333d Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
4th Fighter Wing
The 4th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where it is also the host unit....
at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located to the southeast of Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for Navy test pilot Seymour Johnson, a native of Goldsboro...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force F-15E Strike...
aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.
History
Activated in 1957 at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC as a 4th F-100 Super SabreF-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
squadron with the 4th Fighter-Day Wing, taking over personnel and equipment from the 83d FDW, 448th FD Squadron. Performed routine training exercises,. The F-100s remained with the 333d TFS until 1960 when it was upgraded to the Republic F-105B Thunderchief. During the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, the squadron was deployed to McCoy Air Force Base
McCoy Air Force Base
With McCoy's closure as an active air force installation in 1975, the site was redeveloped and is known today as Orlando International Airport, which carries the airport code MCO .- History :...
, Florida, ready to react at a moments notice for possible combat over Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
In the spring of 1964, the 333d began the transition from F-105Bs to F-105D/Fs.
Vietnam War
Was deployed to Thailand in late 1965 to Korat RTAFB for combat operations over Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. However, the 333d then transferred to Takhli RTAFB to relieve the 335th TFS. On 3 December 1965, the 333d TFS deployment was changed from TDY to PCS (Permanent Change of Station), and the squadron was permanently assigned to the 355th TFW at Takhli. Remained in combat operations over Southeast Asia from Thailand until October 1970 when was withdrawn from Thailand as part of the Untied States' phasdown of operations in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Began to carry tail code "RK" in March 1968, carried red colors on tail.
Ground Support
Assigned non-operationally to McConnell AFB, Kansas, then also to Luke AFB, Arizona as a non-operational squadron. Was Moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in July 1971, becoming an operational A-7D squadron under 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...
's Twelfth Air Force, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Aircraft carried tail code "DM", with red tail stripe. Took part in routine deployments and training operations with the A-7D until 1976, being upgraded to the new Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II, becoming the first tactical unit to fly the A-10A. Initially retained red tail stripe, later replaced by red and white checkered fin caps. Trained and deployed with the 355th TFW until inactivated in February 1991 as part of the drawdown of the Air Force after the Cold War Ended. Was reactivated in November 1991 as the 333d Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, replacing the 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron
22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron
The 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 602d Tactical Air Control Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona...
as an OA-10 FAC training squadron. Replaced by the 354th Fighter Squadron
354th Fighter Squadron
The 354th Fighter Squadron is part of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
in October 1994.
F-15E Strike Eagle
Moved to Seymour Johnson AFB as an F-15 Strike Eagle training Squadron, 1 October 1994 in conjunction with the transfer of the F-15E FTU training at Luke AFB, Arizona.Lineage
- Constituted 333d Fighter-Day Squadron on 13 Nov 1957
- Activated on 8 Dec 1957
- Re-designated: 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1958
- Re-designated: 333d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 22 Mar 1971
L Inactivated on 15 Feb 1991
- Re-designated 333d Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 1 Nov 1991.
Assignments
- 4th Fighter-Day (later, 4 Tactical Fighter) Wing4th Fighter WingThe 4th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where it is also the host unit....
, 8 Dec 1957
- Attached to 4485th Composite Wing, 10 Mar 1964-c. 15 Mar 1965
- 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 Dec 1965
- 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Oct 1970
- 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, 22 Mar 1971
- 355th Tactical Fighter (later, 355 Tactical Training) Wing355th Fighter WingThe 355th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command's Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where in operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II...
, 31 Jul 1971-15 Feb 1991 - 602d Air Control Wing, 1 Nov 1991
- 355th Operations Group355th Operations GroupThe 355th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 355th Wing. It is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona-Units:...
, 1 May 1992 - 4th Operations Group4th Operations GroupThe 4th Operations Group is the flying component of the 4th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina...
, 1 Oct 1994-Present
Stations
- Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, 8 Dec 1957-4 Dec 1965
- Deployed at Eglin AFB, FL, 10 Mar 1964-c. 15 Mar 1965
- Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 8 Dec 1965-15 Oct 1970
- McConnell AFB, KS, 15 Oct 1970
- Luke AFB, AZ, 22 Mar 1971
- Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, c. 31 Jul 1971-15 Feb 1991; 1 Nov 1991
- Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, 1 Oct 1994-Present
Aircraft
- F-100 Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
(1957–1960) - F-105 ThunderchiefF-105 ThunderchiefThe Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it has the dubious distinction of being the only US aircraft to have been...
(1960–1970) - A-7 Corsair IIA-7 Corsair IIThe Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
(1971–1976) - A-10 Thunderbolt IIA-10 Thunderbolt IIThe Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
(1976–1991, 1991–1994) - F-15E Strike EagleF-15E Strike EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force F-15E Strike...
(1994–Present)