35th Fighter Squadron

35th Fighter Squadron
F-16C block 40 #89-2064 from the 35th FS lands at Kunsan AB on 16 March 2010.
Active	12 June 1917 – 19 March 1919 25 June 1932 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter
Part of	Pacific Air Forces 7th Air Force 8th Fighter Wing 8th Operations Group
Nickname(s)	Pantons Cyclone's Flying Circus
Motto(s)	PUSH IT UP!
Colors	BLUE
Mascot(s)	Bill The Cat
Decorations	DUC AFOUA PPUC ROK PUC RVGC w/ Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col. Christopher Eberth
Notable commanders	Maj. Emmett "Cyclone" Davis
Insignia
35th Fighter Squadron emblem

The 35th Fighter Squadron (35 FS) is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 8th Operations Group, stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. The squadron operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

The 35th FS is one of two squadrons of Block 40 F-16C/Ds of the 8th Fighter wing at Kunsan, flying the Fighting Falcon since 1981. The 35th is one of the oldest squadrons in the United States Air Force, its history dating to 12 June 1917, when the unit was activated as the 35th Aero Squadron.

The 35th Fighter Squadron heritage dates back to 12 June 1917, when the unit activated as the 35th Aero Squadron. Originally an aircraft maintenance squadron, the unit served in France from September 1917 to February 1919. Upon the unit's return to the United States after the armistice, it demobilized during the American disarmament.

Recognizing the need for a strong air arm, American defense officials reconstituted the squadron in June 1932 and redesignated it the 35th Pursuit Squadron. For the next few years, the 35th flew P-12, PB-2, A-17, and P-36 aircraft out of Langley Field, Virginia. In 1939, the unit was redesignated the 35th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) and moved to Mitchel Field, New York, to fly the P-40 Warhawk.

The 35th Fighter Squadron along with the 8th Pursuit Group and 22nd Airbase Group left San Francisco in Convoy Number 2033, escorted by USS New Orleans, for Australia on 12 February 1942 on the Army transport USAT Maui arriving with the convoy at Brisbane, Australia on 5 March 1942. The squadron has never been stationed in the United States since. They arrived in Brisbane, Queensland on 6 March 1942. After arrival, it moved to Amberly Airfield, west of Brisbane, where it was equipped with P-39D Airacobras that were originally intended to go to the Philippines but the convoy was diverted to Brisbane.