421st Night Fighter Squadron

421st Fighter Squadron
F-16C block 40 #89-2119 from the 421st FS releases a GBU-31 during a Combat Hammer mission on 11 May 2011
Active	1943-1947; 1962-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Air Defense, Attack
Part of	388th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Hill Air Force Base, Utah
Nickname(s)	Black Widows
Motto(s)	Kiss of Death
Colors	Red, Black, White, Grey
Mascot(s)	Black Widow
Engagements	World War II Asia-Pacific Theatre Vietnam War 1991 Gulf War Armed Forces Expeditionary * Operation Northern Watch * Operation Southern Watch Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary * Operation Enduring Freedom * Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (3x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device (7x) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col. Mike "Danger" Meyer
Insignia
Emblem of the 421st Fighter Squadron

The 421st Fighter Squadron (421 FS) is part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operates the Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The squadron is one of the most decorated fighter squadrons in the United States Air Force, being awarded three Presidential Unit Citations and seven Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for Valor in Combat.

The unit was originally formed as the 421at Night Fighter Squadron in 1943. After training, it was deployed to Fifth Air Force and ordered to New Guinea to provide air defense interceptor protection against Japanese night air raids on USAAF airfields. It later served in the Philippines Campaign where in addition to night interceptor missions it also flew day and night interdiction missions against enemy troop movements, bridges and other targets of opportunity. It later served on Okinawa and in Occupied Japan where it was inactivated in 1947.

It was re-activated by Tactical Air Command in 1962 as the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron. Equipped with F-105 Thunderchiefs, it deployed to Southeast Asia and engaged in combat operations over North Vietnam. It returned to the United States and was re-equipped with the F-4D Phantom II and returned to Southeast Asia for a second and later third tour of duty in the Vietnam War. It was one of the first USAF Squadrons equipped with the F-16A Fighting Falcon in 1980; and went on to serve in the 1991 Gulf War. In recent years, the squadron has deployed to the United States Air Forces Central Command, engaging in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.