Lineage. Constituted as 26 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 26 Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 12 Mar 1941; 26 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 26 Fighter Squadron on 1 Jun 1942. Inactivated on 13 Dec 1945. Activated on 15 Oct 1946. Redesignated: 26 Fighter Squadron, Jet-Propelled, on 19 Feb 1947; 26 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 10 Aug 1948; 26 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Feb 1950. Inactivated on 9 Apr 1959. Redesignated 26 Flying Training Squadron on 13 Dec 1989. Activated on 19 Jan 1990. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1992. Redesignated 26 Weapons Squadron on 18 Sep 2008. Activated on 30 Sep 2008.
Assignments. 51 Pursuit (later, 51 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941-13 Dec 1945. 51 Fighter (later, 51 Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 15 Oct 1946 (attached to 6302 Air Base Group, 20 Sep 1950; 6351 Air Base Wing, 25 Jun 1951; Thirteenth Air Force, 11 Nov 1954); Thirteenth Air Force, 1 Oct 1957; 6200 Air Base Wing, 5 Jun 1958-9 Apr 1959. 71 Flying Training Wing, 19 Jan 1990; 71 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-1 Oct 1992. USAF Weapons School, 30 Sep 2008-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; March Field, CA, 10 Jun 1941-11 Jan 1942; Karachi, India, 13 Mar 1942; Dinjan, India, 10 Oct 1942; Kunming, China, c. 7 Oct 1943 (detachments operated from Nanning, China, c. 8 Mar-Nov 1944; Liangshan, China, May-20 Jun 1944; Kweilin, China, 20-30 Jun 1944; Poseh, China, Jan 1945; Liangshan, China, Jan and Mar 1945; Laohokow, China, Jan-Feb 1945); Nanning, China, 1 Aug 1945; Loping, China, Sep-Nov 1945; Ft Lewis, WA, 12-13 Dec 1945. Yontan, Okinawa, 15 Oct 1946; Naha, Okinawa, 22 May 1947; Clark AFB, Philippines, 11 Jul 1955-9 Apr 1959. Vance AFB, OK, 19 Jan 1990-1 Oct 1992. Nellis AFB, NV, 30 Sep 2008-.
Commanders. Unkn, 15 Jan 1941; Maj Francis E. Brenner, by 1 Jan 1942; Capt Herbert W. Davis, 1 Sep 1942; Maj Francis E. Brenner, 1 Oct 1942; Capt Herbert W. Davis, 1 Jul 1943; Maj Edward M. Nollmeyer, 23 Oct 1943; Maj Robert L. Van Ausdall, 1 May 1944; Maj W. E. Blankenship, 1 Nov 1944; Capt Claude C. Beck, 15 Feb 1945; Capt Max Hernandez, 1 Mar 1945; Maj Robert L. Van Ausdall, 1 Apr 1945; Maj John S. Craig, 1 Jul 1945; Maj Max Hernandez, c. Nov-13 Dec 1945. Maj John M. Etchemendy, unkn; Maj Frank J. Keller, Aug 1949; Lt Col Edward F. LaClare, by Apr 1950; Lt Col Clayton M. Isaacson, 19 Feb 1951; Lt Col Bernard McCaskill Jr., by Jun 1951; Maj Claude W. Hanley Jr., 5 Feb 1952; Lt Col Francis B. Gallagher, 5 Mar 1952; Maj Claude W. Hanley Jr., May 1952; Lt Col Frederick F. Ploetz, c. May 1953; Lt Col Homer W. Morris, 26 Jun 1955; Lt Col I. B. Jack Donalson, by Jun 1956; Lt Col Richard A. Toole, 2 Jul 1958-9 Apr 1959. Lt Col Alan D. Minkel, 19 Jan 1990; Lt Col Leonard L. Jarman, 27 Jul 1990; Lt Col James C. Thomas, 24 Jul-1 Oct 1992. Lt Col Daniel J. Turner, 30 Sep 2008-.
Aircraft. P-40, 1941-1944; P-51, 1944-1945. P-47, 1946-1947; F-80, 1947-1953; F-86, 1953-1959. T-38, 1990-1992. MQ-1, 2008-; MQ-9, 2008-.
Operations. Served in China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater, 1942-1945. Air defense of Ryukyu Islands and later the Philippines, 1946-1959. Pilots took part in Korean conflict, 1950-1953. Conducted undergraduate pilot training, 1990-1992. Weapons Officer and Sensor Operator Advanced Tactics Course training, 2008-.
Service Streamers. Korean Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: China Defensive; China Offensive; India-Burma.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: China, 20 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Apr 1990-31 Mar 1992.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 16 Mar 2008.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 16 Mar 2008.
Supersedes statement prepared on 23 Feb 1990.
Emblem. Originally approved on 20 Mar 1945; newest rendition approved on 28 Jan 2009.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.