335th Fighter Squadron

335th Fighter Squadron
Emblem of the 335th Fighter Squadron
Active	14 May 1941 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	Ninth Air Force 4th Fighter Wing 4th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Chiefs
Engagements	World War II Operation Frantic Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Anaconda Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Notable commanders	Richard Myers, Ralph Jodice

The 335th Fighter Squadron (335 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 4th Operations Group and stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

The 335th was constituted on 22 August 1942 as an incorporation of the No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron of the Royal Air Force, formed on 14 May 1941 as the second of three Eagle Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. These squadrons were composed of American volunteers, recruited by the RAF as a result of the heavy loss of pilots during the Battle of Britain in 1940; the volunteers were ineligible to join the USAAF. In this capacity, the squadron operated Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes.

Its current emblem contains the head of an American Indian chief, which dates back to the original emblem of 121 Squadron RAF.

The "Chiefs" fly the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle. The squadron has an authorized strength of 24 aircraft and around 65 personnel. Its aircraft are identified by the "SJ" tail code and green fin flash.

Currently the squadron provides worldwide deployable aircraft and personnel capable of executing combat missions in support of worldwide Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployments to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism.

The 335th is known as the "World's Leading MiG Killers" for destroying 218.5 MiGs in aerial combat.

In 1942, the Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons were turned over to the United States Army Air Forces, with No. 121 Squadron being constituted as the 335th Fighter Squadron on 22 August, activated on 12 September and the same day assigned to the 4th Fighter Group of the VIII Fighter Command. Coming into USAAF service, the squadron was re-equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts and later P-51 Mustangs. They destroyed 262 enemy aircraft – 165 in the air and 97 on the ground.