16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

16th Weapons Squadron
USAF F-16C block 52 #93-0553 from the USAF Fighter Weapons School sits on the ramp at Nellis AFB at night with the Las Vegas "Strip" in the background. The aircraft sits after being loaded and prepared for a night training flight.
Active	1940–Current
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Advanced Tactical Fighter Training
Part of	USAF Weapons School
Garrison/HQ	Nellis AFB, Nevada
Tail Code	"WA"
Engagements	World War II (Asia-Pacific Theater) Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (5x) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (2x)
Insignia
16th Weapons Squadron emblem (original form approved 16 November 1961)

The 16th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, based at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

The 16th began as the 16th Pursuit Squadron on 20 November 1940. During World War II, the 16th Pursuit Squadron flew missions in New Guinea, India, and China in the P-40, P-47, and P-51. During the Korean War, the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron flew missions from Korea and Japan in the F-80 and F-86. After the Korean War, the 16th was stationed in Japan, Florida, Norway, Turkey, Korea, and Utah, flying missions in the F-106 and F-4 Phantom II aircraft.

In January 1979, the 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron became the USAF's first F-16A/B operational squadron.

Activated at Hamilton Field, California in 1941 as a P-40 Pursuit Squadron to defend the West Coast. Deployed to the CBI in March 1942, initially arriving at Karachi, India moving via Australia and Ceylon. It was assigned to Tenth Air Force. The squadron defended the Indian terminus of the "Hump" airlift route over the Himalaya Mountains between India and China and airfields in that area, operating from the Assam Valley of northeast India. The squadron flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943.

Moved to southeast China in October 1943, being assigned to Fourteenth Air Force. The squadron defended the Chinese end of the Hump route and air bases in the Kunming area. Attacked Japanese shipping in the Red River delta of Indochina and supported Chinese ground forces in their late 1944 drive along the Salween River. Was reequipped with North American P-51D Mustangs in 1945 to defend the eastern end of the route over the Hump, and to guard air bases in the Kunming area.

They returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the United States in November. Inactivated on 13 December 1945.