333d Fighter Squadron

This article is about the 333d Fighter Squadron. For World War II unit, see 131st Fighter Squadron.
333d Fighter Squadron

333d Fighter Squadron Patch
Active 8 December 1957 – 15 February 1991
1 November 1991 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Fighter Training
Part of Air Combat Command
Ninth Air Force
4th Fighter Wing
4th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Nickname(s) Lancers
Decorations PUC
AFOUA w/ V Device
RVGC w/ Palm
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt Col Don Haley
333d Fighter Squadron - F-15E over Grand Canyon.
F-105s from the 354th and 333d TFS refueling with a KC-135 from Takhli Air Base

The 333d Fighter Squadron (333 FS) is part of the 4th Operations Group, 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

History

Activated in 1957 at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC as a 4th F-100 Super Sabre 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, the squadron was deployed to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, ready to react at a moments notice for possible combat over Cuba. In the spring of 1964, the 333d began the transition from F-105Bs to F-105D/Fs.

Vietnam War

The squadron was deployed to Thailand in late 1965 to Korat RTAFB for combat operations over Southeast Asia. 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 Remained in combat operations over Southeast Asia from Thailand until October 1970 when was withdrawn from Thailand as part of the United States' phasdown of operations in the Vietnam War. 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 Command'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 as an OA-10 FAC training squadron. Replaced by the 354th Fighter Squadron 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.[1]

Lineage

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

Assignments

Attached to 4485th Composite Wing, 10 Mar 1964-c. 15 Mar 1965

Stations

Deployed at Eglin AFB, FL, 10 Mar 1964-c. 15 Mar 1965

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ↑ AFHRA 333 FS Page

External links

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