This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(August 2017)
The mission of the 307 FS is to assist the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson to produce qualified F-15E aircrew. The squadron became operational in September 2011.
History
World War II
Initially established under Third Air Force in early 1942 as a fighter squadron at Baer Field, Indiana, flying some antisubmarine patrols in the Gulf of Mexico.
Deployed to the European Theater of Operations in June 1942 without aircraft as its Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and Bell P-39 Airacobras were deemed unsuitable for use against German aircraft in long-range bomber escort duties. Was re-equipped with RAF Supermarine Spitfire Vs and its pilots and technicians spent a two-month period undergoing intensive training in flying and fighting with RAF pilots in the British aircraft from airfields in southeast England. The squadron flew its first combat mission on 18 August 1942, when it attacked enemy positions in occupied France.
A Spitfire from the 307th Fighter Squadron, flown by Major Virgil C Fields, that crash-landed on the beach at Salerno, Italy after being damaged by a German Dornier Do 217, September 1943[2]
A P-51D-5-NA Mustang (MX-A, serial number 44-13464), flown by Major Sam Brown of the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group
By war's end, the squadron had earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and was involved in eight campaigns The squadron was largely demobilized during the summer of 1945 in Europe, a skeleton force returned to Drew Field, Florida in August, inactivating largely as an administrative unit in November.[3]
Reactivated from elements of several inactivating organizations in Germany in August 1946, Performed occupation duty and operating early-model Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star jets from former Luftwaffe jet-capable airfields at AAF Station Giebelstadt and AAF Station Kitzingen. Returned to the United States in June 1947 without personnel or equipment which remained in Germany.
Reassigned to NATO, becoming permanently based at Torrejon AB, Spain in 1966 when SAC turned Spanish bases over to USAFE. Initially equipped with F-100s, in 1970 received McDonnell F-4E Phantom IIs. Reassigned back to TAC at Homestead AFB in 1971, as part of re-establishment of 31st TFW upon its return from duty in Southeast Asia. Was deployed to Thailand, July 1972, engaging North Vietnamese forces in northern South Vietnam in response to the communist spring offensive. Returned to the United States in the late fall, 1972.
For the next 20 years, performed routine training and tactical deployments from Homestead, upgraded to the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon in 1988. At the end of 1986 the squadron and wing changed tail codes from ZF to HS which better matched the squadrons location in Homestead. Upgraded to receive Shaw AFB block 25s in August 1990. With the Gulf War build up and the 363rd TFW at Shaw AFB deploying to Saudi Arabia meant no more block 25s were available. With some F-16A/B block 15s still in service for the 307th TFS, it continued to operate both types.
When Desert Storm ended it was decided to convert the 31st TFW to block 40 F-16s instead. Up to this point about ten block 25s had reached the 307th FS and had been painted in 'Emerald Knight' markings. They were all sent to other units. Neither of the 31st TFWs other sister squadrons flew the block 25. In March 1991 the 307th began conversion to the block 40 version of the F-16. On 1 October 1991 the word 'Tactical' was dropped and unit became the 307th Fighter Squadron. By early 1992 the conversion to block 40 F-16s with the general purpose role was complete.
Squadron aircraft at Homestead after Hurricane Andrew[note 2]
Moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia in late August 1992 when Hurricane Andrew threatened South Florida. It was to be a temporary move to Moody, but Homestead AFB was so heavily damaged it was never re-opened for any of the 31st FW squadrons and was eventually turned over to the Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing and renamed Homestead Air Reserve Base. After the destruction of Homestead AFB, the 307th FS was reassigned permanently to the 347th Operations Group at Moody. At this point the 'HS' tail code began to be replaced with a 'MY' tail code, with some block 40 F-16s were delivered right from the factory to the 307th Fighter Squadron's new home base. It deployed to Saudi Arabia from, March–June 1995 in support of Operation Southern Watch.[1] Inactivated in 1995 when Air Combat Command temporarily closed down ACC operations at the base, temporarily turning Moody over to Air Education and Training Command as a training base.
Modern era
It was reactivated in 2003 as an Air Force Reserve CommandMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle training squadron, where its mission was to train Air Force Reserve pilots in the F-15C at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia as an adjunct for the 1st Fighter Wing. The unit was moved from Langley to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in 2010 in realignment with the phaseout of the F-15C at Langley pending the arrival of the F-22 Raptor and the need for an Associate Air Force Reserve F-15E Strike Eagle unit at Seymour Johnson.
Lineage
Constituted 'as the 307th Pursuit Squadron' (Interceptor) on 21 January 1942
Activated on 30 January 1942
Redesignated 307th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 307th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Activated on 20 August 1946
Redesignated 307th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 19 February 1947
Redesignated 307th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 3 November 1947
Redesignated 307th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 15 June 1948
Redesignated 307th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 307th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 16 July 1950
Redesignated 307th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953
Redesignated 307th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 April 1957
Redesignated 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 307th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 July 1983
Redesignated 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 April 1988
Inactivated on 1 July 1989
Activated on 30 September 1991
Re-designated 307th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
31st Pursuit Group (later 31st Fighter Group), 30 January 1942 – 7 November 1945
31st Fighter Group (later 31st Fighter-Bomber Group, 31st Fighter Escort Group), 20 August 1946 (attached to 31st Fighter-Escort Wing after 27 July 1951)
North American P-51 Mustang (1943–1945, 1947–1948)
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (1946–1947)
Republic F-84 Thunderjet (1948–1957)
North American F-100 Super Sabre (1957–1970)
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1970–1988)
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1988–1989, 1991–1995)
McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle (2003–2010)
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle (2010–present)[1]
References
Notes
^Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-32-MC Phantom II serial 66-8768. This aircraft is now on permanent display in front of VFW post in Bastrop, Texas. (Photo taken at Ramstein Air Base, Germany).
^Closest aircraft is 307th Fighter Squadron F-16C serial 89-2146 and the F-16C in the background is serial 88-465 which was repaired and returned to flying status. 89-2146 was repaired afterwards but not to flying status, becoming a GF-16C ground trainer at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
,_flown_by_Major_Sam_Brown.jpg)
