Lineage. Constituted 16 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 16 Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 12 Mar 1941; 16 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 16 Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 1 Jun 1942; 16 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 7 Dec 1945. Activated on 15 Oct 1946. Redesignated: 16 Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 19 Feb 1947; 16 Fighter Squadron, Jet on 19 Aug 1948; 16 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Feb 1950. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 24 Dec 1964. Redesignated 16 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 18 Jun 1965. Organized on 20 Jun 1965. Inactivated on 1 Nov 1970. Redesignated 16 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 3 Oct 1978. Activated on 1 Jan 1979. Redesignated 16 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Apr 1983. Inactivated on 30 Jun 1986. Redesignated 16 Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003. Activated on 3 Feb 2003.
Assignments. 51 Pursuit (later, 51 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941-7 Dec 1945 (attached to 23 Fighter Group, Jul 1942-Oct 1943). 51 Fighter (later, 51 Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 15 Oct 1946 (attached to 51 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 Jul-24 Oct 1957); 51 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 25 Oct 1957-24 Dec 1964. 33 Tactical Fighter Wing, 20 Jun 1965-1 Nov 1970 (attached to Tactical Air Forces Norway [NATO], 27 Aug-13 Sep 1966; 1 Tactical Air Forces [Turkish] [NATO], 13-31 Oct 1969; 354 Tactical Fighter Wing, 26 May-14 Jun 1970; and 54 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jun-7 Sep 1970). 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Jan 1979-30 Jun 1986. USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; March Field, CA, 10 Jun 1941-11 Jan 1942; Karachi, India, 12 Mar 1942; Kunming, China, 27 Jun 1942 (detachment operated from Lingling, China, 10 Jul-Aug 1942); Chungking, China, 17 Aug 1942; Kweilin, China, 27 Oct 1942; Chenyi, China, 29 Nov 1942 (detachment operated from Yunnani, China, 26 Dec 1942-Mar 1943) Kweilin, China, 31 Mar 1943; Hengyang, China, 20 Sep 1943; Chengkung, China, 25 Nov 1943 (detachments operated from Tsuyung, China, 25 Nov 1943-Apr 1944; Nanning, China, Feb 1944; Szemao, China, Apr 1944; Yunnani, China, May-Jul 1944; Liangshan, China, 16-31 Dec 1944; Kwanghan, China, 24 Dec 1944-30 Jan 1945; Laohokow, China, 1 Jan-16 Mar 1945; Poseh, China, 1 Feb-13 Apr 1945; Pakhoi, China, 7-19 Aug 1945); Nanning, China, 19 Aug 1945; Loping, China, Sep-Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 6-7 Dec 1945. Yontan AB, Okinawa, 15 Oct 1946; Naha AB, Okinawa, 22 May 1947; Itazuke AB, Japan, 22 Sep 1950; Kimpo AB, South Korea, 22 Oct 1950; Itazuke AB, Japan, 3 Jan 1951; Tsuiki AB, Japan, 22 Jan 1951 (detachment operated from Suwon AB, South Korea, 20 May-29 Jul 1951); Suwon AB, South Korea, 29 Jul 1951; Misawa AB, Japan, Jul 1954; Naha AB, Okinawa, 1 Aug 1954-24 Dec 1964 (deployed at Chia-Yi Afld, Taiwan, 4-28 Apr and 1-30 Jun 1955; at Tainan AB, Taiwan, 24 Aug-early Oct and 5 Nov-18 Dec 1958; Chia-Yi Afld, Taiwan, 19 Dec 1958-19 Jan 1959). Eglin AFB, FL, 20 Jun 1965-1 Nov 1970 (deployed at Bodo AS, Norway, 27 Aug-13 Sep 1966; Cigli AB, Turkey, 13-31 Oct 1969; and Kunsan AB, South Korea, 26 May-7 Sep 1970). Hill AFB, UT, 1 Jan 1979-30 Jun 1986. Nellis AFB, NV, 3 Feb 2003-.
Commanders. 2Lt Lowell W. Goddard, 15 Jan 1941; Maj Harry B. Young, 30 Apr 1941; Maj George W. Hazlett, Dec 1942; Maj Harry M. Pike, 27 Jan 1943; Lt Col Robert Liles, 2 Jul 1943; Capt Charles W. Isom, 19 Jul 1944; Maj Dexter K. Baumgardner, 10 Sep 1944; Maj John S. Craig, 13 Nov 1944; 1Lt Francis L. McCarter, Jan 1945; Maj Clarence A. Dooley, 27 Feb 1945-unkn. Unkn, 15 Oct 1946-1948; Lt Col Kenneth L. Garrett, 1948; Maj Donald H. Higgins, Feb 1949; Maj Joseph D. Hornsby, 10 Aug 1949; Lt Col Converse B. Kelly, 1 Nov 1949; Lt Col Evans C. Stephens, May 1950; Lt Col Benjamin C. Warren, Feb 1951; Maj Royal E. Koons Jr., 22 May 1951; Maj Donald E. Adams, Mar 1952; Maj Dwight S. Beckham, Jun 1952; Maj Edwin L. Heller, 6 Nov 1952; unkn, 23 Jan 1953-1954; Lt Col Charles E. Rigney, 1954; Lt Col Robert H. Clark, 10 Aug 1954; Lt Col Homer W. Morris, 16 Nov 1954; Maj Lee F. Richason, 8 Jun 1955; Maj Emmett C. Wettenbach, 5 Jul 1955; Lt Col Glenn E. W. Mann Jr., 14 Oct 1955; Maj Norman H. Frisbie, 26 Apr 1957; Maj Charles R. Foster, 1 Nov 1958; Lt Col James A. Hearn, 1 Apr 1960; Lt Col Craig H. Fairburn, 1962; Lt Col Garnet D. Page, 5 Jul 1963-24 Dec 1964. Lt Col Garnet D. Page, 20 Jun 1965 (additional duty); Lt Col Russell E. Taliferro, c. Jul 1965 (additional duty); Lt Col Garnet D. Page, 4 Aug 1965; Maj Edward Hillbing, 21 Sep 1965; Lt Col Garnet D. Page, c. Oct 1965; Lt Col Alva D. Henehan, 1 Nov 1965; Lt Col William R. Martin, 21 Oct 1967; Lt Col Ralph L. Brooks, 23 Oct 1968; Lt Col John C. Downey, 27 Jun-1 Nov 1970. Lt Col Lawrence E. Boese, 1 Jan 1979; Lt Col R. Dean Stickwell, 9 May 1980; Lt Col Gary K. Nelson, 19 Oct 1981; Lt Col Richard D. Anderson, 20 May 1982; Lt Col James D. Latham, 4 May 1984-30 Jun 1986.
Aircraft. P-40, 1941-1944; P-51, 1944-1945. P-57, 1946-1947; F-80, 1947-1951; F-86, 1951-1959; F-102, 1959-1964. F-4, 1965-1970. F-16, 1979-1986.
Operations. Combat in CBI, Jul 1942-25 Jul 1945. Combat in Korea, 22 Sep 1950-27 Jul 1953. Air defense in Okinawa and the Far East, 1954-1964. Became combat ready in the F-4 aircraft in Dec 1965. Participated in numerous airpower demonstrations, provided close air support of Army troops during tactical exercises, and prepared for overseas deployments. From Dec 1966 to mid 1967 performed F-4 replacement training. Twice relinquished all its resources for combat in SEA and remanned in Oct 1967 and Apr 1969. Deployed to South Korea, and assumed alert status at Kunsan and Osan ABs Jun-Sep 1970, providing air defense, participating in exercises, and maintaining combat readiness. Provided F-16 instructor pilot training, aircrew academics, and flight training tactics, 1979-1983. From Apr 1983 to Jun 1986, trained for combat operations.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: New Guinea; India-Burma; China Defensive; China Offensive. Korean War: UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer 1953.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Korea, 28 Nov 1951-30 Apr 1953. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 29 Aug 1958-19 Jan 1959; 26 Mar 1962-30 Sep 1963; 1 Jan 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1969; 4 May 1984-3 May 1986. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations: [22] Sep 1950-30 Jun 1951; 1 Jul 1951-31 Mar 1953.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 12 Feb 2003.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Jun 1986.
Supersedes statement prepared in Jan 1979.
Emblem. Approved on 16 Nov 1961.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.