54 th FIGHTER SQUADRON

Transcription

1 54 th FIGHTER SQUADRON LINEAGE 54 th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) constituted, 20 Nov 1940 Activated, 15 Jan 1941 Redesignated 54 th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine), 31 Jan 1942 Redesignated 54 th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine), 15 May 1942 Redesignated 54 th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, 20 Aug 1943 Inactivated, 21 Mar 1946 Redesignated 54 th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 10 Oct 1952 Activated, 1 Dec 1952 Discontinued and inactivated, 25 Dec 1960 Redesignated 54 th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 13 Jan 1987 Activated, 8 May 1987 Redesignated 54 th Fighter Squadron, 26 Sep 1991 STATIONS Hamilton CA, 15 Jan 1941 AB, OR, 22 May 1941, 22 Jan 25 May 1942, 31 May 24 Aug 1942 (detachments at Ft Randall,, 6 Jun c. 31 Jul 1942, and at Ft Glenn,, c. 6 Jun 19 Sep 1942) Adak, 31 Aug 1942 Amchitka, 12 Mar 1943 Shemya, 18 Oct 1943, 20 Nov Mar 1946 Ft Lawton,, Mar 1946

2 Rapid City (later, Ellsworth) AFB, SD, 1 Dec Dec 1960 AFB,, 8 May 1987 DEPLOYED STATIONS Kunsan AB, ROK, 15 Jun Oct 1970 ASSIGNMENTS 55 th Pursuit (later, 55th Fighter) Group, 15 Jan rd Fighter Group, 11 Sep Mar st Air Division, 1 Dec th Air Division, 16 Feb Dec st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 May st Operations Group, 26 Sep rd Operations Group, 19 Dec 1991 ATTACHMENTS XI Fighter Command, 31 May 11 Sep 1941 WEAPON SYSTEMS P 36, P 40, P 43, F 5, 1943 P 38, F 51, F 84, F 86, F 89, F 15, 1987 ASSIGNED AIRCRAFT SERIAL NUMBERS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS F 51D th FIS ASSIGNED AIRCRAFT TAIL/BASE CODES UNIT COLORS COMMANDERS HONORS Service Streamers

3 None Campaign Streamers World War II Aleutian Islands Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [8 May] Dec 1988 EMBLEM On a disc Sable, a leopard face canted bendwise sinister affronté Or, garnished Argent detailed of the first, eyes, nose and tongue Gules above and between its front paws bendwise Yellow, garnished Black armed Red, all within a double diminished bordure White and Azure. Attached below the disc, a White scroll edged with a narrow Blue border and inscribed 54TH FIGHTER SQ in Blue letters. Symbolism Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The leopard is from the design for the 54th Fighter Squadron (WWII origin). The leopard s intense facial expression signifies power and readiness to fight. The visible claws and fangs represent the strong capability to carry out its' mission. On a Black disc, a Yellow leopard head affronte detailed Black and White with Scarlet eyes, nose, and tongue, above and between its front paws Yellow detailed Black with Scarlet claws; all within a narrow White inner border within a narrow Blue outer border. Approved on 4 Apr 1989, replacing emblems approved on 3 Jun 1988, 4 Jun 1987, and 2 Sep EMBLEM SIGNIFICANCE MOTTO ALASKA S FIRST GUARDIANS

4 NICKNAME OPERATIONS Defense of Alaska during World War II. Air defense of North Central US, Air defense of Alaska, Following the Dutch Harbor attack, the Japanese landed forces on the western Aleutian Islands of and Kiska. Additional reinforcements consisting of the 21st and 404th Bombardment Squadrons, equipped with B-24s; the 406th Bombardment Squadron, A-29s; the 54th Fighter Group, P-39s; and 54th Fighter Squadron, P-38s were sent to Alaska. The Eleventh Air Force launched an air offensive against the Japanese on the two islands. The P-39s of the 54th Fighter Group proved unsuitable to the Aleutian conditions and the group was withdrawn in December This left one bombardment group, the 28th, consisting of three heavy and three me dium bombardment squadrons, and one fighter group, the 343rd, composed of four squadrons. The latter included the 344th Fighter Squadron, which had been formed from the transfer of personnel from the other three squadrons. Two troop carrier squadrons, the 42nd and 54th, provided passenger and high priority cargo support. The 54th Fighter Squadron was the only one equipped with the P-38. The others flew the single en-gine, limited range P-40. Because of its long range, the twin engine P-38 became the fighter of choice. As a result, the 54th suffered the loss of over half of its origins complement of thirty pilots. Further improvements were made to the force structure with the arrival of F-15As in 1982, upgraded to "C" models during The first F-15s arrived on 1 March By 4 October of that year, the Eagles had replaced the F-4Es on alert at the forward operating bases. The last Phantoms departed on 16 November 1982, ending another era in AAC's history. The 54th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated 8 May It joined the 43 rd Tactical Fighter Squadron as the second r-15 unit assigned to the 21 st TFW. 54th Fighter Squadron: Activated: 15 Jan 1941 Notable Historical Facts: Long associated with the Eleventh Air Force, fought with distinction throughout the Aleutian campaign and scored the P-38's first aerial victory. Served in Air Defense Command in the 1950s with F-89 Scorpions. Won Hughes Trophy in 1959 as the outstanding air defense squadron. Has the longest affiliation of any active 3rd Wing Squadron with the air defense mission.

5 The 54th FIS at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, was one of the shortlived Scorpion squadrons that converted to F-89Js from F-86Ds in the Fall of They were inactivated in December Both of the two examples shown here then went to the 103rd FIS to replace their antiquated F-89Hs. The 54th FIS had been activated at Rapid City AFB, (Later Ellsworth AFB), South Dakota, to replace South Dakota's 175th FIS when they returned to State Control after their Korean Conflict activation. Initially equipped with F-51 Ds, and later F-84Gs and F-86Ds, the 54th FIS converted directly into F-89Js in the fall of They had seven on hand by the end of the year. By June 1958 the 54th FIS had twenty-eight and resumed combat alert. In 1959 the 54th FIS became the only Scorpion equipped ADC squadron to win the Hughes Achievement Trophy for excellence as an ADC squadron. Unfortunately, this did not prolong their history, for on Christmas Day 1960 the 54th FIS was inactivated. 54th FIS Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, Summer 1957 with F-89Js replacing F-86Ds. Inactivated December 25, FIS F As a direct result of the Japanese air raid on on October 13, 1943, the 54th Fighter Squadron, flying P-38's arrived on Shemya from Amchitka. Another transfer for base defense purposes was the bringing of thirty-one dogs and seven handlers to Shemya in October, The removal from Adak and transfer to Shemya of the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, XI Bomber Command on January 8, 1944, attested to the importance of Shemya for bombing operations. Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of the 28th Bombardment Group, Composite, was ordered to Shemya from Adak on January 10th. On the eleventh, the 404th Bombardment Squadron (H) was ordered from Adak to Shemya. The Headquarters, XI Bomber Command officially opened on February 28, By the close of the month the average strength of the base had reached 126 officers and 1,216 enlisted men. Thc first flight of P-40s arrived on July 23, 1943, and ten P-38 of the 54th Fighter Squadron, 343rd Fighter Group, arrived on August 10 from Amchitka, Alaska. After the fall of, they were mainly involved in raids on Kiska, protection for the island, and standing alert for air defense. After a long period of no-combat action, the 343rd pilots again had a chance to test their aim with bullets from P-38's. The Japanese had planned to attack the United States with long range balloons loaded with bombs. Twelve of these were sighted over the Aleutians, on April 13, 1945, and nine of them were downed by the 343rd. The 343rd did have the distinction of appearing again and again in the Daily Diary of Base Operations. On April 30, 1945, the diary stated that: The month was ended up in true style--another accident. A P-38, piloted by Lt. Showler, had one engine catch fire and came in for an emergency landing on Charlie runway. As

6 the plane neared the runway the other engine also conked out. The aircraft made a belly landing and the pilot was uninjured P-38E FS 343FG TOA P-38E FS 343FG TAC P-38E FS 343FG 980 CRLEF Baker, Robert N Ruddell, George I Geddes, John K Longview [APO 980] Adak/Perry Fld [APO 980] P-38G FS 343FG CRT Mackey, John S Amchitka Is P-38E FS 343FG Ortali, Louis A Constantine Hbr/Amchitka P-38G FS 343FS TOA Banks, Warren B Amchitka Is P-38E FS 343FG CRL Crutchfield, James F Amchitka P-38E FS 343FG Geddes, John K Amchitka Is RP-38E FS 343FG TOA Davis, Marion M Amchitka AF P-38G FS 343FG P-38G FS 343FG P-38G FS 343FG TAC Geddes, John K Gates, Alexander J Crutchfield, James F Amchitka AF Amchitka Is Amchitka Is P-38G FS 343FG KBOEF Wybranoski, Edward F Amchitka AF/ 3mi W RP-38E FS 343FG CREF Sholty, James E P-38G FS 343FG TAC Brennan, James A Is P-38G FS 343FG CRT Catlin, William R P-38H FS 343FG KCRW Banks, Warren B

7 P-38E FS 343FG GAC RP-38E FS 343FG CREF Clapper, Richard T Minton, Glenn W Casco AB/ Is (7567) Alexai Pt/ 1mi S P-51B FS 57FG Bartow AAF, Bartow, P-38G FS 343FG KMAC FL KMIS Fast, J B Unknown Dailey, Wayne (NMI) Murder Point/15mi S P-38G FS 343FG KMAC Garver, RichardM Murder Point/15mi S RP-38E FS 343FG TOA Scott, LeRoy H P-38J FS 343FG CBL P-38G FS 343FG P-38G FS 343FG Farley, Orville B Camp, William H Jr Critz, James E Alexai AF Alexai Point RP-38E FS 343FG CRL Fifield, Glen E Alexai P-38G FS 343FG MAC Van, Burton C Alexai AAF () P-38G FS 343FG TOA McLean, Wallace B Alexai P-38G FS 343FG Chessman, Donald J RPB-38E FS 343FG KMAC Duerock, Roy A Massacre Bay RP-38E FS 343FG KMAC Stebbins, Robert P Jr Massacre Bay P-38G FS 343FG TAC Stone, Bennie H Alexia P-38J FS 343FG CREF Stone, Bennie H AT-6D FS 343FG GL Watts, Jack D Alexai/[APO 726]

8 P-38G FS 343FG MAC P-38G FS 343FG MAC Doyle, Matther J Jr Williams, Jack G Alexai/2mi E [APO 726] Alexai/2mi E [APO 726] RP-38E FS 343FG KCREF Reys, James L P-38G FS 343FG CBL Nesmith, Robert L Temneck Bay/ nr P-38J FS 343FG Ordway, Francis L P-38G FS 343FG Robison, Thomas A P-38J FS 343FG FLoG Kidder, Arthur W Jr Bouldir Is P-38J FS 343FG Golin, Ted (NMI) C-45F FS 343FG TOA Jones, Robert H Amchitka P-38L FS 343FG TAC Taylor, Earl (NMI) P-38G FS 343FG APO 729 Showler, William Y APO P-38L FS 343FG TOA P-38L FS 343FG KCRT P-38L FS 343FG BO Doyle, Matthew J Jr Wilson, Earl H O'Rourke, Phillip F Alexai AAF, [APO 726 Alexai AAF, [APO726] Alexai AAF P-38L FS 343FG CREF Rankin, Bernard J Alexai AAF/ 28mi SE P-38L FS 343FG Alexai AAF/ Terry, Robert W Shemya AAB/ S P-38L FS 343FG MF P-38L FS 33FG MF Trumbull, Rollin M Kidder, Arthur W Umnak/ nr Ft Glenn btwn Alexai & Shemya AABs

9 P-38L FS 343FG Alexai AAF MF Rumplik, Richard L Ft Glenn/ nr P-38L FS 343FG Alexai AAF MF Robison, Thomas A Adak/ nr P-38L FS 343FG Petters, Peter E /Casco AB P-38J FS 343FG KBO Trumbull, Rollin M Casco AAB/ 3/4mi from P-38G FS 343FG CBL Payne, Dale K Casco Fld/APO P-38L FS 343FG CBL Sheehan, John J Shemya P-38L FS 343FG Fld TAC Universaw, Myron L Fld P-38L FS 343FG KCR Harward, Albert L Anchorage/ 4mi NE P-38L FS 343FG Fld, CRT Cariss, Melvin G Ancorage/ 3mi SW P-38E FS 18FG TOA Gardner, Richard B Fort Randall, P-38G FS 343FG CRT Catlin, William R P-38H FS 343FG KCRW Banks, Warren B P-38E FS 343FG Fort Glenn, FLoG McDonald, Robert L Reindeer Umank Island, P-38E FS 343FG Stevens, James D Adak, P-38E FS 343FG Goebel, Albert L P-38E FS 343FG Strenkofsky, Henry J Atka, P-38E FS 343FG KTOA Archer, Thomas C P-38E FS 349FG Millard, Howard W

10 P-38E FS 55FG TOA Halgren, D A P-38E FS 55FG MACO Leighton, John A Atka, P-38E FS 55FG TOMAC Gardner, Richard B P-38E FS 55FG TOMAC Baker, Robert N P-38E FS XI FC Fort Randall, FLEF Bell, Perry H Cold Bay, P-38F FS XI FCmd KCRGC Middleton, David F. Fort Glen, P-38E FS TAC Tawlks, H.S P PI 55PI Air Base, OR GL Chipman, G. H., OR PT PS 54PG McCord TAC Griffin, Charles E McCord P PS 55PG Pope, Francis J P-43A PS 55PG Houseal, Donald E P-43A PS 55PG TOAGL Hitchcock, James W P-43A PS 55PG TAC Levenson, Seymore M RP-43A PS 55PG P-43A PS 55PG P-322 AE PS 55PG P-38E PS 55PG TOAEF GL DTCEFF KMACO Stratton, John Q Pinson, Larry E Neel, Robert W Morse, Oscar L Puget Sound,

11 P-38E PS 55PG KEXSF Pinson, Larry E Puget Sound, PT PS Houseal, Donald E RP-38E PS FLEF Davidson, William H Puget Sound,5 mi SW of Fld, Air Force Order of Battle Created: 9 Nov 2010 Updated: Sources Air Force Historical Research Agency. U.S. Air Force. Maxwell AFB, AL. The Institute of Heraldry. U.S. Army. Fort Belvoir, VA. Air Force News. Air Force Public Affairs Agency.