"79th Aero Squadron" redirects here. Provided personnel for and helped train units, 1940-1942. In June 1999, the 79th deployed F-16CJs in support of Operation Allied Force to a bare base in Southwest Asia. Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Connections See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below. [4], Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. Activated on 1 Jan 1994. Capt Roy W. Camblin, c. 1 Apr 1933; Capt Charles G. Pearcy, 15 Mar 1936; Maj Frank O'D Hunter, 17 Nov 1936; Maj Armin F. Herold, Sep 1937; Maj Thayer S. Olds, Jul 1938; Capt Jesse Auton, Feb 1941; 1 Lt James Ferguson, May 1941-unkn; Maj Nathaniel H. Blanton, by Aug 1943; Maj Richard L. Ott, 14 Nov 1943; Capt Jesse O. Yaryan, 30 Jan 1944; Capt Carl E. Jackson, 31 Jan 1944; Capt Robert J. Meyer, 20 Feb 1944; Maj R. C. Franklin Jr., 22 Feb 1944; Maj Delynn E. Anderson, 10 May 1944; Capt Jack M. Ilfrey, 27 Sep 1944; Maj Robert J. Meyer, 9 Dec 1944; Maj Walter R. Yarbrough, 4 Apr 1945-unkn. The unit moved to Shaw Field, South Carolina, in October 1946. Its very dynamic and very diverse--it spans the entire globe across every capability in ACC. The 99th Flying Training Squadron (99 FTS) is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 22 February 1918, being organized at Rich Field, Waco, Texas, as a pilot training Squadron during World War I. SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A U.S.Airman from the 79th Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS) embraces his significant other on the flightline at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Oct 29, 2022. Our . In January 1999, the 79th Fighter Squadron was awarded the South Carolina Air Force Association's Outstanding Air Force Unit of the Year award. Also, in 1999, the squadron was honored with the Air Combat Command's Maintenance Effectiveness Award. Based on risk assessment, Airmen are either seen immediately and tested, or placed on a random selection list. Stations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin), U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Redesignated: 79 Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 6 Dec 1939; 79 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 12 Mar 1941; 79 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 79 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 30 Dec 1942; 79 Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine, on 20 Aug 1943; 79 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 5 Sep 1944. Unkn, 1918. In response to COVID-19, the 20th MDG has been selected to be part of Project Brown Herrin, an electronic surveillance program that is sent out to 400 members every two weeks. Kings Cliffe began as a satellite air base for the Group based at nearby Wittering. Between 1946 and 1952, the squadron's history is filled with several moves and aircraft changes before the 79th moved to Shaw Field, S.C. From 1940 to 1942, the squadron trained combat pilots and flew the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk from bases on the East Coast. Sixty-nine members of the 79th FS were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in this terrorist attack and 12 members of the squadron were decorated for valour. SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --. F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from Shaw Air Force Base's 79th Fighter Squadron "The Tigers", Sumter, South Carolina, conducted joint integrated training at MacDill and Avon Park Air Force Range during exercise Raider Fires 21-12 Sept. 8-15, 2021. Named the top air dominance squadron in the Air Force for their actions across five combat operations and two exercises in fiscal year 2020, the 79th Fighter Squadron received the Raytheon Trophy Aug. 28, 2021. He stands with other crew members. Object number: FRE 5051 - David Wade, command chief of ACC, visited Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 4-5, 2020. "Library: Fact Sheet 79th Fighter Squadron", "Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons", 79th Fighter Squadron (United States Air Force), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=79th_Fighter_Squadron&oldid=1140200153, Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations in South Carolina, Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from October 2017, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from October 2017, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Eighth Corps Area, 18 October 1927 (in inactive status), 20th Fighter Group (later 20th Fighter-Bomber Group), 29 July 1946 (attached to, 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 20th Tactical Fighter Wing), 8 February 1955 (attached to, 20th Operations Group, 31 March 1992 30 September 1993, 20th Operations Group, 1 January 1994 present, Shaw Field (later, Shaw Air Force Base), South Carolina, c. 25 October 1946, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 19 November 1951 22 May 1952, RAF Upper Heyford, England, c. 1 May 1970 30 September 1993 (deployed at, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 January 1994 present, North American F-100 Super Sabre, 19571970, General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, 19701993, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1994present, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 23:25. P-51, 1946-1948; F-84, 1948-1957; F-100, 1957-1970; F-111, 1970-1993. Object Number - FRE 5231 - Official emblem of the 20th Fighter Group, approved 26 November 1942. The 79th can trace its lineage all the way back to 22 February 1918, when they were organized as the 79th Aero Squadron at Rich Field in Waco Texas as a pilot training Squadron during World War I- making it one of the oldest squadrons in the United States Air Force. Emblem. In June 1999, the 79th deployed F-16CJs in support of Operation Allied Force to a bare base in Southwest Asia. As part of 8th Air Force, the 79th, and its newly acquired P-38s, escorted medium and heavy bombers on strikes over Europe. Lt Col Harry E. McAfee, c. Aug 1946; Maj Walter J. Overend, Sep 1946; Lt Col William P. McBride, c. Jan 1947; Maj Walter J. Overend, Jul 1948; Maj Walter G. Benz, Oct 1948-unkn; Lt Col William P. McBride, unkn-c. 1 May 1950; Capt Richard F. Jones, 1 May 1950-unkn; Maj Delynn E. Anderson, unkn; Maj George N. Lunsford, by Jun 1951; Maj Harry H. Moreland, 1 Nov 1951; Lt Col Cleo M. Bishop, 18 Feb 1952; Lt Col James E. Hill, 1 Mar 1955; Maj Allan S. Harte, 30 Apr 1956; Lt Col William H. Holt, c. Jul 1958; Lt Col Edwin J. Rackham, by 30 Jun 1960; Lt Col William F. Georgi, 6 Jul 1961; Lt Col John C. Bartholf, 5 Jul 1963; Lt Col John E. Madison, 5 Jun 1965; Lt Col John C. Galgan Jr., by 30 Jun 1966; Lt Col Robert L. Jones, 9 May 1967; Lt Col Robert E. Darlington, 29 Jul 1968; Lt Col Fred W. Gray, 24 Jan 1970; Lt Col David B. Hubbard, 10 Dec 1971; Lt Col John S. Rumph, Sep 1972 (acting); Lt Col David B. Hubbard, c. 28 Nov 1972; Lt Col John S. Rumph, Mar 1973; Lt Col Harry Pawlik, 1 Jun 1974; Lt Col George F. Houck Jr., 16 Jun 1975; Lt Col John D. Phillips, 22 Jun 1976; Lt Col Howard W. Nixon, 26 Sep 1977; Lt Col Grady H. Reed III, c. 28 Aug 1979; Lt Col Frank B. Pyne, 28 Jan 1980; Lt Col John G. Lorber, 9 May 1980; Lt Col Joseph N. Narsavage Jr., c. 17 Jun 1982; Lt Col Peter A. Granger, 1 Jun 1984; Lt Col Steven R. Emory, 29 May 1987; Lt Col Larry G. Carter, 19 Feb 1988; Lt Col Steven A. Mires, 12 Jan 1990; Lt Col Mark A. Hyatt, 14 Sep 1991-30 Jun 1993. 20 Fighter (later, 20 Fighter-Bomber) Group, 29 Jul 1946 (attached to 20 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 15 Nov 1952-7 Feb 1955); 20 Fighter-Bomber (later, 20 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Feb 1955 (attached to 39 Tactical Group, 23 Oct 1990-28 Feb 1991); 20 Operations Group, 31 Mar 1992-30 Jun 1993. "It is built like a tank," said Senior Airman Zion Hill, one of the airmen . Mission statement. The goal of agile combat support is to provide the most capable air and space forces to combatant commanders. On Aug. 7, 1941, with construction underway, Sumter Army Air Field became Shaw Army Air Field. Jessica Distefano, 20th Medical Group, noncommissioned officer in charge of laboratory, briefs U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, about COVID-19 efforts and future plans at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 5, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Meghan Hutton). Afterward, they headed to the 25th Attack Groups remotely piloted aircraft operations site and the 20th Medical Groups COVID-19 response cell, as well as the 79th Fighter Squadron and partnered 79th Fighter Generation Squadron. Carl Swat Painter, 79th Fighter Squadron (FS) pilot, demonstrates the squadrons Tiger Tiger! hand signal before taking off for a training sortie at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 18, 2023. Redesignated 79 Pursuit Squadron on 8 May 1929. The Tigers brought four F-16 aircraft, seven pilots and maintenance support Airmen to conduct the vital joint training in ways that are impossible to accomplish at Shaw AFB. One of the changes Shaw spearheaded is reorganizing the 20th Maintenance Groups aircraft maintenance units into fighter generation squadrons that correspond with their respective fighter squadron brethren. U.S. Air Force Capt. - Captain Jack M. Ilfrey, one of the COs of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kings Cliffe air base. Organized as 79 Aero Squadron on 22 Feb 1918. The squadron maintains and operates Block 50 Mini-D variant F-16 Fighting Falcons in support of complex training and operational tasking, while maintaining proficiency in the employment of a full array of munitions and tactics. Plan. David Salanitri) PRINT | E-MAIL The CRC in conjunction with the 20th MDG is currently leading the wing in Project Brown Heron, an electronic surveillance program that is sent out to 400 members every two weeks. MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --. The 49th Operations Support Squadron is made up of seven flights including Weather, Aircrew Flight Equipment, Airfield Operations, White Sands Radar, Intelligence, Current Operations and Weapons and Tactics. Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through5 Nov 2007. I could hear the enthusiasm, because when you let Airmen be a part of the solution, they buy in. The 79th FS traveled to MacDill from Shaw to conduct agile combat employment training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Destani K. Matheny), Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Unit stations Kelly and Wade began their immersion at the 15th Air Force Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces Central headquarters and U.S. Army Central headquarters. From 1940 to 1942, the, An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Meghan Hutton). Shaw is a hub of strategic military power and our Airmen are the key to success.. U.S. Air Force Airman Rulby De La Cruz, 79th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight checks and communicates with the pilot of his aircraft prior to takeoff at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 18, 2023. Even though they had reserve personnel assigned, they were not Organized Reserve units. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. In keeping pace with the restructuring, the squadron reorganized and incorporated maintainers from its aircraft generation, equipment maintenance and supply squadrons on Feb. 1, 1992. The squadron returned to the states and was inactivated Oct. 19, 1945. David Wade, command chief of Air Combat Command, fist bumps 79th Fighter Squadron and 79th Fighter Generation Squadron leadership at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 5, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin), A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft sits parked on flight line at MacDill Air Force Base, Sept. 8, 2021. The 79th FS received the 3,500th F-16 Fighting Falcon produced by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems on April 27, 1995. On 30 June 1993 the squadron was yet again inactivated. During 1996, the squadron deployed twice in support of OSW. The 79th Rescue Squadron operates the HC-130J Combat King II and provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The squadron was demobilized after World War I, but was reactivated in October 1927, as the 79th Reconnaissance Observation Squadron. Pride. U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Carlos Yanez, an aircraft armament systems specialist with the 79th Fighter Squadron (FS), Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, inspects the missiles on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 8, 2021. Antisubmarine patrols, c. 8 Dec 1941-c. 8 Feb 1942. The 79th FS "Tigers" often show squadron pride prior to takeoff; this culture builds camaraderie between crew chiefs and pilots that both improves morale and ensures good work ethic, leading to. Lt Col Thomas A. Gilkey III, 1 Jan 1994; Lt Col Jeffrey W. Eberhart, 8 Jul 1994; Lt Col Timothy J. Collins, 1 Apr 1996; Lt Col James W. Hyatt, 16 May 1997; Lt Col James Dodson, 14 Jun 1999-. Then youve got Maj. Gen. Chad Franks at 15th AF with 47,000 Airmen remotely piloted aircraft, F-22 Raptors and everything in between, including the 20th Fighter Wing. Shaw Air Force Base is a self-contained town, administered and maintained by the 20th Fighter Wing through the Mission Support Group. The squadron was demobilized in November 1918, but was reactivated and consolidated with the 77th Observation Squadron in October 1927. The squadron was demobilized on March 16, 1919, following the war. This joint training enhanced the exercise . The Gallant Unit Citation is awarded to units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in . The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the Cold War. Since that time, the "Tigers" continuously supported Operations Northern and Southern Watch in Southwest Asia. In response to COVID-19, the 20th MDG has been selected to be part of Project Brown Herrin, an electronic surveillance program that is sent out to 400 members every two weeks. 79th Fighter Squadron Squadron View all 52 images Object Number - FRE 1439 - Captain Jack M. Ilfrey, one of the COs of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kings Cliffe air base. The training at MacDill allowed Shaws F-16 fighter pilots to integrate into a joint training environment to practice dropping inert munitions from their aircraft instead of simulating the air-to-ground training. The squadron was formed during World War II as the first flying unit for African Americans. This was an incredibly difficult choice, but I'm confident we chose the right team to carry on the Thunderbird mission and showcase America's Air Force." Col. John Caldwell . From Sept. 1994 through Jan. 1995, and again in 1996, the squadron deployed to Southwest Asia (SWA) for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH (OSW). The squadron moved again to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in November 1951. ),USAF Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995(Washington: USPGO, 1999). Object Number - FRE 1439 Although they were not activated, they were organized with reserve personnel during the 1920s and early 1930s. The 79th Rescue Squadron is a United States Air Force combat search and rescue unit of the 563rd Rescue Group, 355th Wing, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.. David Wade, ACC command chief, elbow-bump Airmen at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 5, 2020. The squadron was organized in February 1918, as the 79th Aero Service Squadron at Waco Field, Texas, with an aerial gunnery mission. The Tigers flew more than 1,000 successful combat sorties with these dual operational requirements. The 78th Air Base Wing Communications Directorate effectively employs information technologies to enable the Center to enhance warfighter capabilities. This work, 79th Fighter Generation Squadron maintains mission readiness [Image 3 of 3], by A1C Meghan Hutton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. In 1994 the 79th upgraded to a newer version of the F-16 and flew a total of 4,370 sorties with more than 8,400 flying hours. From 1940 to 1942, the squadron trained combat pilots and flew the P-40 Warhawk from bases on the east coast. Click on the map above to zoom into where the 79th FG was stationed. Crew chiefs are responsible for a variety of tasks, essential to mission readiness. Prepared byPatsy Robertson. Chris Rasnick, an avionics technician assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron preforms a preflight check on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 8, 2021. F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from Shaw Air Force Bases 79th Fighter Squadron The Tigers, Sumter, South Carolina, conducted joint integrated training at MacDill and Avon Park Air Force Range during exercise Raider Fires 21-12 Sept. 8-15, 2021. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an American single-engine, single-seat, all metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft, powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine. David Wade, command chief of ACC, visited Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 4-5, 2020. The squadron was in the area for Operation Southern Watch, a UN sanctioned patrol of a no-fly zone over Southern Iraq. The squadron was reactivated in November, The squadron was organized Feb. 20 1918, as the 77th Aero Squadron at Waco Field, Texas. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training. U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Redesignated Squadron B, Taliaferro Field, TX, on 23 Jul 1918. Its their ideas and their team and they get to work towards a better day, a better solution. Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1994-. February 15th, DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled, Version: 378719a7422dbf16a653a31d0524fb9a2058ed47_2023-04-20T10:09:12, 79th Fighter Generation Squadron maintains mission readiness [Image 3 of 3], Strategic Biggs Field, TX, 29 Jul 1946; Shaw Field, SC, c. 25 Oct 1946; Langley AFB, VA, 19 Nov 1951-22 May 1952; Woodbridge RAF, England, 1 Jun 1952; RAF Upper Heyford, England, c. 15 Jan 1970-30 Jun 1993 (deployed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, 23 Oct 1990-28 Feb 1991). Activated on 29 Jul 1946. The squadron also deployed regularly to Italy, Turkey and Libya, fulfilling its commitments in Europe. None. Robertson. I got to talk with a lot of those Airmen, said Kelly. Because they had no regular personnel they were still considered inactive in the regular army. The 79th was inactivated in April 1993, and reactivated at its present home, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., on Jan. 3, 1994. MOS 79T Recruiting/Retention NCO (ARNG) MOS 79V Retention And Transition NCO. In 1957, the squadron converted to the F-100 Super Sabre. Capt. During Kellys first visit to Shaw since assuming command, he received a firsthand look at how Team Shaw, comprised of multiple major commands, stays mission ready 24/7 while striving for innovation at every turn with over 600 aircraft and over 53,000 Airmen and civilians located across the globe. During that year, however, the squadron had several homes, The 55th Fighter Squadron's roots trace back to Aug. 9, 1917. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. Reconstituted, and consolidated (25 May 1933) with 79 Observation Squadron, which was constituted on 18 Oct 1927. Warren Air Force Base in southeastern Wyoming. Originally organized as the 55th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, by Novemberthe squadron was deployed toIssoudun, France. A U.S. Air Force pilot from the 79th Fighter Squadron gets situated in the cockpit of his F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to takeoff for exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., on Feb 130225-F-CJ989-901.jpg 2,100 1,397; 991 KB Curtiss P-36A (AC 38-17) (6127836062).jpg 1,780 1,026; 798 KB Tasked with mission of suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses; rotated aircraft and personnel in support of operations in Southwest Asia, 1994-. Decorations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Destani K. Matheny), U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, Chief Master Sgt. The 79th Fighter Group was one of the most successful, yet overlooked, units of the United States Army Air Forces in WWII. The P-47 was the most produced American fighter of World War II, with 15,636 being built. The 79th FGS deployed to project combat air power and help stabilize the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Shaw is a key contributor to every single thing ACC does, said Kelly. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 22 February 1918, being organized at Rich Field, Waco, Texas, as a pilot training Squadron during World War I. The 20th Operations Support Squadron traces its lineage back to Jan. 25, 1943, as the 20th Airdrome Squadron. The airmen were from the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. The F-16 is a single-engine, compact, multi-role fighter and is the worlds most prolific fighter, with the U.S. Air Force having over 2,000 in service. It is an outpatient clinic with 24-hour ambulance transport service. The following principles will guide and shape our actions: a. TDYs like this one enable our pilots and maintainers to practice joint integration and learning away from home station, said Capt. The 325th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to train and project unrivaled combat power. Jacob Impellizzeri, 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, has been selected as Thunderbird 8, the team's Advance Pilot and Narrator. In 1938, the squadron moved to Hamilton Field, Calif., after several stops in North Carolina, Florida and Washington, and was later re-designated the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron. We had a bunch of JTACs out on the range and we came out here so we could practice dropping inert munitions while they practiced their tactics, said Maj. David Brady, 79th FS flight commander. The squadron, charged with demonstrating ICBM combat capability through operational tests, joined 20th AF Oct. 1. Aircraft armament systems specialists ensure that explosive devices can be accurately delivered from the aircraft. Its an incredibly important installation with incredibly important Airmen running it. Kelly recognized 20 Team Shaw Airmen for a variety of outstanding performances. After coining them, he gave words of advice, encouragement and praise for the Airmen and their leadership. It was an honor to show General Kelly and Chief Wade what the 20th Fighter Wing brings to the fight this past week, said Col. Lawrence Sullivan, 20th FW commander. In 1970, the 79th rejoined the 20th, which had moved to Royal Air Force Station UpperHeyford, England, and converted to the swing-wing fighter-bomber version of the F-111, becoming the first to be operationally ready in the new aircraft in Europe and the first in the world in the "E" model. MOS 79S Career Counselor. It operates the Lockheed HC-130J "Combat King II" variant of the C-130 "Hercules" and provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. Commanders. Following the war . The . The 79th Fighter Squadron is part of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. In January 1943, the squadron moved to March Field, Calif., and completed intensive training in the P-39 aircraft. Kelly also took time to recognize 20 Team Shaw Airmen for outstanding performance. Members of the 79th Fighter Squadron and 79th Fighter Generation Squadron under the 405th Expeditionary Group responded with an aggressive assault, providing superior airpower to defend American lives. Avionics technicians are responsible for testing and troubleshooting avionic components of aircraft systems at all levels of maintenance. Squadron decorations and campaign streamers include the Distinguished Unit Citation and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; and Anti-Submarine, American Theatre, and Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Air Combat EAME Theatre campaign streamers. Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon serial 94-49. The 79th was again brought to active service on 29 July 1946, at Biggs Field, Texas. One year later the squadron was re-designated a tactical fighter squadron. U.S. Air Force Airman Rulby De La Cruz, 79th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight checks and communicates with the pilot of his aircraft prior to takeoff at Shaw Air Force . Combat in Southwest Asia, Jan-Feb 1991. The unit inactivated from November 1918 until April 1933, when it became the 79th Pursuit Squadron, flying the Boeing P-12 at Barksdale Field, La. The Group flew 312 missions before their last mission on 25 April 1945. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency. The 79th received the Commander in Chief's Trophy in 1981, as the best tactical fighter squadron in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945. In January 1999, the 79th Fighter Squadron was awarded the South Carolina Air Force Association's Outstanding Air Force Unit of the Year award. The squadron then moved to Langley Air Force Base, VA, transitioning to the jet age with the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. Sept. 11, 1944, the squadron received P-51 Mustangs. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. 20 Pursuit (later, 20 Fighter) Group, 1 Apr 1933-18 Oct 1945. The squadron was re-designated the 79th Fighter Squadron on Oct. 1, 1991, as part of the Air Force's restructuring. The squadron moved to Langley Air Force Base, Va., in November 1951, and in June 1952, trained to support North American Treaty Organization ground forces in conventional and nuclear roles. [5] This affected the 79th Fighter Squadron, with a reduction of its flying hours, placing it into a basic mission capable status from 5 April 30 July, then returning it to combat mission ready through September 2013.[5]. On 1 January 1994, the 79th was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, transitioning to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and assuming the mission of suppression of enemy air defenses. Sgt. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Destani K. Matheny), U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. This joint training enhanced the exercise participants capabilities and qualifications, which included three pilot and two joint terminal air controller training Airmen upgrades, and 10 JTAC Airmen evaluations. With its robust airframe, powerful radial engine, and armament of eight .50 caliber machine guns, the P-47 was especially proficient in the ground-attack role. The 79th was again brought to active service on July 29, 1946, at Biggs Field, Texas. From 1940 to 1942, the 1 2 Go To Page of 2 The 79th received the Commander in Chief's Trophy in 1981, as the best tactical fighter squadron in U.S. Air Forces in Europe.[4]. JTAC Airmen direct the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations. I cant think of another installation that has a headquarters the size of AFCENTs headquarters, and the scope of responsibility of Lt. Gen. Gregory Guillot, said Kelly. Demobilized on 15 Nov 1918. The unit was inactive from November 1918 until April 1933, when it became the 79th Pursuit Squadron, flying the Boeing P-12 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. The 79th remained at English bases throughout the war, supporting both the Normandy invasion and the allied drive into Germany. Avionics technicians are responsible for ensuring that all the electronics onboard an aircraft are in working order.