175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

175th Fighter Squadron
Four 175th Fighter Squadron F-16s over Mount Rushmore
Active	1943-1945; 1946-1952; 1952-present
Country	United States
Allegiance	South Dakota
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Fighter
Part of	South Dakota Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station, South Dakota
Nickname(s)	Fightin' Lobos
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Belgian Fourragère
Insignia
175th Fighter Squadron emblem
175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem
Tail marking	Dark Grey stripe "Lobos" on tail; The front of a timber wolf running across the tail

The 175th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard 's 114th Operations Group stationed at Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The 175th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

The squadron was first activated as the 387th Fighter Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 365th Fighter Group at Richmond Army Air Base on 15 May 1943. The squadron trained with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. The unit moved to RAF Gosfield, England in December 1943, where it became part of IX Fighter Command. The squadron's first mission, flown on 22 February, was a bomber support sweep of short duration over enemy-held territory. Early missions were flown in support of Eighth Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber operations. Later, the 387th flew dive-bombing missions to attack such targets as bridges, aerodromes, rail facilities, gun positions, and V-weapon sites prior to the Operation Overlord, the landings at Normandy.

The 387th began its move to the Continent, taking up residence at Azeville Airfield, France on 27 June 1944 to provide tactical air for the United States First Army. On the Continent, the squadron moved rapidly from one airfield to another, eventually winding up at Fritzlar Airfield, Germany on V-E Day.

After the end of hostilities, the 387th Fighter Squadron took part in the disarmament program until June, then returned to the United States in September 1945, and was inactivated at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts on 22 September 1945.