Lineage. Constituted as 355 Fighter Squadron on 12 Nov 1942. Activated on 15 Nov 1942. Redesignated as 355 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 21 Aug 1944. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Redesignated as 355 Fighter-Day Squadron on 28 Sep 1956. Activated on 19 Nov 1956. Redesignated as 355 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1958. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1970. Activated on 1 Nov 1970. Redesignated as 355 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1992. Activated on 20 Aug 1993. Inactivated on 1 Oct 2008. Activated on 5 Oct 2015. Inactivated on 25 Oct 2019. Activated on 18 Dec 2020.
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 (attached to Seventeenth Air Force, 15 Jul–26 Oct 1958, 19 May–17 Sep 1959, 10 Sep 1960–16 Jan 1961, 7 Jul–14 Oct 1962, 3 Jul–17 Sep 1963; 8 Jun–28 Aug 1964, 2 Jul–25 Sep 1965, and 4 Dec 1965–23 Apr 1966; 50 Tactical Fighter Wing, 5 Sep–19 Nov 1961; 2 Air Division Provisional, 21 Oct–1 Dec 1962; Alaskan Air Command, 6–20 Feb 1963; and 37 Tactical Fighter Wing, 3 Feb 1968–); 113 Tactical Fighter Wing, 22 Apr 1968 (remained attached to 37 Tactical Fighter Wing to 4 Jul 1968); 37 Tactical Wing, 5 Jul 1968; 31 Tactical Fighter Wing, 19 May 1969–30 Sep 1970. 354 Tactical Fighter (later, 354 Fighter) Wing, 1 Nov 1970–31 Mar 1992 (attached to 354 Combat Support Group, 15–16 Aug 1990; Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional, 354, 20 Dec 1990- 2 Aug 1991). 354 Operations Group, 20 Aug 1993–1 Oct 2008. 495 Fighter Group (Active Associate), 5 Oct 2015-25 Oct 2019. 354 Operations Group, 18 Dec 2020-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Nov 1942; Tonopah, NV, 20 Jan 1943; Hayward AAFld, CA, 4 May 1943; Portland AAB, OR, 3 Jun–6 Oct 1943; Greenham Common, England, 4 Nov 1943; Boxted, England, 13 Nov 1943; Lashenden, England, c. 14 Apr 1944; Cricqueville, France, c. 18 Jun 1944; Gael, France, 14 Aug 1944; Orconte, France, 21 Sep 1944 (operated from St. Dizier, France, c. 18 Nov–1 Dec 1944); Rosieres-en-Haye, France, 1 Dec 1944; Ober Olm, Germany, c. 4 Apr 1945; Ansbach, Germany, 1 May 1945; Herzogenaurach, Germany, c. 15 May 1945–15 Feb 1946; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb–31 Mar 1946. Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 19 Nov 1956–5 Jul 1968 (deployed at Adana AB, Turkey, 15 Jul–26 Oct 1958; Aviano AB, Italy, 19 May–17 Sep 1959 and 10 Sep 1960–16 Jan 1961; Hahn AB, Germany, 5 Sep–19 Nov 1961; Aviano AB, Italy, 7 Jul–14 Oct 1962; McCoy AFB, FL, 21 Oct–1 Dec 1962; Elmendorf AFB, AK, 6–20 Feb 1963; Incirlik AB, Turkey, 3 Jul–17 Sep 1963; Orland, Norway, 8–15 Jun 1964; Aviano AB, Italy, 15 Jun–28 Aug 1964 and 2 Jul–25 Sep 1965; Incirlik AB, Turkey, 4 Dec 1965–23 Apr 1966; Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, 3 Feb–4 Jul 1968); Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, 5 Jul 1968; Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 15 May 1969–30 Sep 1970. Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 1 Nov 1970–31 Mar 1992 (operated from Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 10 Oct 1972–16 Mar 1973 and 15 Oct 1973–26 Apr 1974; King Fahd, Saudi Arabia, 15 Aug 1990–2 Aug 1991). Eielson AFB, AK, 20 Aug 1993–1 Oct 2008. Fort Worth Naval Air Station (NAS), TX, 5 Oct 2015-25 Oct 2019. Eielson AFB, AK, 18 Dec 2020-.
Commanders. Unkn. 15-25 Nov 1942; Lt Col George R. Bickell, 26 Nov 1942; Maj Robert W. Stephens, 1 Apr 1944; Lt Col Marshall Cloke, 19 Oct 1944-7 Mar 1945; unkn, 8 Mar 1945-31 Mar 1946. Maj Gerald J. Beisner, 19 Nov 1956; Lt Col Devol Brett, 13 Sep 1957; Maj Ellis L. Fisher, 17 Jan 1962; Lt Col Clyde F. McClain, 1 Sep 1962; Maj Richard E. Skelton, 30 Mar 1964; Lt Col Hiawatha Mohawk. 8 Sep 1964; Maj John D. Wray. 16 Sep 1965; Col Donald J. Ferris, 7 Oct 1965; Col Eugene H. Zierden, 22 Oct 1965; Col Donald J. Ferris, c. 5 Dec 1965; Col Eugene H. Zierden, 30 Jan 1966; Lt Col Rocco Palumbo, 29 Apr 1966; Lt Col Stanley M. Mamlock, 20 Jul 1966; Lt Col Thomas O. Maffett, 29 Nov 1966; Lt Col Frank B. McKenzie, 20 Jan 1968; Lt Col George J. Kertesz, I Mar 1969; Lt Col Michael E. DeArmond, 1 Jun 1969; Lt Col Alfred C. Baker Jr., 16 Sep 1969; Lt Col William B. Ragon, 1 Mar-20 Sep 1970; none (not operational). 20-30 Sep 1970. Lt Col Robert W. J. L. Schofner, 1 Nov 1970; Lt Col Rondel E. Minter, 9 Aug 1971; Lt Col Jerry A. Crist, 18 Oct 1972; Lt Col David M. Eknes. 15 Mar 1973; Lt Col James Lilly, 15 Jun 1973; Lt Col Bernard W. Boshoven. 19 Jun 1974; Lt Col Clyde L. Newton, 30 Jun 1976; Lt Col John Granskog, 28 Apr 1977; Lt Col Edsel J. Deville, by 9 Jul 1979: Lt Col John L. Welde, 2 Jun 1981; Lt Col Henry E. McCauley Jr., 20 May 1983; Lt Col R. D. Edwards. 14 Dec 1984; Lt Col John S. Howard. 7 Apr 1986; Lt Col Rodney M. Shoop. 29 Oct 1987; Lt Col Richard H. McDow, 19 Jan 1989; Lt Col Joseph S. Barton. 15 Apr 1991-31 Mar 1992. Lt Col Frederick S. Knowles, 20 Aug 1993; Lt Col Mark H. Skattum, 29 Oct 1993; Lt Col James S. Courtoy, 15 May 1995; Lt Col William R. Travnick, 4 Apr 1997; Lt Col Wyatt R. Fleming. 8 Feb 1999; Lt Col David C. Asselin, 20 Dec 2000; Lt Col Henry J. Santicola, 23 Aug 2002: Lt Col Phil M. Haun, 14 May 2004; Lt Col Quentin R. Rideout, 20 May 2005-1 Oct 2008.
Aircraft. P–39, 1943; P–51, 1943–1944, 1945–1946; P–47, 1944–1945. F–100, 1956–1970. A–7, 1970–1977; A–10, 1978–1992. A-10, 1993-2007.
Operations. Air defense in US in 1943. Combat in ETO, 1 Dec 1943–8 May 1945. Combat in Southeast Asia, Feb 1968–Sep 1970 and Oct 1972–Mar 1973. Combat in Southwest Asia, Jan–Feb 1991. Served in Alaska, 1993-2008, but supplied personnel and aircraft to organizations deployed to Afghanistan in spring 2004 and Jan 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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 Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Vietnam Ceasefire. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Global War on Terrorism-Expeditionary (GWOT-E). Afghanistan: Consolidation I.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, [Dec] 1943–15 May 1944; France, 25 Aug 1944. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Jul–31 Dec 1968; 10 Oct 1972–30 Apr 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Sep-31 Dec 1999. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Oct 2006-30 Sep 2007. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1962–31 Dec 1963; 3 Feb–30 Jun 1968; 1 Nov 1970–31 May 1972; 1 May 1974–30 Apr 1976; 1 Jan 1978–31 Mar 1979; 1 Jul 1985–30 Jun 1987; 1 May 1990–15 Mar 1992; 11 Sep 2000-10 Sep 2002; 17 Sep 2003-16 Sep 2005; 17 Sep 2005-20 Oct 2006. French Croix De Guerre with Palm: 1 Dec 1943–31 Dec 1944. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 22 Jan 1968–31 Aug 1970.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 8 Jun 2021.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Oct 2008.
Supersedes statement prepared on 13 Jan 2016.
Emblem. Approved on 25 Jun 1957; latest rendering, 26 Apr 2016.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.