425th Night Fighter Squadron
| 425th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
425th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon
|
|
| Active | 1943-1947; 1969-1989; 1992-present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Advanced weapons and tactics continuation training for Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 pilots |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Luke Air Force Base, Arizona |
| Nickname(s) | Black Widows |
| Motto(s) | Freedom Fighters |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations |
|
| Insignia | |
| Emblem of the 425th Fighter Squadron (approved 1 December 1992) |  |
| Patch with 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron emblem (approved 11 June 1970) |  |
| Patch with 425th Night Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 4 May 1945) |  |
The 425th Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training for Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 pilots.
The unit was originally formed as the 425th Night Fighter Squadron in 1943. After training in the United States, it was deployed to Ninth Air Force in England in the spring of 1944, prior to the D-Day landings in France. During the run-up to D-Day, the squadron trained with Royal Air Force night fighter units against Luftwaffe raiders who intruded the night skies over England. After the landings in France, the mission of the squadron became the air defense of Allied liberated territory. During the Battle of the Bulge, it also flew day and night interdiction missions against enemy troop movements, brides and other targets of opportunity. It was inactivated in 1947.
The squadron was re-activated in 1969 as an Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter training squadron for South Vietnamese Air Force pilots for transition training. After the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War, it continued performed training of pilots from friendly nations who purchased the Northrop F-5E Tiger II as part of the United States Foreign Military Sales program. It was inactivated in 1989 when sales of the F-5 were ended.
The 425th Fighter Squadron's mission is to provide advanced weapons and tactics continuation training for the Republic of Singapore Air Force General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots, weapon systems officers and maintenance personnel. RSAF aircrew and maintenance personnel are assigned to the 425th for two years, during which they receive advanced tactics training, participate in Red Flag exercise, shoot live missiles at Combat Archer, and deploy to locations throughout the United States to participate in composite operations and dissimilar air combat exercises.
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Wikipedia