91st Fighter Squadron

91st Tactical Fighter Squadron
A squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II flying though the Pyrenees mountains
Active	1942–1945; 1946–1992
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Tactical Fighter
Part of	United States Air Forces Europe
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations China-Burma-India Theater
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 14 June 1951)

The 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, stationed at RAF Bentwaters, England. It was inactivated on 14 August 1992.

The squadron was activated in early 1942 under III Fighter Command in North Carolina. Initially trained with P-39 Airacobras, re-equipped with P-38 Lightnings.

Moved overseas, October 1942 – February 1943, the ground echelon arriving in French Morocco with the force that invaded North Africa on 8 November, and the air echelon, which had trained for a time in England, arriving in North Africa between late December 1942 and early February 1943.

Began combat with Twelfth Air Force in January 1943. Supported ground operations during the Allied drive against Axis forces in Tunisia. Patrolled the coast of North Africa and protected Allied shipping in the Mediterranean Sea, April–July 1943. Provided cover for the convoys that landed troops on Pantelleria on 11 June and on Sicily on 10 July 1943. Supported the landings at Anzio on 22 January 1944 and flew patrols in that area for a short time.

Reassigned to the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) and moved to India, February–March 1944. Initially performed training with P-40 and P-47 aircraft. Moved to China in May and became part of Fourteenth Air Force. Continued training and on occasion flew patrol and escort missions before returning to full-time combat duty in January 1945. Attacked enemy airfields and installations, flew escort missions, and aided the operations of Chinese ground forces by attacking troop concentrations, ammunition dumps, lines of communications, and other targets to hinder Japanese efforts to move men and materiel to the front.