302d Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 302nd Fighter Squadron (302 FS) is part of the 477th Fighter Group
at Elmendorf Air Force Base
, Alaska
. It operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor conducting an air superiority mission.
, defensive counter-air (DCA) and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD)
], as well as strategic attack and interdiction.
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. (The unit that had been the 302nd was reflagged with a new number, remained a special operations squadron, and physically relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Concurrently, a new AFRES fighter squadron was raised at Luke AFB and took over the 302nd lineage.) 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
.
477th Fighter Group
The 477th Fighter Group is the Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22A Raptor unit. The unit is assigned to Tenth Air Force and is based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.-Overview:...
at Elmendorf Air Force Base
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor conducting an air superiority mission.
Mission
The 302nd Fighter Squadron trains in the fighter missions of offensive counter-air (OCA)Offensive counter air
Offensive Counter-Air is a military term for the suppression of an enemy's military air power by destroying or disabling the aircraft—preferably on the ground. This includes disablement achieved by damaging the infrastructure or logistics.Operations include attacks on air bases...
, defensive counter-air (DCA) and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD)
SEAD
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , also known as "Wild Weasel" and "Iron Hand" operations in the United States, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses , primarily in the first hours of an attack.One fourth of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD...
], as well as strategic attack and interdiction.
History
The 302nd was one of four African-American fighter squadronsTuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
to enter combat during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It saw combat in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
and Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
from 17 February 1944-20 February 1945.
The squadron trained in the Reserve for and performed search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
(SAR), in addition to some medical air evacuation
Aeromedical evacuation
Aeromedical Evacuation usually refers to specialized medical transportation units in the United States Air Force. Within the U.S. Air Force, AE is coordinated by Air Mobility Command located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
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
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
missions. (The unit that had been the 302nd was reflagged with a new number, remained a special operations squadron, and physically relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Concurrently, a new AFRES fighter squadron was raised at Luke AFB and took over the 302nd lineage.) It deployed several times since late 1992 to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to help enforce the no-fly zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
over Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to support UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
air operations in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
Lineage
- 302nd Fighter Squadron (1942–1944)
- 302nd Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1944–1956)
- 302nd Air Rescue Squadron (1956–1966)
- 302nd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1966–1974)
- 302nd Special Operations Squadron (1974–1987)
- 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1987–1992)
- 302nd Fighter Squadron (1992–Present)
Assignments
- 332d Fighter Group (1942–1945)
- 2348th Air Reserve Flying Center (1956–1960)
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
(1960) - 6th Air Force Reserve Region (1960–1969)
- Western Air Force Reserve Region (1969–1976)
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(1976–1983) - Fourth Air Force (1983–1987)
- 944th Fighter Wing944th Fighter WingThe United States Air Force's 944th Fighter Wing is an initial fighter training unit located at Luke AFB, Arizona.-Mission:The mission of the 944th Fighter Wing is to train F-16 pilots and provide combat ready fighter pilots for the Air Force....
(1987–2007) - 477th Fighter Group477th Fighter GroupThe 477th Fighter Group is the Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22A Raptor unit. The unit is assigned to Tenth Air Force and is based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.-Overview:...
(2007–Present)
Bases stationed
- Tuskegee Army Air Field, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(1942–1943) - Selfridge FieldSelfridge FieldSelfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(1943) - Oscoda Army Air Field, Michigan (1943–1944)
- TarantoTarantoTaranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1944) - Montecorvino, Italy (1944)
- Capodichino, Italy (1944)
- Ramitelli , Italy (1944–1945)
- Williams Air Force BaseWilliams Air Force BaseWilliams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
(1956–1960) - Luke Air Force BaseLuke Air Force BaseLuke Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located seven miles west of the central business district of Glendale, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is also about west of Phoenix, Arizona....
, Arizona (1960–2007) - Elmendorf Air Force BaseElmendorf Air Force BaseJoint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
(2007–Present)
Aircraft operated
- Bell P-39 Airacobra (1943–1944)
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1943)
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1944)
- North American P-51 Mustang (1944–1945)
- Grumman HU-16 Albatross (1956–1971)
- HH-34 Choctaw (1971–1974)
- CH-3 Sea KingSikorsky S-61RThe Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R...
(1974–1987) - HH-3 Jolly Green GiantSikorsky S-61RThe Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R...
(1985–1987) - General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1987–2007)
- Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (2007–Present)
See also
- Tuskegee AirmenTuskegee AirmenThe Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....