313th Tactical Fighter Squadron

History

Established under the Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as a pursuit squadron, initially equipped with second-line aircraft. Transferred to Southeast Air District (later Third Air Force) in late 1941, re-equipped with P-40 Warhawks. Trained in the southeast, being reassigned to Air University in 1943 becoming a training squadron at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Florida.

Re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and trained as an operational squadron, being deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to IX Fighter Command in England in May 1944. Re-equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts, the squadron supported Allied ground forces in France after D-Day, attacking enemy strong points, troop concentrations, armor formations, bridges and other targets. Moved to Normandy and operated from several forward bases in Northeast France during the summer of 1944 as Allied ground forces moved eastwards towards Germany. Supported the Fifth Army movement from Southern France though the Lyon Valley, then into Occupied Germany as part of the Western Allied invasion in the spring of 1945. Remained in Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe occupation forces, demobilizing over the summer. Inactivated in Colorado, November 1945.

Reactivated on 15 November 1976 at Hahn AB, Germany. From this perspective the 313th made a huge jump from P-47 Thunderbolts to the F-4E Phantom II. In 1981 the 313th became the first unit to operate the F-16 Fighting Falcon in USAFE. Inactivated at the end of the Cold War on 30 December 1991.

Lineage

Constituted 313th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 21 Jan 1942.

Activated on 9 Feb 1942 Re-designated 313th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942 Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Re-designated 313th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1976

Re-activated on 15 November 1976 Inactivated on 30 December 1991

Assignments

50th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942 – 7 Nov 1945

50th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Nov 1976 – 30 Dec 1991

Stations

Selfridge Field, Michigan, 9 February 1942

Key Field, Mississippi, 3 October 1941

Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 22 March 1943

Alachua Army Airfield, Florida, 20 November 1943

Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 1 February – 13 March 1944

RAF Lymington (AAF-551), England, 5 April 1944

Carentan Airfield (A-10), France, 25 June 1944

Meautis Airfield (A-17), France, 16 August 1944

Orly Airfield (A-47), France, 4 September 1944

Lyon-Bron Airport (Y-6), France, 28 September 1944

Toul/Ochey Airfield (A-96), France, 3 November 1944

Giebelstadt Airfield (Y-90), Germany, 20 April 1945

AAF Station Mannheim/Sandhofen, Germany, 21 May–June 1945

La Junta Army Air Field, Colorado, 4 August – 7 November 1945

Hahn Air Base, West Germany, 15 November 1976 – 30 December 1991

Aircraft

BT-13 Valiant, 1941-1942

P-35 Guardsman, 1941-1942

P-40 Warhawk, 1942-1943

P-51 Mustang, 1943-1944

P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943-1945

F-4E Phantom II, 1976-1981

F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1981-1991