4th Fighter Squadron
| 4th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
General Dynamics F-16C Block 40C Fighting Falcon 88-0462, about 199
|
|
| Active | 15 January 1941 – 7 November 1945 9 November 1946 – 31 December 1969 1 July 1971 – 31 March 1973 1 September 1974 – 11 May 2010 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Worldwide fighter operations |
| Garrison/HQ | Hill Air Force Base, Utah |
| Nickname(s) | Fightin' Fuujins |
| Mascot(s) | Fuujin |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
388th Operations Group |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem of the 4th Fighter Squadron |  |
The 4th Fighter Squadron (4 FS) "Fighting Fuujins" is part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority, strike, and close air support missions.
Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations for daylight and nighttime missions.
The 4th was activated at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 15 January 1941 and trained under Third Air Force as a tactical fighter squadron. Moved to several U.S. bases before relocating to Northern Ireland and England in 1942. Equipped with the British Supermarine Spitfire, was assigned to Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign in late 1942. Moved across Algeria and Tunisia flying ground support missions for American ground forces; taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Participated in the liberation of Corsica in 1943; then returning to Italy and being re-equipped with P-51D Mustangs in May 1944. Participated in Northern Italian Campaign, returning to the United States in August 1945 and inactivating.
Reactivated as part of Thirteenth Air Force in Okinawa, assuming personnel and P-61 Black Widows of the inactivated 418th Night Fighter Squadron. Performed air defense role over Okinawa during Chinese Civil War on the mainland during 1947–1950. Re-equipped with new F-82G Twin Mustangs in 1949, retiring war-weary F-61s in early 1950. Deployed flight of F-82s to Japan in June 1950 as part of Far East Air Force mobility upon breakout of Korean War. Engaged in combat operations over South Korea during 1950, until F-51D Mustangs and F-84 Thunderjets arrived in the Korean theater. Then few combat missions from Japan, rotating flights of F-82s from Okinawa during 1950–1951, largely performing long-range weather reconnaissance flights over North Korea. Began receiving F-94C Starfire jet interceptors to replace F-82s in 1951, retiring the last of its Twin Mustangs in late 1951. Continued air defense mission of Okinawa until 1954; moving to Japan and taking over interceptor mission until 1954 flying first F-86D Sabres then F-102As. Also train pilots of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the Republic of Korea and the Royal Thai Air Force, and flew combat missions over Korea and Vietnam.
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Wikipedia