Lineage. Constituted as 81 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated as: 81 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Special) on 28 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 21 Jan 1944; 81 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 81 Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Redesignated as: 81 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 20 Jun 1949; 81 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Mar 1950. Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 2 Jun 1951. Redesignated as 81 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Redesignated as: 81 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958; 81 Fighter Squadron on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 18 Jun 2013. Activated on 1 Oct 2014.
Assignments. 50 Pursuit (later, 50 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1942–7 Nov 1945. 454 Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947; 50 Fighter (later, 50 Fighter Interceptor) Group, 20 Jun 1949–2 Jun 1951. 50 Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 Jan 1953; 50 Fighter-Bomber (later, 50 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Dec 1957; 86 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jul 1971; 52 Tactical Fighter (later, 52 Fighter) Wing, 15 Jan 1973; 52 Operations Group, 31 Mar 1992–18 Jun 2013. 14 Operations Group, 1 Oct 2014-.
Stations. Key Field, MS, 15 Jan 1942; Orlando AB, FL, 22 Mar 1942; Cross City AAFld, FL, 18 Jun 1943; Orlando AB, FL, 1 Feb–13 Mar 1944; Lymington, England, 5 Apr 1944; Carentan, France, 25 Jun 1944; Meautis, France, 16 Aug 1944; Orly, France, 5 Sep 1944; Laon, France, 15 Sep 1944; Lyons/Bron, France, 29 Sep 1944; Toul/Ochey, France, 3 Nov 1944; Giebelstadt, Germany, 20 Apr 1945; Mannheim, Germany, 21 May–c. 23 Jun 1945; La Junta AAFld, CO, 6 Aug–7 Nov 1945. McChord Field, WA, 12 Jul 1947; Otis AFB, MA, 20 Jun 1949–2 Jun 1951. Clovis AFB, NM, 1 Jan–22 Jul 1953; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Aug 1953; Toul/Rosieres AB, France, 10 Jul 1956; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Dec 1959; Zweibrucken AB, Germany, 15 Jun 1971; Spangdahlem AB, Germany, 15 Jan 1973–18 Jun 2013. Moody AFB, GA, 1 Oct 2014-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease Fire Campaign. Kosovo: Air Campaign. Afghanistan: Consolidation I; Consolidation II; Consolidation III.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, 13–20 Mar 1945; Germany, 25 Apr 1945. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2005-1 Sep 2006; 1 Oct 2006-30 Sep 2007; 1 Oct 2007-30 Sep 2008; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2009. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Sep 1990–26 Feb 1991. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1970–15 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1991–30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Aug 1995-31 Jul 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1999; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2010; 1 Jul 2014-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2015-30 Jun 2016. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun–30 Sep 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 25 Apr 2017.
Supersedes statement prepared on 29 Jan 2015.
Emblem. Approved on 3 Jul 1967; newest rendition approved on 12 Apr 2007.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.