357th Fighter Squadron

357th Fighter Squadron
357th Fighter Squadron Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 76-0532 at Davis-Monthan AFB, 1991
Active	1942–1946; 1952–1960; 1962–1970; 1971–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter Training
Part of	Air Combat Command 12th Air Force 355th Fighter Wing 355th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Dragons
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Vietnam War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/ V Device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm
Insignia
357th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 24 June 1943)

The 357th Fighter Squadron (357 FS) is part of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft training pilots for close air support missions.

The squadron was first activated during World War II as a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron. After training in the United States the unit deployed to the European Theater of Operations. The unit entered combat operations in the summer of 1943, continuing in combat until April 1945. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for carrying out a difficult attack in April 1944. The squadron moved to Germany, where it was briefly part of the occupation forces before returning to the United States where it was inactivated in November 1945.

The 357th conducts all formal course directed aircraft transition, day and night weapons and tactics employment, day and night air refueling, and dissimilar air combat maneuvers. The squadron trains pilots to plan, coordinate, execute, and control day and night close air support, air interdiction and battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance.

The 355th Fighter Squadron was first activated in late 1942 at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida as one of the original three squadrons of the 355th Fighter Group, flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. The squadron trained under III Fighter Command in Florida and in the Middle Atlantic States, then was reassigned as part of I Fighter Command for final training at Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania. The unit also performed air defense in the Philadelphia area in mid-1943.