333rd Fighter Squadron

333d Fighter Squadron
333d Fighter Squadron Patch
Active	8 December 1957 – 15 February 1991 1 November 1991 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter Training
Part of	Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force 4th Fighter Wing 4th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Lancers
Decorations	PUC AFOUA w/ V Device RVGC w/ Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Don Haley

The 333d Fighter Squadron (333 FS) is part of the 4th Operations Group, 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

Activated in 1957 at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC as a 4th F-100 Super Sabre squadron with the 4th Fighter-Day Wing, taking over personnel and equipment from the 83d FDW, 448th FD Squadron. Performed routine training exercises,. The F-100s remained with the 333d TFS until 1960 when it was upgraded to the Republic F-105B Thunderchief. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was deployed to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, ready to react at a moments notice for possible combat over Cuba. In the spring of 1964, the 333d began the transition from F-105Bs to F-105D/Fs.

The squadron was deployed to Thailand in late 1965 to Korat RTAFB for combat operations over Southeast Asia. However, the 333d then transferred to Takhli RTAFB to relieve the 335th TFS. On 3 December 1965, the 333d TFS deployment was changed from TDY to PCS (Permanent Change of Station), and the squadron was permanently assigned to the 355th TFW at Takhli. Remained in combat operations over Southeast Asia from Thailand until October 1970 when was withdrawn from Thailand as part of the United States' phasdown of operations in the Vietnam War. Began to carry tail code "RK" in March 1968, carried red colors on tail.

Assigned non-operationally to McConnell AFB, Kansas, then also to Luke AFB, Arizona as a non-operational squadron. Was Moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in July 1971, becoming an operational A-7D squadron under Tactical Air Command's Twelfth Air Force, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing.