366th Fighter Squadron

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366th Fighter Squadron
Usafrcf-16.jpg
A 366th FS F-16C on the ramp at Youngstown
Active 1943 – 1945
1972 – Present
Country United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Fighter
Size ~250 full and part time Reservists, 24 aircraft
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ Youngstown Air Reserve Base
Engagements European Theater of Operations
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt Col Anna Byrne, USAFR
Insignia
366th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 7 January 1990) 366th FS Patch.png
Fuselage code (1 January 1943 – 7 November 1945) IP
Tail code (13 April 1972 – 1 January 1990) YN
Tail code (1 January 1990 – Present) YO
Aircraft flown
Fighter General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon

The 366th Fighter Squadron is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 275th Fighter Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Base, Ohio. Originally formed on 1 January 1943 as the 366th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), the squadron participated in the European Theatre of Operations and was inactivated on 7 November 1945. The 366th was reactivated as a reserve squadron in April 1972, flying Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs from Youngstown Air Reserve Base, Ohio. The unit transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in 1982, flying it until transitioning to the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon in 1990. In 1997, the 366th transitioned to their current aircraft, the General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, with which they have conducted air superiority missions over Iraq as a part of Operation Northern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom.


History

World War II

The 366th began their WWII service by flying bomber escort missions for the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. In April and May 1944, the 366th flew dive bombing missions against German marshalling yards and airfields in preparation for Operation Overlord. On D-Day and 7 June 1944, the 366th escorted troop carrier formations landing on the Cotentin Peninsula. For the remainder of June 1944, the 366th attacked rail lines, troop formations, bridges, and transportation infrastructure before moving to Cretteville France in July. From Cretteville, the squadron took part in operations resulting in the Allied breakthrough at St Lo, continuing to fly escort, interdiction, and close air support missions throughout 1944 and 1945. The squadron remained in Germany until VE Day in July 1945, returning to the United States where it would be inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Air Force Reserve

After a break of 27 years, the squadron was reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1972 at Youngstown Air Reserve Base in northeast Ohio. The 366th was initially assigned to the 950th Tactical Fighter Group, flying Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs. On 9 March 1983, the unit was reassigned to the newly-formed 275th Tactical Fighter Wing, having recently transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The 366th participated in Exercise Patriot Pearl at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico in 1988. In late 1989, the squadron began transitioning to the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, a process that was completed in 1990. In June 1994, the unit participated in Exercise Central Enterprise, sending 6 F-16s to Karup Air Base, Denmark. The 366th participated in Operation Northern Watch in 1999, two years after transitioning to newer General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcons, enforcing the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. They later deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch and again for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. They have deployed several times in recent years, including to South Korea in support of a Theatre Support Program in 2012 and to Bagram Airfield in 2015.

F-16Cs of the 366th FS

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 366th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 20 December 1942
Activated on 1 January 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
  • Redesignated 366th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 13 April 1972
Activated in the Reserve on 13 April 1972
Redesignated 366th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1993

Assignments

  • 358th Fighter Group: 1 February 1943 – 7 November 1945
  • 950th Tactical Fighter Group: 13 April 1972 – 9 March 1983
  • 275th Tactical Fighter Wing: 9 March 1983 – 1 October 1993
  • 275th Operations Group: 1 October 1993 – Present

Stations

Aircraft

External Links

366th Fighter Squadron - Wikipedia
366th Fighter Squadron - American Air Museum in Britain


Important: This is an Alternate Universe version of the 366th FS and, while the WWII history is more or less real, should not be considered historical in any way.