55th Fighter Squadron

55th Fighter Squadron
55th FS F-16C Block 50D 91-0375 landing at Shaw in December 2006
Active	9 August 1917 – 16 March 1919 15 November 1930 - 18 October 1945 29 July 1946 – 30 December 1993 1 January 1994 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter
Role	OCA-SEAD
Part of	Air Combat Command 9th Air Force 20th Fighter Wing 20th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Shaw Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Shooters, Fightin' Fifty-Fifth
Motto(s)	"Roll 'em!", "Shooters Roll!"
Colors	Blue, White
Mascot(s)	Wild Weasel
Engagements	Battle of Normandy Battle of the Bulge
Decorations	DUC AFOUA
Commanders
Notable commanders	Gabby Gabreski
Insignia
55th Fighter Squadron emblem

The 55th Fighter Squadron (55 FS) is part of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 9 August 1917, being organized at Kelly Field, Texas. It deployed overseas to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, as an aero construction squadron at the 3d Air Instructional Center, Issoudun Aerodrome. The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the Cold War.

The 55th Fighter Squadron’s roots trace back to 9 August 1917. Originally organized as the 55th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, by November the squadron was deployed to Issoudun, France. The squadron was demobilized on 6 March 1919, following World War I. The squadron was reactivated in November 1930, at Mather Field, California, flying Boeing P-12 aircraft, later joined by DH-4 aircraft in 1931. The squadron moved several times in the next decade, flying the P-26, P-36, and finally the P-40 at Hamilton Field.