509 th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON

Transcription

1 509 th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON LINEAGE 624th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) constituted, 4 Feb 1943 Activated, 1 Mar 1943 Redesignated 509 th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 10 Aug 1943 Redesignated 509 th Fighter Squadron, 30 May 1944 Inactivated, 15 Oct 1945 Redesignated 509 th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 15 Oct 1952 Activated, 1 Dec 1952 Inactivated, 1 Jul 1958 Redesignated 509 th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 11 Mar 1959 Activated, 9 Apr 1959 Inactivated Jul th Tactical Fighter Squadron STATIONS Drew Field, FL, 1 Mar 1943 Walterboro AAFld, SC, 14 Sep Feb 1944 Christchurch, England, 7 Mar-22 Jun 1944 Picauville, France, 29 Jun 1944 St Dizier, France, c. 13 Sep 1944 Ophoven, Belgium, 6 Feb 1945 Kitzingen, Germany, 23 Apr 1945 Straubing, Germany, 8 May-2 Jul 1945 Camp Shanks, NY, Oct 1945 Godman AFB, KY, 1 Dec 1952 Langley AFB, VA, 17 Apr Ju Langley AFB, VA, 16 Apr Ju Clark AB, Luzon, 9 Apr 1959 RAF Woodbridge, England, 1 Oct Feb 1980 RAF Bentwaters, England, 1 Feb 1980 DEPLOYED STATIONS Ramstein-Landstuhl AB, Germany, 1 Oct Mar 1958

2 ASSIGNMENTS 405th Bombardment (later Fighter Bomber; Fighter) Group, 1 Mar Oct thFighter Bomber Group, 1 Dec th Fighter Bomber Wing, 8 Oct Jul th Fighter Wing, g Apr 1959 WEAPON SYSTEMS A-24, 1943 P-39, 1943 P-47, F-84, F-100, F-86, F-102A, ASSIGNED AIRCRAFT SERIAL NUMBERS F-102A 1144 ASSIGNED AIRCRAFT TAIL/BASE CODES UNIT COLORS COMMANDERS Maj Harry K. Evans, #@1955 HONORS Service Streamers None Campaign Streamers Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe Air Combat, EAME Theater Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation France, 24 Sep 1944 Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944

3 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 Nov Jun 1961 EMBLEM On a light silver gray disc bordered black, in base a mound of earth, dark gray; imbedded in the earth and lying on its side a white skull, gaping eye sockets, nose and mouth black; springing up through the upper eye socket and extending over the border in bend, a red rose, stem and leaves green; all outlines and details black throughout. (Approved, 30 Jan 1957) EMBLEM SIGNIFICANCE MOTTO NICKNAME OPERATIONS Combat in ETO, 11Apr 194 May 1945 The 509th Fighter Bomber Squadron was activated at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky in December The pilots flew F-47's at Godman but a number of them went to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to check out in the T-33. The squadron moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia in April 1953 where it received its first jets - six (6) T-33A's. The summer months were spent getting settled after the move and striving for a maximum of training in the T-33A. In Sept -ember 1953 the squadron started receiving F-84G's and, by the end of December 1953, had a total of seven (7). In May 1954, the squadron received its first F-84F, the aircraft that the entire squadron was waiting for since December Eighteen long months of training and waiting were over. At the end of June 1954, the squadron had a total of eleven (11) F-84F's with more expected in the near future. The 509th Fighter Squadron will soon be combat ready. 405th Fighter Bomber Wing Langley AFB, VA Squadron Sqn Color Sqn Name 508 FBS Yellow 509 FBS Red 510 FBS Purple Buzzards 511 FBS Blue 509th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Pirates) The 509th TFS moved from RAF Upper Heyford to RAF Alconbury in June, The 509th ceased operations on December 18, 1991, and was inactivated. The gray squad ron tail band originally allied while the 509th was part of the 81 st TFW was retained. The PIRATES script in the stripe was later replaced by the squadron insignia photographed carrying the 509th TFS gray tail stripe at RAF Bentwaters on February 14, 1991.

4 carried the 509th TFS gray tail stripe and white skull emblem photographed with the 509th TFS gray tail stripe. (Don Logan of the PIRATES when photographed at RAF Bentwaters on March 18, th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Pirates) The 509th activated at Bentwaters with A-10s in October, The 509th moved to the 10th TFW in June, The squadron stripe was gray, then white borders were added, and finally a black PIRATES and skull was added. The tail of carried the 509th TFTS tail stripe of light gray with 509th TFS in black when photographed on September 29, assigned to the 509th TFS, carried a simple light gray tail stripe when photographed on March 21,1988 at RAF Bentwaters. 509 TFS PIRATES WR A LIGHT GREY STRIPE WITH WHITE BORDER 405th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC) Originally formed as a Bombardment Group in February of 1943 it was later redesignated as the 405th Fighter Bomber Group after being activated on 1 March The unit trained with A-24, A-25, P-39 and finally P-47 aircraft. In April of 1944 the unit moved to England and entered combat with the Ninth Air Force. Until D-Day. the 405th was chiefly engaged in the bombing of airfields, marshallingyards and bridges in France in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. The group moved to the continent and continued operations from bases in France and Belgium before returning to the United States in October of 1945 when it was deactivated. Re-activated on 1 December 1952 as the 405th Fighter Bomber Group under Tactical Air Command, the unit was based at Langley AFB, Virginia and equipped with the F-84 Thunderjets. By mid-1954 the group began to re-equip with the F-84F. In 1956, the group transitioned to the F-100D/F. The unit had four squadrons: the 508th (Yellow), the 509th (Red), the 510th (Purple), and the 511 th (Medium Blue). The markings on the F-100s

5 consisted of a wedge shaped design on the fin in the appropriate color with three stars near the top and the 405th Wing insignia superimposed in the middle. Nose bands were carried, again in the squadron color and the last three digits of the serial number carried on the band in White. The squadron insignia was applied to the ammunition bay doors, usually on both sides of the fuselage. The wing continued to operate the F-100 until 1 July 1958 when its squadrons were deactivated. On 9 April 1959, the 509th and 510th Tactical Fighter Squadrons were reactivated once again; however, the 509th was now a Fighter Interceptor Squadron equipped with F-86Ds and, later, F- 102s. The 510th continued to fly the F-100D and was now in residence at Clark Air Base, The Philippines. The 510th adopted Purple and White checkered intake markings, bordered at the rear with a White and Black band. The Purple tail band was also bordered with White and Black. A White "Speedbird" motif was superimposed on the Purple tail band (this was a carry over from the earlier 72nd TFS insignia). The 405th TFW provided air defense and offensive fighter operations in the Philippines and Taiwan. In the unit provided air defense training for Royal Thai Air Force personnel operating from Bangkok, Thailand. While based in Bangkok, they adopted the Thai Cobra motif and carried it on the fuselage sides just forward of the buzz numbers. This F-100D ( ) on the ramp at Langley AFB, Virginia during May of 1959, carries the Blue markings of the 511 th Rghter Bomber Squadron, 405th Fighter Bomber Wing. In 1962 these markings were removed and replaced by the PACAF badge on the fin, while some aircraft retaining the Cobra motif for a short period. During 1964, the 510th returned to the United States. Known Aircraft: 509th TFS: th TFS: , , , and (F) 511th TFS: and P P P Bachman P-39Q FBS 405FBG BC FBSq 405FBGp P-39Q P-47D P-47D FBSq 405FBGp Drew Field, FL Waltersboro AAF, SC Walterboro AAF, SC TACMF LACGL FLoG TOA TOA Beavers, Edward H Jr Resnick, Melvin M Etchison, Steve A Stampley, Jack R Dawn, Delmar R USA FL Drew Field, FL USA SC Myrtle Beach, SC USA SC Harleyville, SC

6 UC TAC P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D KTOA CRT TOA KCR A 8 KCRL A 8 CRLEF A 8 CRLEF A 8 TOA A64 TAC A64 TAC A89 LAC A64 LAC A64 KTAC A64 LAC A64 LAC A64 TOA St Dizier (A- 64) TOA A64 TOA St Dizier (A- 64) LACNU A64 LAC Ophoven (Y-32) LAC Y32 CBL Y32 CBL Y32 LAC Y32 KCR Y32 TOA Woirol, Warren S James, Vincent R Chapman, William W Jr James, Vincent R Weir, John H Piche, Joseph L Blackburn, Robert M Platner, John (NMI) Jr Bakken, Henry (NMI) O'Donnell, Thomas V [ground crew] Ellwanger, Burtonwood/Sta 590 St Alban's Head Picauville/A-8 Maupertuis/A- 15 Villejust/ 3mi W Coulommiers/A- 58 Thomas J Le Culot/A-89 Dooney, Charles D [ground crew] [parked aircraft] Firehammer, Welton E Bachman, Arthur W Barrow, William A St Dizier (A-64) Whitehead, Robert L Hopkins, James R St Dizier (A-64) Reese, Robert J Reese, Ophoven (Y- Robert J 32) Gaillard, Harold H Le Culot/A-89 Eckes, Daniel R Liege/A-93 Markham, John W Ophoven/Y-32 Bachman, Ophoven/4mi W Arthur W Y-32 Buholz, Duane E Ophoven/Y-32

7 P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D P-47D Y32 LAC Y32 CR Y32 MACB R 6 TAC R 6 TAC R68 LAC Straubing (R- 68)/GER LAC R68 LAC R68 LAC R68 LAC Straubing (R-68) TAC Nystrom, Arthur L Ophoven/Y-32 Potter, Horn/ 2mi W {B- GER Wayne B 8064} Teague, Charles E Ophoven/Y-32 Thompson, Milton W GER Kitzingen/R-6 Santmyer, Howard E GER Kitzingen/R-6 Whitehead, Robert L GER Straubing/R-68 Peterson, Straubing (R- USA GER Melvin A 68) Blanton, Howard M GER Neubiberg/R-85 Carroll, John H GER Straubing/R-68 Peyser, Harry M GER Pocking/R-76 Enos, Donovan E GER Giessen (Y-84)

8 Air Force Order of Battle Created: 26 Aug 2011 Updated: 25 May 2012 Sources AFHRA