy aircraft in combat over Vietnam.[4]
For the next two years, the squadron remained at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, flying cover for evacuations of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. The 4th performed strike missions in support of a recovery operation for the SS Mayaguez, a merchant freighter captured by Cambodian Khmer Rougeguerillas in May 1975.[4]
In March 1980, the squadron began conversion to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon as the Air Force's first operational F-16 tactical fighter squadron. The squadron upgraded to the F-16C Block 40 in January 1990.[4]
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the 4th found deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Their deployment took 16 hours non-stop with 10 air refuelings (five at night). This set a record as the longest distance flown non-stop in the F-16.[4] The squadron dropped more than 2,000 tons of conventional munitions on strategic and tactical targets in Iraq and Kuwait during more than 1,000 daytime combat sorties while only two of their aircraft were damaged by enemy fire and none lost in combat.[4]
2013 Sequestration
Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan.[5]
Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013.[5] This affected the 4th Fighter Squadron with a reduction of its flying hours, grounding all assigned pilots from 5 April-30 September 2013.[5]
During late 2017 the unit changed to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
Lineage
Constituted as the 4th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)' on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 19 December 1946
Activated on 20 February 1947
Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron, All Weather on 10 August 1948
Redesignated 4th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 4th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 25 April 1951
Redesignated 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 20 June 1965
Redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991[1]
Assignments
52d Pursuit Group (later 52d Fighter Group), 15 January 1941 – 7 November 1945
Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Volume IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-3401-6.
Dickey, James. History of 418th Night Fighter Squadron : from activation-1 April 1943 to deactivation [sic] -24 February 1947. [S.l. : s.n., between 1989 and 1992?]. OCLC40503405.
Drendel, Lou. The Air War in Vietnam. New York: Arco Pub. Co., 1968. OCLC2605.
Klinkowitz, Jerome. Yanks over Europe : American flyers in World War II. Lexington, Ky. : University Press of Kentucky, 1996. ISBN0-8131-1961-8OCLC33946900.
Logan, Stanley E., Sullivan, David O. and Sullivan, Millie. History of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron: from New Guinea to Japan in World War II : activated, 1 April 1943, deactivated [sic], 20 February 1947. Santa Fe : S.E. Logan Books, 2001. OCLC48060338.
Nalty, Bernard C., John F. Shiner, George M. Watson, and Alfred M. Beck. With Courage: The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. Washington DC: Air Force History & Museums program, 1994. OCLC638798122
Office, Army Air Force Historical. 12th Air Force in the North African Winter Campaign: 11 November 1942 to the. [S.l.]: Military Bookshop, 2012. ISBN1-78266-231-6OCLC872524096
Rust, Ken C. Twelfth Air Force Story : ...in World War II. Temple City, California : Historical Aviation Album, 1975. OCLC464216532.
United States
United States Air Force
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