302d Fighter Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 302d Fighter Squadron


caption= 302d Fighter Squadron Patch
dates= 13 October 1942 - 6 March 1945
8 October 1956 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Fighter
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
10th Air Force
477th Fighter Group
current_commander=
garrison= Elmendorf Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 302d Fighter Squadron (302 FS) is part of the 477th Fighter Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates the F-22 Raptor conducting an air superiority mission.

Mission

History

The 301st was one of four African-American fighter squadrons to enter combat during World War II. It saw combat in the European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theater of Operations from, 17 February 1944-20 February 1945. The squadron trained in the Reserve for and performed search and rescue (SAR), in addition to some medical air evacuation missions, mainly in the southwestern United States from, 1956-1974. In 1974, its mission changed to training for a combat SAR role, while continuing to perform some search and rescue. The squadron's mission changed again, in 1987, to a fighter role and trained for counterair, interdiction, and close air support missions. It deployed several times since late 1992 to Turkey to help enforce the no-fly zone over Iraq and to Italy to support UN air operations in the Balkans. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0302fs.html AFHRA 302 FS Page] ]

=Operations=

*World War II
*Operation Northern Watch

=Lineage=

*302d Fighter Squadron (1942 - 1944)
*302d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1944 - 1956)
*302d Air Rescue Squadron (1956 - 1966)
*302d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1966 - 1974)
*302d Special Operations Squadron (1974 - 1987)
*302d Tactical Fighter Squadron (1987 - 1992)
*302d Fighter Squadron (1992 - Present)

=Assignments=

*332d Fighter Group (1942 - 1945)
*2348th Air Reserve Flying Center (1956 - 1960)
*4th Air Force (1960)
*6th Air Force Reserve Region (1960 - 1969)
*Western Air Force Reserve Region (1969 - 1976)
*10th Air Force (1976 - 1983)
*4th Air Force (1983 - 1987)
*944th Fighter Wing (1987 - 2007)
*477th Fighter Group (2007 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama (1942 - 1943)
*Selfridge Field, Michigan (1943)
*Oscoda Army Air Field, Michigan (1943 - 1944)
*Taranto, Italy (1944)
*Montecorvino, Italy (1944)
*Capodichino, Italy (1944)
*Ramitelli , Italy (1944 - 1945)
*Williams Air Force Base, Arizona (1956 - 1960)
*Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (1960 - 2007)
*Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (2007 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*P-39 Airacobra (1943 - 1944)
*P-40 Warhawk (1943)
*P-47 Thunderbolt (1944)
*F-51 Mustang (1944 - 1945)
*HU-16 Albatross (1956 - 1971)
*HH-34 Choctaw (1971 - 1974)
*CH-3 Sea King (1974 - 1987)
*HH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1985 - 1987)
*F-16 Fighting Falcon (1987 - 2007)
*F-22 Raptor (2007 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0302fs.html AFHRA 302d Fighter Squadron History]

Also See

*Tuskegee Airmen