336th fighter squadron commander biography

The 336th Fighter Squadron was activated Sept. 12, 1942, charge like its sister squadrons, was comprised mainly of American volunteers serving in the Royal Aura Force prior to the Banded together States' entry into World Armed conflict II.

Transitioning from the Airforce duty as the 133rd Raptor Squadron, the 336th continued run into fly British Spitfires until immigrant of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers descent 1943.

About a year next the squadron transitioned to most renowned piston-engine fighter, Northward American P-51 Mustangs. By say publicly war's end, the 336th exhausted 358 aircraft - 175 welcome the air and 183 interpretation the ground - with Gap. Don Gentile, John Godfrey, Crook Goodson, Fred Glover, and Writer McColpin, and 16 others accomplishment ace status.

On Sep.

9, 1946, the unit was re-activated at Selfridge Field, Mich., proliferate moved to Andrews AFB, Md., in April 1947, with representation jet-powered F-80 Shooting Star, long for the name Rocketeers for spoil early association with the Programme Corps transition to the access age. In 1949, the 336th moved to Langley AFB, Va., with the F-86 Sabrejets, picture first swept wing supersonic airplane in the Air Force parchment.

By November the Rocketeers were enroute to the Far Suck in air to fight the Korean Fight. The 336th, along with take the edge off sister squadrons, earned the noted of "MiG Killers" for animations along the Yalu River meticulous other areas where combat was joined with Korean, Chinese skull Russian pilots.

On Dec.

17, 1950, Lt. Col. Bruce Hinton, 336th commander, shotdown a MiG-15 in the first ever indicate supersonic aerial combat. The Rocketeers were credited with 116.5 kills during the Korean Conflict, reckoning four aces to their rolls.

The 336th remained in grandeur Far East until Dec. 3, 1947, when it moved instantaneously Seymour Johnson. The unit flew North American F-100 SuperSabres unconfirmed mid-1959 when it became suggestion of Tactical Air Command's extreme units to convert to rectitude Mach 2 capable Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

In 1967 the Rocketeers received the McDonnell Douglas F-4D PhantomII.

Deploying to Korea put in June 1968 they supported combatant operations associated with the impounding of the Pueblo.

Returning raid the Far East, the Rocketeers transitioned to the updated F-4E in July 1970 and were the first operational squadron gain use TAC's new modular drained base equipment.

From April run into September 1972 and again elude March to September 1973, class 336th conducted Constant Guard dealing from Ubon Royal Thai Unhappy Base, Thailand, in support medium Linebacker Operations in Southeast Collection.

On Aug. 15, 1972, expert 336th F-4E flown by Director Fred Sheffler and Mark Massen destroyed a MiG-21 with guidebook AIM-7missile, accomplishing the only air-to-air kill by a 4th Skilful Fighter Wing aircraft during class action in Southeast Asia.

Professional the 4th's assumption of leadership North Atlantic Treaty Organization's dual-based tasking in October 1977, nobility 336th was assigned to character 86th TFW, Ramstein AB, Westside Germany, for any NATO exercise.

In October 1989 the 336th became the first operational F-15E Strike Eagle squadron in influence Air Force.

As the cheeriness F-15E squadron, the Rocketeers deployed to Southwest Asia on Aug.

9, 1990, in support catch sight of Operation Desert Shield. In Dec 1990, the 336th redeployed harmony Saudi Arabia in preparation storage space Operation Desert Storm. On Jan. 16, 1991, the Rocketeers launched 24 aircraft against targets fall to pieces Iraq to begin Operation Wilderness Storm and the liberation game Kuwait. The first night was an unqualified success as rank fighting Rocketeers put their bombs on target and returned domicile safe and sound.

By picture end of Operation Desert Report the 336th had flown 1,100 combat sorties, logging 3,200 and dropping 6.5 million pounds of ordnance on enemy targets, including a combination of regular purpose, cluster and laser-guided bombs.

Since the end of birth Gulf War, the 336th has continually participated in exercises much as Maple Flag, Gunsmoke, Fight Hammer, the first night Chocolate Flag, Ocean Venture, Combat Fix, Quick Force,and numerous in-house exercises to continually hone capabilities.

Primacy Rocketeers rotate to Southwest Collection to enforce the United Nation's "no-fly" zone in Operation South Watch.