The squadron was first activated in the build up of the American military prior to its entry into World War II as the 66th Pursuit Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to North Africa in 1942, and participated in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The squadron moved forward through Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia with Allied forces, moving to Italy in 1943. The 66th earned three Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions before returning to the United States for inactivation in 1945.
The following year, the squadron was activated for the air defense of Alaska. It served in this role, and briefly in the air defense of California, before inactivating in 1958. It was reactivated in 1969 as the 66th Fighter Weapons Squadron, an advanced training unit for Wild Weasel tactics until inactivating in 1981.
Overview
Active since 2003, the 66th Weapons Squadron teaches graduate-level instructor courses that provide training in weapons and tactics employment to officers of the combat air forces and mobility air forces. The 66th focuses on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, with the climax of the course being the mission employment phase, a two-week staged battle over the Nevada Test and Training Range.
Upon graduation, the new weapons officers return to the field to serve as unit weapons and tactics officers, providing advanced instruction and technical advice to their commanders, operations officers, and personnel.
History
World War II
66th FS P-40Fs take off in North Africa, c. 1942.
Formed as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron in January 1941 as part of the Army Air Corps Northeast Defense Sector (later I Fighter Command) at Mitchel Field, New York. Trained in New England and provided air defense of the northeast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The squadron supported the British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli and subsequent operations in Italy, being reassigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1943. It flew dive-bombing, strafing, patrol, and escort missions.
In 1944, converted to P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft and flew interdiction operations in Italy. They moved to Corsica on 30 March 1944 to operate as a separate task force. It flew interdiction missions against railroads, communication targets, and motor vehicles behind enemy lines, providing a minimum of 48 fighter-bomber sorties per day.
Participated in the French campaign against Elba in June 1944 and in the invasion of Southern France in August. It engaged in interdiction and support operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to May 1945.
The 66th flew its last combat mission on 2 May 1945. Remained in northern Italy after the end of the European War, demobilizing throughout the summer of 1945. It was reassigned to the United States in August 1945 without personnel or equipment and was inactivated at the end of August.
Cold War
66th FWS F-105F Thunderchief, AF Ser. No. 63-831866th FWS F-4E Phantom II, AF Ser. No. 68-0400
Reactivated in August 1946 as part of Eleventh Air Force (Later Alaskan Air Command) as part of the air defense forces in the northwest Pacific. Squadron began training new P-51 pilots at Elmendorf Field, Alaska. Later, it was equipped with F-80Bs in March–April 1948, F-80Cs in October–December 1948, F-94Bs in the summer of 1951, and F-89Cs in September 1953. With these aircraft, the squadron provided fighter aircraft defense in support of the Alaska Area until late in the 1950s.
Was reassigned to Oxnard AFB, California in 1957, but was never equipped or manned due to budgetary constraints, inactivated by Air Defense command, January 1958.
Reactivated by Tactical Air Command at Nellis AFB, Nevada in October 1969 Assumed the F-105C/D Thunderchief assets of the provisional 4537th Fighter Weapons Squadron, tail coded "WC". Mission was to perform "Wild Weasel" training for USAF pilots and electronic warfare officers to be deployed to combat missions in Southeast Asia. Squadron aircraft carried tail code "WA" by October 1971, black/yellow checkered tail stripes. Squadron also assumed F-4C Phantom II assets, tail coded "WD" until October 1971, then changed to same "WA" as the F-105s. Trained with the F-4s and F-105s until July 1975 when Wild Weasel training and aircraft reassigned to George AFB, California.
Remained in non-operational status until October 1977 when reorganized as an A-10 Squadron, tail coded "WA", black/yellow checkered tail stripes. Performed fighter weapons training with the A-10 until the end of 1981, when inactivated and squadron was reassigned to the USAF Fighter Weapons School, being re-designated as "A-10 Division".
Modern era
Reactivated in February 2003 as 66th Weapons Squadron (66 WPS), replacing USAF Weapons School A-10 division. Provides USAF Weapons School syllabus support, priority test mission support and road shows that visit various units throughout the CONUS to ACC units for training.
Lineage
Constituted as the 66th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 66th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942
Redesignated 66th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 66th Fighter Squadron on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 66th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine' on 21 August 1944
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Activated on 15 August 1946
Redesignated 66th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 20 July 1948
Redesignated 66th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950
Inactivated on 8 January 1958
Redesignated 66th Fighter Weapons Squadron on 22 August 1969
Activated on 15 October 1969
Inactivated on 30 Dec 1981
Redesignated 66th Weapons Squadron on 24 January 2003
United States
United States Air Force
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