Active 1941-1944; 1977-1991 Tail Color Green | Country United States | |
 | ||
Branch United States Air Force Motto(s) Mala Ipsa Nova
(Bad News Itself) | ||
The 495th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing and stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England. The squadron motto "MALA IPSA NOVA" translates to "Bad News Itself".
Contents
History
Activated as a Southeastern Air District Army Air Corps training squadron, equipped with a variety of second-line aircraft, both single and twin engine, preparing its pilots and maintenance crews for eventual combat. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols from, March–April 1942. Resumed aircrew training, many of the group's members went on to serve in squadrons stationed in Europe and the Pacific theaters.
Eventually coming under the AAF III Fighter Command in 1944, trained replacement pilots with P-47 Thunderbolts, inactivated in 1944 with the end of RTU training.
Reactivated in 1977 as a fourth tactical fighter squadron with the modern USAF 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. The 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated with the 48th TFW on 1 April 1977 with a squadron tail color of green. This was 33 years to the day since the squadron’s inactivation. The 495th mission was as a replacement training unit for F-111F pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSO) assigned to the other three fighter squadron.
Inactivated in December 1991 with the retirement of the F-111F at Lakenheath.