76 Fighter Squadron (AFRC)

Lineage. Constituted as 76 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 17 Dec 1941. Redesignated 76 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Activated on 4 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 5 Jan 1946. Activated on 10 Oct 1946. Inactivated on 24 Sep 1949. Redesignated 76 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jun 1955. Activated on 18 Aug 1955. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Jul 1963. Redesignated 76 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 18 May 1972. Activated on 1 Oct 1972. Redesignated 76 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 29 May 1992. Redesignated 76 Space Operations Squadron on 21 Nov 1995. Activated on 1 Dec 1995. Inactivated on 21 Jan 2001. Redesignated 76 Space Control Squadron, and activated, on 22 Jan 2001. Inactivated on 22 Jan 2008. Redesignated 76 Fighter Squadron on 6 Jan 2009. Activated on 1 Feb 2009. 

Assignments. 23 Fighter Group, 4 Jul 1942-5 Jan 1946. 23 Fighter Group, 10 Oct 1946-24 Sep 1949. 23 Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955; 35 Air Division, 9 Nov 1957; 32 Air Division, 15 Nov 1958; Boston Air Defense Sector, 1 Feb 1961-1 Jul 1963. 23 Tactical Fighter (later, 23 Fighter) Wing, 1 Oct 1972-29 May 1992. Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Dec 1995; 614 Space Operations Group, 28 Aug 1998; 21 Operations Group, 31 Mar 2000-21 Jan 2001. 21 Operations Group, 22 Jan 2001-22 Jan 2008. 476 Fighter Group, 1 Feb 2009-. 

Stations. Kunming, China, 4 Jul 1941; Kweilin, China, 25 Jul 1942; Kunming, China, 18 Aug 1942; Lingling, China, 13 May 1943; Hengyang, China, 11 Aug 1943 (detachment operated from Suichwan, China, 3 Oct-7 Dec 1943); Kweilin, China, 21 Nov 1943; Suichwan, China, 26 Dec 1943; Lingling, China, 1 Jun 1944; Liuchow, China, Jul 1944; Luliang, China, c. 12 Sep 1944; Liuchow, China, 24 Aug 1945; Hangchow, China, 15 Oct-4 Dec 1945; Fort Lewis, WA, 3-5 Jan 1946. Northwest Field, Guam, 10 Oct 1946-3 Apr 1949; Howard AFB, CZ, 25 Apr-24 Sep 1949. Presque Isle AFB, ME, 18 Aug 1955; Pinecastle (later, McCoy) AFB, FL, 8 Nov 1957; Westover AFB, MA, 1 Feb 1961-1 Jul 1963. England AFB, LA, 1 Oct 1972-29 May 1992 (deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Aug 1990-Apr 1991). Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, CO, 1 Dec 1995; Peterson AFB, CO, 1 Dec 1999-21 Jan 2001. Peterson AFB, CO, 22 Jan 2001-22 Jan 2008. Moody AFB, GA, 1 Feb 2009-. 

Commanders. Maj Edward F. Rector, 4 Jul 1942; Lt Col Bruce K. Holloway, 5 Dec 1942; Maj Grant Mahony, 2 Jan 1943; Capt William Miller, c. 9 Jun 1943; Maj Robert Costello, c. Jul 1943; Capt James M. Williams, c. Oct 1943; Maj John S. Stewart, c. Jan 1944; Lt Col Charles E. Griffith, c. May 1944; Lt Col L. V. Teeter, c. Dec 1944; Lt Col David T. Whiddon, c. Jun 1945; Maj Eugene McGuire, Oct 1945-c. Dec 1945. Maj Victor N. Curtis, 10 Oct 1946; Maj Robert M. Levy, 5 Oct 1948-1949. Lt Col Walter R. Hardee Jr., c. 1956; Maj Morris F. Wilson, 1957; Lt Col Donald V. Miller, 11 Sep 1959; Maj William B. Howell, 1 Feb 1961; Lt Col Frederick D. Ellis, 1961; Maj William B. Howell, 29 Dec 1961; Col James A. Hearn, 15 Feb 1962; Maj Robert W. Thompson, 6 May 1963; Capt Frederick W. Knops Jr., 28 May-1 Jul 1963. Lt Col John B. Cutler, 1 Oct 1972; Lt Col James E. Kelm, 10 May 1974; Lt Col Arthur L. Chase, 5 Aug 1975; Lt Col James W. Prescott Jr., 27 Jul 1977; Lt Col James L. Jamerson, 31 May 1979; Lt Col Joseph J. Redden, 5 Jan 1981; Lt Col Roger E. Carleton, 1 Jul 1982; Lt Col Robert H. Hoh, 29 Jun 1984; Lt Col Ronald T. Cooper, 15 Jul 1985; Lt Col Charles W. Pitts, 17 Jul 1987; Lt Col Victor E. Renuart Jr., 2 Jun 1989-29 May 1992. Lt Col Thomas Meade, 1 Dec 1995; Lt Col Dallas K. Stephens, Jul 1996; Lt Col Craig Brazeau, 6 Sep 1997; Lt Col Mary L. Staley, 20 Oct 1997; Lt Col David Ziegler, 6 Jul 1999; Lt Col Samuel J. McCraw, 22 May 2001; Lt Col Todd W. Gossett, 5 Jun 2003; Lt Col Jim E. Jennings, 29 Jun 2005; Lt Col Jennifer L. Moore, 8 May 2007-22 Jan 2008.

Aircraft. P-40, 1942-1944; P-51, 1944-1945. P-47, 1946-1949; RF-80, 1949. F-89, 1955-1960; F-102, 1960-1963. A-7, 1972-1981; A-10, 1981-1992. None, 1995-2001. None, 2001-2008. 

Operations. Combat in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater, 18 Jul 1942-11 Aug 1945, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for missions in China in June 1944. Air defense intercept operations in Guam, 1946-1949, in Panama, 1949, and at various bases in the eastern United States, 1955-1963. Trained in and conducted close air support operations, 1972-1992. Portion of squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 and took part in operations against Iraq in early 1991. Beginning in Dec 1995, assisted other units to integrate space product applications into current operations procedures. Deployed personnel to air units worldwide to enhance their links to space assets. Provided counterspace capabilities to warfighters worldwide, 2001-2008. 

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; China Defensive; Western Pacific; China Offensive; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
 
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: China, 17-25 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1980-30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Apr 1989-31 Mar 1991; 1 Sep 1996-31 Aug 1998; 1 Sep 1998-31 Aug 1999; 1 Sept 1998-[30 Mar 2000]; [31 Mar 2000]-31 Aug 2001.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 10 Feb 2009. 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 22 Jan 2008. 

Supersedes statement prepared on 20 Jul 2004. 

Emblem. Newest rendition approved on 1 Aug 2000; originally approved on 24 Jul 1944. 

Prepared by Patsy Robertson. 

Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.