Lineage. Constituted as 65 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated as 65 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Activated on 15 Aug 1946. Redesignated as 65 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated as 65 Fighter Weapons Squadron on 22 Aug 1969. Activated on 15 Oct 1969. Redesignated as: 65 Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron on 30 Dec 1981; 65 Aggressor Squadron on 1 Apr 1983. Inactivated on 7 Apr 1989. Activated on 15 Sep 2005.
Assignments. 57 Pursuit (later, 57 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941-7 Nov 1945. 57 Fighter (later, 57 Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 15 Aug 1946; 10 Air Division, 13 Apr 1953; 328 Fighter Group, 1 Nov 1957-8 Jan 1958. 57 Fighter Weapons (later, 57 Tactical Training; 57 Fighter Weapons) Wing, 15 Oct 1969-7 Apr 1989. 57 Adversary Tactics Group, 15 Sep 2005-.
Stations. Mitchel Field, NY, 15 Jan 1941; Bradley Field, CT, 19 Aug 1941; Trumbull Field, CT, 13 Dec 1941; Rentchler Field, CT, 24 Jun-5 Jul 1942; Cairo, Egypt, 9 Aug 1942; Cyprus, 15 Aug 1942; Landing Ground 174, Egypt, 16 Sep 1942; Landing Ground 172, Egypt, 6 Nov 1942; Landing Ground 75, Egypt, 9 Nov 1942; Martube, Libya, 12 Nov 1942; Belandal, Libya, 11 Dec 1942; Hamariet, Libya, 12 Jan 1943; Zuara, Libya, Feb 1943; Ben Gardane, Tunisia, 10 Mar 1943; Sollane, Tunisia, 21 Mar 1943; Hani, Tunisia, Apr 1943; Cape Bon, Tunisia, c. 6 Jun 1943; Takali, Malta, 13 Jul 1943; Pachino, Sicily, 19 Jul 1943; Scordina, Sicily, 30 Jul 1943; Rocco Bernado, Italy, 18 Sep 1943; Gioia del Colle, Italy, 25 Sep 1943; Foggia, Italy, 2 Oct 1943; Amendola, Italy, 28 Oct 1943; Cercola, Italy, 1 Mar 1944; Alto, Corsica, 28 Mar 1944; Grosseto, Italy, 11 Sep 1944; Villafranca di Verona, Italy, 29 Apr 1945; Grosseto, Italy, 7 May 1945; Bagnoli, Italy, 15 Jul -5 Aug 1945; Drew Field, FL, 22 Aug-7 Nov 1945. Ladd Field, Alaska, 15 Aug 1946; 26 Mile Field, Alaska, 20 Sep 1946; Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 23 Jun 1947-1 Nov 1957; Richards-Gebauer AFB, MO, 1 Nov 1957-8 Jan 1958. Nellis AFB, NV, 15 Oct 1969-7 Apr 1989. Nellis AFB, NV, 15 Sep 2005-.
Commanders. 1 Lt Phillip G. Cochran, 15 Jan 1941; Unkn, Aug 1941-May 1942; Capt Arthur G. Salisbury, by 28 Jun 1942; Maj Gordon F. Thomas, 20 Aug 1942; Capt Gilbert O. Wymond Jr., 13 May 1943; Capt Edward H. Ellington, 20 Jul 1943; Lt Col Gilbert O. Wymond Jr., c. 1 Sep 1943; Capt Richard O. Hunziker, May 1944; Lt Col Gilbert O. Wymond Jr., 20 Jun 1944; Major Edward H. Ellington, 25 May-7 Nov 1945. Capt Ralph L. Kipper Jr., 15 Aug 1946; Maj William L. Jacobsen, 4 Sep 1946; Maj Benjamin H. King, 29 Dec 1946; Lt Col Thomas C. Kelly, 17 May 1948; Maj James A. Wilson, 10 Nov 1948; Maj John M. Winkler, 26 Apr 1949; Major Warren S. Patterson, 1950; Maj William H. Stewart, 14 Nov 1951; unkn, Jan-Oct 1952; Lt Col Orville M. Erdman, by Nov 1952; Lt Col Ralph C. Heatly Jr., by Dec 1954; Maj Chester L. Doron Jr., by Jun 1955; Lt Col Gale S. Glenny, by Dec 1955; unkn, Jul 1956-8 Jan 1958. Lt Col Burton M. Field, 15 Oct 1969-c. Feb 1970; None (not manned), Mar 1970-Jun 1972; Lt Col Kenny D. Cobb, 1 Jul 1972; Lt Col John J. Lynch, by Oct 1973; Lt Col Donald E. Madonna, by Jan 1976; Lt Col Rodney D. Gunn, Jan 1978; Lt Col Harold R. Alston, 28 Mar 1978; Lt. Col Stephen B. Dwelle, 21 Jun 1978; Lt Col Michael C. Press, 29 May 1981; Lt Col Charles L. Buzze, 26 May 1983; Lt Col Marvin R. Esmond, 7 Dec 1983; Lt Col James R. Nuber, 30 Jan 1986; Lt Col Michael J. Koerner, 29 Jan 1988-7 Apr 1989. Unkn, 15 Sep 2005-11 Jan 2006; Lt Col Larry A. Bruce Jr., 12 Jan 2006-.
Aircraft. P-40, 1941-1943; P-47, 1943-1945. AT-6, 1946; C-45, 1946-1947; P-51, 1946-1948; F-80, 1948-1951; C-47, 1948; T-6, 1948; B-26, 1949; T-33, 1949-1956; F-94, 1951-1954; F-89, 1953-1957. F-100, 1969; A-7, 1972-1975; F-5, 1975-1989. F-15, 2005-.
Operations. A pre-World War II squadron, the 65 Fighter Squadron (FS) entered combat early in the war when, on 12 Aug 1942, some of its pilots flew P-40s with the RAF against German positions in Egypt. From October 1942, the squadron pilots conducted reconnaissance, fighter sweeps, staffing, and dive-bombing missions against the retreating enemy troops across North Africa, as well as escorting fighter-bombers and medium bombers. By April 1943, it was attacking targets in Sicily in support of Allied Forces. It earned a DUC for its support of the British Eighth Army in harsh conditions and against great odds in North Africa and Sicily. The squadron earned a second DUC for aerial combat against enemy aircraft over the Gulf of Tunis on 18 April 1943. In Jun-Jul 1943, it attacked enemy targets on Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. In Italy, from Sep 1943, it escorted medium bombers, staffed and bombed enemy targets in support of ground forces, and conducted armed and weather reconnaissance as far as Yugoslavia. It also transitioned late in the year to P-47s. The squadron hit German shipping in harbors, railroad marshalling yards, bridges, and other transportation targets, earning a third DUC for devastating attacks against such targets in the Florence-Arezzo area on 14 April 1944. The 65 FS flew its last combat mission on 2 May 1945. In Aug 1946, the squadron began training new P-51 pilots at Ladd Field, Alaska. Later, it was equipped with F-80Bs in Mar-April 1948, F-80Cs in Oct-Dec 1948, F-94Bs in the summer of 1951, and F-89Cs in Sep 1953. With these aircraft, the squadron provided fighter aircraft defense in support of the Alaska Area until late in the 1950s. In October 1969, the 65 Fighter Weapons Squadron took over the F-100F aircraft, personnel, and facilities of the 4536 Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, only to become non-operational early in 1970. Reequipped in July 1972 with A-7Ds, from May 1973-Jun 1975, the squadron conducted fighter weapons training. Then in Oct 1975, having transitioned to F-5Es, it took on a dissimilar aircraft combat tactics training role until its inactivation in 1989. Trained aircrews for combat by replicating tactics used by enemy forces during combat situations, 2005-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, 24 Oct 1942-17 Aug 1943; Tunis and Cape Bon Area, 18 Apr 1943; Italy, 14 Apr 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1984-31 May 1986; 1 Jan 1987-31 Dec 1988; [15 Sep 2005]-31 May 2006. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Oct 1942-May 1945.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 17 Jul 2009.
Commanders through Jun 2006, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2007.
Supersedes statement prepared on 21 Sep 2005.
Emblem. Approved on 14 Jul 2008.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.