496th Tactical Fighter Squadron
496th Tactical Fighter Squadron
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496th TFS F-16 Fighting Falcon
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| Active | 1942–1944; 1949–1951; 1953–1991 |
| Country |
 United States
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| Branch |
 United States Air Force
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| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Motto(s) | Cave Canem Latin Beware of the Dog |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem |  |
| Patch with 496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 2 November 1960) |  |
The 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, being stationed at Hahn Air Base, Germany. The squadron was inactivated on 15 May 1991.
The unit was first activated in 1942, and served until April 1944 as a replacement and operational training unit for light bombardment and fighter-bomber units and crews. It was active as a reserve unit from 1949 to 1951, flying the aircraft of the regular 52d Fighter-All Weather Group until it was called to active duty for the Korean War and its personnel used to fill out other units.
Its longest period of active duty started in 1953, when it was activated as an interceptor squadron. After training in the Western United States, it moved to Germany, serving in the air defense of Western Europe until 1968, when it converted to the tactical fighter mission.
The squadron was activated in 1942 as the 301st Bombardment Squadron (Light) at Hunter Field, Georgia, and equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers as one of the original squadron s of the 84th Bombardment Group. It received its initial cadre and equipment from the 3d Bombardment Group. It operated briefly with Vultee V-72 (A-31 Vengeance) aircraft, but its operations showed this aircraft was unsuitable for dive bombing. The squadron served as an Operational Training Unit (OTU), acting as the parent for elements of several light bombardment groups.
In 1943, the squadron was redesignated as the 496th Fighter-Bomber Squadron as were other AAF single engine bombardment units, and was re-equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It continued to serve as an OTU until October 1943. The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups." During the fall of 1943, operations dwindled and by the end of September 1943 only five aircraft were assigned to the entire 84th Group.
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