Lineage. Constituted 356 Fighter Squadron on 12 Nov 1942. Activated on 15 Nov 1942. Redesignated 356 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Redesignated 356 Fighter-Day Squadron on 28 Sep 1956. Activated on 19 Nov 1956. Redesignated: 356 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1958; 356 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 30 Jun 1992. Activated on 10 Oct 2019.
Assignments. 354 Fighter Group, 15 Nov 1942-31 Mar 1946. 354 Fighter-Day Group, 19 Nov 1956; 354 Fighter-Day (later, 354 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 25 Sep 1957; 39 Air Division, 29 Nov 1965; 475 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jan 1968; Fifth Air Force, 15 Mar 1971; 354 Tactical Fighter (later, 354 Fighter) Wing, 15 May 1971-30 Jun 1992. 354 Operations Group, 10 Oct 2019-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Nov 1942; Tonopah, NV, 20 Jan 1943; Santa Rosa AAFld, CA, 3 Mar 1943; Salem AAFld, OR, 3 Jun-5 Oct 1943; Greenham Common, England, 5 Nov 1943; Boxted, England, 13 Nov 1943; Lashenden, England, 17 Apr 1944; Cricqueville, France, 17 Jun 1944; Gael, France, 15 Aug 1944; Orconte, France, 21 Sep 1944 (air echelon operated from St Dizier, France, c. 14-25 Nov 1944); Rosieres-en-Haye, France, 25 Nov 1944; Ober Olm, Germany, 8 Apr 1945; Ansbach, Germany, c. 30 Apr 1945; Herzogenaurach, Germany, 18 May 1945-15 Feb 1946; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb-31 Mar 1946. Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 19 Nov 1956-29 Nov 1965; Misawa AB, Japan, 29 Nov 1965-15 May 1971; Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 15 May 1971-30 Jun 1992 (operated from Korat RTAB, Thailand, 11 Oct 1972-3 April 1973). Eielson AFB, AK, 10 Oct 2019-.
Commanders. Capt Charles C. Johnson, 15 Nov 1942; Capt Richard D. Neece, 10 Feb 1943; Capt (later, Maj) James H. Howard, May 1943; Capt (later, Lt Col) R. E. Turner, 17 Feb 1944; Maj Robert J. Brooks, Oct 1944; Maj Frank Q. O’Connor, Oct 1944; Capt Earl G. Depner, 7 Nov 1944-unkn. Unkn, 19 Nov 1956-16 Jan 1957; Maj Robert P. Pasqualicchio, 16 Jan 1957; Maj Wendell D. Brady, 25 Sep 1957; Maj Robert P. Pasqualicchio, 20 Mar 1958; Lt Col Frank N. Emory, 2 Aug 1958; Maj (later, Lt Col) Robert G. Eklund, 21 Mar 1961; Lt Col Frank L. Dowell Jr, 1 Oct 1962; Maj Harold S. Snow, 30 Dec 1963; Maj Harold E. Macumber, 27 Aug 1965; Lt Col Donald J. Ferris, 19 Oct 1965; Maj (later, Lt Col) John D. Wray, 1 Nov 1965; Maj John L. Glossbrenner, 27 Nov 1967; Lt Col Stanley R. Luther, 23 Mar 1968; Lt Col Jacob Kratt Jr, 17 Mar 1969; Lt Col John P. Russell, 15 Jan 1971; Lt Col Richard L. Westbrook, 23 Jul 1971; Lt Col Charles R. Copin, 17 Oct 1972; Lt Col Patrick F. Durning, 1 Apr 1974; Lt Col Rodney B. Beckman, 2 Jan 1975; Lt Col Douglas W. Stockton, 2 Feb 1976; Lt Col Robert B. Sapp, 11 Jul 1977; Lt Col Ronald C. Spivey, 3 Aug 1979; Lt Col James A. Kelly, 3 Aug 1981; Lt Col Howard D. Barnard, 31 Jul 1983; Lt Col Jeffrey L. Platte, 14 Jun 1985; Lt Col Glen W. Moorehead III, 19 Jun 1987-.
Aircraft. P-39, 1942-1943; P-51, 1943-1946; P-47, 1944-1945. F-100, 1957-1967; F-4, 1967-1971; A-7, 1971-1977; A-10, 1977-.
Operations. Air defense in US in 1943. Combat in ETO, 1 Dec 1943-8 May 1945. Combat in Southeast Asia, Oct 1972-Apr 1973.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Vietnam: Vietnam Ceasefire. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Southwest Asia Ceasefire.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, [Dec] 1943-15 May 1944; France, 25 Aug 1944. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 10 Oct 1972-30 Apr 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1962-31 Dec 1963; 15 May 1971-31 May 1972; 1 May 1974-30 Apr 1976; 1 Jun 1981-22 May 1983; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 May 1990-15 Mar 1992. French Croix De Guerre with Palm: 1 Dec 1943-31 Dec 1944. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 11 Oct 1972-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 29 Sep 2020.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Oct 1989.
Supersedes statement prepared on 20 Oct 1989.
Emblem. Approved on 25 Jun 1957; latest rendering 29 Aug 2023.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.