314th Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 314th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the 58th Operations Group
. stationed at Luke Air Force Base
, Arizona
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1994.
, summer 1942. Trained in the Northeast United States until October, then was deployed to Ninth Air Force
in Egypt
, taking part in the Western Desert Campaign
. Trained for several weeks Royal Air Force units. Began operating with other organizations against the enemy in Tunisia
, engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and Sicily
until July 1943.
Trained during July–October 1943 for operations with Twelfth Air Force. Resumed combat on 30 October 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges, motor transports, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop concentrations, and rail facilities in Italy
until August 1944. Patrolled the beach and protected convoys during the assault on Anzio
in January 1944. Aided the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving another DUC for action from 12 to 14 May when the squadron bombed an enemy position on Monastery Hill (Cassino), attacked troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold to force the surrender of an enemy garrison.
Continued to give close support to ground forces until the fall of Rome in June 1944. Converted to P-47 Thunderbolts in July and supported the assault on southern France in August by dive-bombing gun position, bridges, and radar facilities, and by patrolling the combat zone. Attacked such targets as motor transports, rolling stock, rail lines, troops, bridges, gun emplacements, and supply depots after the invasion, giving tactical support to Allied forces advancing through France. Aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead January–February 1945, and supported Seventh Army's drive through the Siegfried defenses in March 1945.
Became part of occupation forces in Germany after European War ended in May, demobilized with personnel returning to the United States and aircraft going to storage facilities in Europe. Inactivated as an administrative unit, November 1945.
, 1986 as second F-16C/D training squadron in the USAF as a replacement training unit (RTU). This made the 314th the forth and last squadron under the 58th TTW. Initially equipped with new Block 25s, converted to new Block 42s in 1990. Aircraft carried "LF" tail code, yellow tail stripe outlined in red. On 1 October 1991 the squadron was redesignated the 314th Fighter Squadron, moved to the new 58th OG. On 1 April 1994 the 314th FS was taken over by the 61st FS when it moved to Luke AFB from MacDill AFB and was inactivated.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the 58th Operations Group
58th Operations Group
The 58th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 58th Special Operations Wing. It is stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico....
. stationed at Luke Air Force Base
Luke Air Force Base
Luke 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
Arizona
Arizona ; 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...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1994.
World War II
Established as a P-40 Warhawk fighter squadron under I Fighter CommandI Fighter Command
The I Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York...
, summer 1942. Trained in the Northeast United States until October, then was deployed to Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, taking part in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
. Trained for several weeks Royal Air Force units. Began operating with other organizations against the enemy in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
until July 1943.
Trained during July–October 1943 for operations with Twelfth Air Force. Resumed combat on 30 October 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges, motor transports, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop concentrations, and rail facilities in 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...
until August 1944. Patrolled the beach and protected convoys during the assault on Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
in January 1944. Aided the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving another DUC for action from 12 to 14 May when the squadron bombed an enemy position on Monastery Hill (Cassino), attacked troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold to force the surrender of an enemy garrison.
Continued to give close support to ground forces until the fall of Rome in June 1944. Converted to P-47 Thunderbolts in July and supported the assault on southern France in August by dive-bombing gun position, bridges, and radar facilities, and by patrolling the combat zone. Attacked such targets as motor transports, rolling stock, rail lines, troops, bridges, gun emplacements, and supply depots after the invasion, giving tactical support to Allied forces advancing through France. Aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead January–February 1945, and supported Seventh Army's drive through the Siegfried defenses in March 1945.
Became part of occupation forces in Germany after European War ended in May, demobilized with personnel returning to the United States and aircraft going to storage facilities in Europe. Inactivated as an administrative unit, November 1945.
Modern era
Reactivated by Tactical Air CommandTactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 1986 as second F-16C/D training squadron in the USAF as a replacement training unit (RTU). This made the 314th the forth and last squadron under the 58th TTW. Initially equipped with new Block 25s, converted to new Block 42s in 1990. Aircraft carried "LF" tail code, yellow tail stripe outlined in red. On 1 October 1991 the squadron was redesignated the 314th Fighter Squadron, moved to the new 58th OG. On 1 April 1994 the 314th FS was taken over by the 61st FS when it moved to Luke AFB from MacDill AFB and was inactivated.
Lineage
- Constituted 314th Fighter Squadron on 24 Jun 1942
- Activated on 6 July 1942
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945
- Re-designated 314th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and activated, 1 October 1986
- Re-designated 314th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1991
- Inactivated 1 April 1994
Assignments
- 324th Fighter Group324th Fighter GroupThe 324th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with XII Air Support Command, stationed at Fliegerhorst Stuttgart-Echterdingen , Germany. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945....
, 6 July 1942-7 November 1945
- Attached to 57th Fighter Group, 8 March-23 May 1943
- 58th Tactical Training Wing, 1 October 1986
- 58th Operations Group58th Operations GroupThe 58th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 58th Special Operations Wing. It is stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico....
, 1 October 1991-1 April 1994
Stations
- Mitchel Field, NY, 6 July 1942
- Baltimore MAP, Md, 6 July-28 October 1942
- RAF El AmiriyaRAF El AmiriyaRAF El Amiriya is a former Royal Air Force military airfield in Egypt, located approximately 16 km south-southwest of Alexandria; 180 km northwest of Cairo...
, Egypt, 23 Dec 1942 - RAF KabritRAF KabritKibrit Air Base is a closed Egyptian Air Force base located in Egypt, approximately 20 miles north of Suez; 125 km east of Cairo. The name of the station came from a nearby village, and in Egyptian means "sulphur كبريت".-History:...
, Egypt, 2 Feb 1943 - Darragh AirfieldNanur AirportNanur Airport is an airport in the Wadi Maymun Darraj region of Libya, located approximately 200 km south-southeast of Tripoli in the Libyan desert. Although listed as a civil airport, it appears to function as a reserve Libyan Air Force airfield. It consists of a very large runway, capable...
, Libya, 8 Mar 1943 - Ben Gardane AirfieldBen Gardane AirfieldBen Gardane Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Bin Qirdan ; about 420 km south-southeast of Tunis....
, Tunisia, 14 Apr 1943 - El Haouaria AirfieldEl Haouaria AirfieldEl Haouaria Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 44 km northeast of Tāklisah; about 40 km east of Tunis...
, Tunisia, c. 18 Jun 1943 - Menzel Heurr AirfieldMenzel Heurr AirfieldMenzel Heurr Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 22 km north-northeast of Korba and 60 km east-southeast of Tunis...
, Tunisia, 3 Oct 1943 - Cercola AirfieldCercola AirfieldCercola Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 2 km north of Cercola in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania....
, Italy, 25 October 1943 - Pignataro Maggiore AirfieldPignataro Maggiore AirfieldPignataro Maggiore Airfield is a grass airfield just north of Pignataro Maggiore, in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region of Campania, located about 40 km north of Naples...
, Italy, 6 May 1944 - Le Banca AirfieldLe Banca AirfieldCercola Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 14 km northeast of Caiazzo, in the province of Caserta , 30 km north-northeast of Naples....
, Italy, 6 Jun 1944
- Montalto Di Castro AirfieldMontalto Di Castro AirfieldMontalto Di Castro Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 16 km southwest of Canino, in the province of Viterbo in the internal part of Maremma Laziale, 90 km north-northwest of Rome.It was an all-weather temporary field built by the...
, Italy, 13 Jun 1944 - Ghisonaccia Airfield, Corsica, 15 Jul 1944
- Le Luc Airfield, France, 23 Aug 1944
- Istres Airfield (Y-17), France, 1 Sep 1944
- Amberieu Airfield (Y-5), France, 5 Sep 1944
- Dôle-Tavaux Airfield (Y-7), France, 17 Sep 1944
- Luneville Airfield (Y-2), France, 2 Jan 1945
- AAF Station Stuttgart/Echterdingen, Germany, 3 May-20 Oct 1945
- Camp ShanksCamp ShanksCamp Shanks, named after Major General David Carey Shanks was a United States Army installation in and around Orangeburg in the Town of Orangetown, New York. Situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River, it served as a point of embarkation for troops departing overseas...
, NY, 6-7 Nov 1945 - Luke AFB, Arizona, 1 October 1986-1 April 1994
Aircraft
- P-40 Warhawk, 1942-1944
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1944-1945 - F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1986-1994