510th Fighter Squadron

510th Fighter Squadron
510th Fighter Squadron Patch
Active	1 March 1943 – 27 October 1945 1 December 1952 – 1 July 1958 9 April 1959 – 15 November 1969 1 October 1978 – 1 February 1994 1 July 1994 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter
Part of	United States Air Forces in Europe 3d Air Force 31st Fighter Wing 31st Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Aviano Air Base
Nickname(s)	Buzzards
Motto(s)	Buzzards Rule
Colors	Purple
Mascot(s)	Buzz
Decorations	DUC PUC AFOUA w/ V Device RVGC w/ Palm

The 510th Fighter Squadron (510 FS) is part of the 31st Operations Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy. It is a combat-ready F-16CM fighter squadron prepared to deploy and fly combat sorties as tasked by NATO and US combatant commanders. The squadron employs a full range of the latest state-of-the-art precision ordnance.

The 510 FS performs air and space control and force application roles including counterair, strategic attack, interdiction, combat search and rescue (CSAR), close air support (CAS), and forward air control-airborne (FAC-A) missions.

The 510th Fighter Squadron was originally formed as the 625th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), part of the 405th Bombardment Group, at Drew Field, Florida, in 1943, flying the Douglas A-24 Banshee. On 15 August 1943, the 625th was renamed the 510th Fighter-Bomber Squadron.

In late 1943, the squadron moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina, and began flying the Bell P-39 Airacobra, and then the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. In March 1944, the 510th moved to RAF Christchurch, England, and began combat operations. During World War II, the 510th moved to mainland Europe with the advance of Allied troops, flying from Picauville and Saint-Dizier, France, Ophoven, Belgium, and Kitzingen, Germany. The unit was credited with 39 kills. In late 1945, the 510th was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.