36th Fighter Squadron

36th Fighter Squadron
Squadron F-16Clanding at Osan AB in 2008
Active	1917–1919; 1930–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter
Part of	Pacific Air Forces 7th Air Force 51st Fighter Wing 51st Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Osan Air Base, Korea
Nickname(s)	The Fabulous Flying Fiends
Motto(s)	Check Six! Harrumph!
Mascot(s)	Tojo
Anniversaries	The Fiend 100 Year Anniversary (June 9–12, 2017 Osan AB, ROK)
Engagements	World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Michael McCarthy
Notable commanders	Quentin Roosevelt Ennis Whitehead Major General Scott D. West
Insignia
36th Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 13 January 1931)

The 36th Fighter Squadron is part of the US Air Force's 51st Operations Group at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The squadron was first activated in 1917 as the 36th Aero Squadron and served in France during World War I, although the war ended before the unit saw combat. It has been continuously active since 1930 as a fighter squadron.

The squadron mission is to conduct air interdiction, close air support and counter-air missions both day and night. It participates in the defense of South Korea and promotes regional stability.

During its 90-year history, the 36th Fighter Squadron has flown 21 different types of aircraft, received 22 unit citations and accumulated 24 service and campaign streamers.

The unit came into existence shortly after the United States entered World War I as the 36th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas in June 1917. Later that year, First Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, briefly commanded the squadron. After a brief training period, the squadron moved overseas to France on the RMS Baltic, where it constructed facilities and maintained and assembled planes for flying units. Several of the squadron's former members saw combat with other squadrons. Following the armistice, the squadron returned to the United States on the USS Manchuria and was demobilized in the spring of 1919 at Garden City, New York.

The squadron was reconstituted in 1923 as the 36th Pursuit Squadron. Although inactive, it was originally allotted to the Sixth Corps Area. In 1929 the squadron was designated as a "Regular Army Inactive" unit. Although remaining inactive as a regular unit, officers of the Organized Reserves were assigned to the unit and performed summer training with the squadron at Kelly Field for the next few years.