Lineage. Constituted 434 Fighter Squadron on 12 Oct 1943. Activated on 15 Oct 1943. Inactivated on 1 Dec 1945. Redesignated 434 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Redesignated: 434 Fighter-Day Squadron on 15 Feb 1954; 434 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1958; 434 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 1 Oct 1975. Inactivated on 3 May 1991. Redesignated 434 Fighter Training Squadron on 21 Jun 2007. Activated on 19 Jul 2007.
Assignments. 479 Fighter Group, 15 Oct 1943-1 Dec 1945. 479 Fighter-Bomber (later, 479 Fighter-Day) Group, 1 Dec 1952; 479 Fighter-Day (later, 479 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Oct 1957; 35 Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Oct 1971 (attached to 49 Tactical Fighter Wing, 12 Aug-6 Oct 1972); 479 Tactical Training Wing, 1 Jan 1977-3 May 1991. 47 Operations Group, 19 Jul 2007-.
Stations. Grand Central Air Terminal, CA, 15 Oct 1943; Lomita Flight Strip, CA, 6 Feb 1944; Santa Maria AAFld, CA, 8-18 Apr 1944; Wattisham, England, 15 May 1944-c. 23 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 29 Nov-1 Dec 1945. George AFB, CA, 1 Dec 1952 (deployed to Moron AB, Spain, 9 Aug-17 Dec 1961; Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 12 Aug-6 Oct 1972); Holloman AFB, NM, 1 Jan 1977-3 May 1991. Laughlin AFB, TX, 19 Jul 2007-.
Commanders. Unkn, 28 Oct 1943-Feb 1944; Lt Col James M. Herren Jr., by Feb 1944; Lt Col Arthur F. Jeffrey, 2 Nov 1944; Maj Robin Olds, by 28 Feb 1945-unkn; unkn, 31 Oct-1 Dec 1945. Unkn, 1 Dec 1952-30 Jun 1953; Maj William J. Evans, 1 Jul 1953; Lt Col William B. Harris, 28 Sep 1953; Capt Charles L. Lind, 19 Jul 1954; Lt Col William B. Harris, 20 Oct 1954; Capt Charles L. Lind, 30 Apr 1955; Lt Col Roy C. Sanders, 10 Sep 1957; Maj Eusebio Arriaga, 24 Jun 1958; Lt Col Roy C. Sanders, 14 Jul 1958; Lt Col Charles W. Boedeker, 13 Aug 1958; Lt Col John D. Rosenbaum, 4 Mar 1959; Maj Magnus P. Johnson, Nov 1960-2 Jan 1962; None (not manned), 3 Jan 1962-Oct 1966; Col Daniel E. Farr III, Oct 1966; Col Franklin A. Engelhardt, 1 Jul 1968; Lt Col Ewald G. Kruggel, 18 Jul 1968; Lt Col Frederick B. Hoenniger, 15 Jun 1970; Lt Col Harlan D. Sutherland, 15 Jun 1972; Lt Col William J. Follmer, by 1 Apr 1973; Lt Col Anthony S. Cushenberry, 20 Jan 1975-31 Mar 1976; None (not manned), 1 Apr-31 Dec 1976; Lt Col Phillip E. Smith, 3 Jan 1977; Lt Col Robert H. Boles, 8 Apr 1977; Lt Col Howard H. Jones, 9 Apr 1979; Lt Col Henry Eagle III, 13 Feb 1981; Lt Col Garry H. Silence, 1 Apr 1983; Lt Col Gerald E. Becker, 12 Apr 1985-unkn; Lt Col Bentley B. Rayburn, 6 Jan 1988; Lt Col R. Teliska, 8 Nov 1989-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1943-1944; P-51, 1944-1945; P-47, 1945. F-51, 1952-1953; F-86, 1953-1955; F-100, 1954-1959; F-104, 1959-1961; F-104, 1961-1962; F-4, 1966-1976; T-38, 1977-1991.
Operations. Conducted air defense prior to overseas duty. Combat in European Theater of Operations, 26 May 1944-25 Apr 1945. Received Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for performance in aerial conflicts against the enemy on 18 Aug, 5 and 26 Sep 1944. Trained as fighter-day, and later, tactical fighter squadron, 1952-1962. Not manned, 3 Jan 1962-Oct 1966. In 1966, began training F-4 crews for assignment in Southeast Asia. In Aug 1972, deployed to Thailand, where it served under operational control of 49 Tactical Fighter Wing. Engaged in combat over North and South Vietnam. Redeployed to US in Oct 1972. By 1975, provided combat aircrew training for US and Allied pilots. From 1977-1991, trained pilots, weapon systems officers and forward air controllers.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: ETO, 18 Aug, 5 and 26 Sep 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 10 Oct 1966-31 Mar 1967; 2 Feb 1976-10 Jan 1977; 1 May 1981-30 Apr 1983. French Croix de Guerre with Palm. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 27 Jul-6 Oct 1972.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 25 Jun 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 15 Nov 1991.
Supersedes statement prepared on 12 Aug 1988.
Emblem. Approved 7 Jul 1944.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.