13th Fighter Squadron

Mission

The 13th Fighter Squadron "Panther Pack" operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon CM/DM Block 50 aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The Panthers provide in Offensive and Defensive Counter-Air capabilities, and specialize in the role of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.

World War II

The 13th Fighter Squadron was first activated as the 313th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 1 February 1942, part of the 21st Bombardment Group. The squadron was initially stationed at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky, but moved to Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi, a week later. On 24 April, the squadron moved to Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina, becoming an operational training unit five days later. It served in the continental United States, training bomber crews for overseas service. The squadron also conducted anti-submarine patrols in the Gulf of Mexico between June and August. The squadron was disbanded on 10 October 1943.

Vietnam

On 2 May 1966, the squadron was reactivated as the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II. The squadron flew Wild Weasel missions to destroy North Vietnamese Surface-to-air missile sites. In October 1967, the squadron was moved to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, becoming part of the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. At Udorn, the 13th flew F-4D and F-4E aircraft, remaining there for the remainder of the war. In 1972, the squadron adopted as a mascot a panther nicknamed "Eldridge" after Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver. The squadron later became known as the "Panther Pack". The squadron scored 11 MiG kills, compiled 21 aerial victories, and flew more than 30,000 combat sorties. The squadron earned 15 campaign streamers, six Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Valor, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm during the war. The squadron was inactivated in June 1975 with the end of the war.

MacDill AFB Training unit

The squadron was reactivated on 15 January 1976 at MacDill Air Force Base as the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, part of the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing. The squadron conducted F-4 pilot and weapon system officer replacement training and was inactivated on 1 July 1982.

Misawa Air Base

On 1 June 1985, the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reactivated at Misawa Air Base in Japan, assigned to the 432d Fighter Wing and flying the F-16C Fighting Falcon. The 13th became the first permanent fighter squadron stationed on mainland Japan since 1972. On 19 September, the 313th Bombardment Squadron's lineage was consolidated with the 13th TFS. On 31 May 1991, the 13th TFS was redesignated the 13th Fighter Squadron. It was transferred to the 35th Fighter Wing's 35th Operations Group on 1 October 1994, part of an organizational realignment to ensure wings with rich heritages remained active.

The squadron achieved initial operational capability in F-16CJs in 1996. The squadron's tail code was simultaneously changed from "MJ" to "WW" in recognition of the wing's Wild Weasel heritage. On 8 July of that year, the squadron became the first Pacific Air Forces F-16 unit to deploy in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, as a result of a policy change allowing all units the opportunity to deploy. During Operation Southern Watch, the squadron flew its first combat missions since the 1975 Mayaguez incident. Since 1996, the 13th FS has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq nine times, most recently in 2010 to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

Lineage

313th Bombardment Squadron

Constituted as the 313th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942

Activated on 1 February 1942 Disbanded on 10 October 1943

Reconstituted and consolidated with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1985

13th Fighter Squadron

Constituted as the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 2 May 1966 (not organized)

Organized on 15 May 1966 Inactivated on 30 June 1975

Redesignated 13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 18 December 1975

Activated on 15 January 1976 Inactivated on 1 July 1982

Redesignated 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 5 June 1984

Activated on 1 June 1985

Consolidated with the 313th Bombardment Squadron on 19 September 1985

Redesignated as 13th Fighter Squadron on 31 May 1991

Assignments

21st Bombardment Group, 1 February 1942 – 10 October 1943

Pacific Air Forces, 2 May 1966 (not organized)

18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 May 1966 (attached to 388th Tactical Fighter Wing until 17 October 1967)

432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (later 432d Tactical Fighter Wing), 15 November 1967 – 30 June 1975

56th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 56th Tactical Training Wing), 15 January 1976 – 1 July 1982

432d Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 June 1985

432d Operations Group, 31 May 1991

35th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – present

Stations

Bowman Field, Kentucky, 1 February 1942

Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi, 8 February 1942

Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, 21 April 1942

Key Field, Mississippi, 24 May 1942

Hattiesburg Army Air Field, Mississippi, 7 June 1942

Key Field, Mississippi, 12 June 1942

MacDill Field, Florida, 26 June 1942 – 10 October 1943

Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 15 May 1966

Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 20 October 1967 – 30 June 1975

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 15 January 1976 – 1 July 1982 (operated From: Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, 26 November–22 December 1979)

Misawa Air Base, Japan, 1 June 1985 – present

Aircraft

Douglas B-18 Bolo (1942)

Douglas A-20 Havoc (1942)

North American B-25 Mitchell (1942)

Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1943)

Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1966–1967)

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1967–1982)

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1985–present)

Aces

Capt Jeffrey Feinstein. 5 kills