555th Fighter Squadron

555th Fighter Squadron
Over Iraq, a Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon peels away from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92d Air Refueling Squadron
Active	1942–1945; 1964–1994; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	United States Air Forces in Europe
Garrison/HQ	Aviano Air Base
Nickname(s)	Triple Nickel
Motto(s)	Once Green, Always Green
Colors	Green
Engagements	Linebacker I Linebacker II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol John Peterson
Notable commanders	Joseph Kittinger David L. Goldfein
Insignia
555th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 29 August 2007)
555th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 13 March 1975)
555th Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 555th Fighter Squadron is part of the 31st Operations Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy. It operates General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting an air superiority mission.

The 555th Fighter Squadron provides combat airpower on demand to U.S. and NATO Combatant Commanders as well as the National Command Authority in order to meet National Security objectives.

It also performs air and space control and force application roles of counterair, strategic attack and counterland, including interdiction and close-air support, with 21 F-16CMs employing state of the art munitions in support of the joint, NATO, and combined operations.

The squadron's heritage began on 25 November 1942 when the 555th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, was constituted flying the Martin B-26 Marauder. During World War II, the 555th led offensive actions against Axis forces from bases in England, France, and Belgium. For gallantry in action, the squadron was awarded the first of its four Presidential Unit Citations. The squadron was inactivated shortly after the war ended.

On 8 January 1964, the 555th re-emerged at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, operating the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II. The squadron was organized from elements of the 557th, 558th and 559th TFS at MacDill, when the parent 12th Tactical Fighter Wing(TFW) reduced the number of aircraft from three squadrons of 25 aircraft each to four squadrons of 18 aircraft.

The conflict in Southeast Asia was escalating and throughout 1965 the wing supported Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Contingency Operations by rotating combat squadrons quarterly to Naha AB, Okinawa, in the Ryukyu Islands. At Naha AB the squadrons were part of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing(FIW)and performed as Air Defense Interceptor Squadrons for the Ryukyu Islands. The 555th had flown its planes to Naha AB in December 1964 on the first three-month rotation. Later, the 555th was chosen to return to Naha AB and left MacDill AFB on 6 November 1965 by C-135 transports. The 555th relieved the 559th at Naha and its assets. The 12th TFW was slated to open Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam(RVN). The air defense mission in Okinawa could not be abandoned and a decision was made to keep the 555th there until a replacement unit could be identified. The remainder of the 12th TFW deployed to Cam Ranh Bay beginning in November 1965. An F-102 squadron at Hamilton AFB, CA, was picked to replace the 555th at Naha. The F-102 was not able to air refuel so the planes were modified to a probe and drouge refueling configuration and the pilots trained to perform air refueling, a new concept for an interceptor squadron. The F-102s arrived at Naha in late February 1966. A decision was made to send the 555th to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base(RTAFB) in Northern Thailand, near Vientiane, Laos, and not to join the other three 12th TFW squadrons at Cam Ranh Bay. Cam Ranh could hold only four F-4C squadrons. 391 TFS had arrived at Cam Ranh awaiting runway construction at Phan Rang. Until the 391st rejoined 366th TFW, the 12th could not accommodate the 555th (lack of space). The decision to assign 555th at Udorn was validated in April 1966 when the 555th downed five Migs. A sixth Mig was downed by an F-4C from DaNang AB, RVN. Udorn RTAFB was small and when a squadron of F-104As was brought there, it was decided to send two Flights, half the 555th squadron, to Ubon RTAFB. There was not enough billeting for the entire 555th and what was available was not adequate for daytime rest. The 8th TFW was the resident unit at Ubon and were flying only night missions(Night Owl) into North Vietnam. The first two weeks at Ubon, the 555th planes flew day strikes into North Vietnam. A barracks type building was hastily constructed to house the entire 555th and the remaining half of the 555th was brought to Ubon in July 1966 and the entire squadron then began flying Night Owl missions. The new building was not air-conditioned and so the 555th flew the sunset to about 2300 hours. The two squadrons of the 8th TFW flew the missions from 2300 to sunrise. Later in 1966 the 555th was transferred from the 12thTFW into the 8th TFW.