162d Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 162d Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard
. Its parent unit is the 178th Fighter Wing
.
, Califonia, in December 1942. Initially in December 1943, the squadron was based at Raydon Wood Airdrome, Army Air Field Station 157, in Suffolk
in England
, where it flew the P-51 Mustang
while training in escorting long range bombers. The squadron was soon relocated to RAF
Leiston Airfield. While stationed there, the Group became known as the 'Yoxford Boys' from:
While serving in the UK, the squadron provided very long-range escort for the B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators flying to refuelling bases in the northern USSR, bombing targets en-route. The squadron's P-51s also escorted the bombers to targets in Romania
before landing in southern Italy. After refuelling and rearming the bombers and escorts then returned to the UK, bombing targets in southern France along the way. The hazardous duty of the squadron may explain the adoption of the unit patch on 14 May 1943 that incorporated the clover leaf, a horse shoe and dice as the official emblem of the 362d Fighter Squadron. On 20 August 1946 the 357th was deactivated.
s and became known as the "Cougars" because of their unit patch emblem originated by Captain Joe Catron in 1957, when the squadron moved to its new and current location, the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport
. During the same year the squadron received the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak
. The 162d Fighter Squadron participated in the 1961 Berlin Crisis
, and in 1963, the 162d Fighter Squadron and support units were formed into the 178th Tactical Fighter Group. During 1970 the squadron converted to the F-100D Super Sabre
and in 1978 converted again to the A-7D Corsair II
light attack aircraft.
The squadron converted to the F-16 Fighting Falcon
multirole fighter in 1993. Since 1997 the squadron has been known as the "Sabres". In the same year on 27 March, eight F-16s from the 162d Fighter Squadron were reported as participants in a UFO incident that was later explained to have been a part of participation in a "night intercept air combat exercises" over Clermont County. The orange globes that were seen from the ground by civilian observers, were flares used to "divert enemy aircraft sensors and heat-seeking missiles" during combat.
Ohio Air National Guard
The Ohio Air National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is composed of approximately 5,000 airmen and officers assigned to four flying wings and eight non-flying support units. OHANG units are based in Columbus,...
. Its parent unit is the 178th Fighter Wing
178th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 178th Fighter Wing is an F-16 Fighting Falcon flying training organization assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard and operationally-gained by the Air Education and Training Command...
.
Mission
As of 2008 the 162d Fighter Squadron (FS), is equipped with F-16 aircraft. It:
provides instructor pilots and support personnel for academic and flying training programs in basic and advanced courses in the F-16 for the United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and the Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
. The unit trains students to assume positions as mission ready F-16 pilots and instructors. The 162 FS also provides its own pilots to augment other F-16 fighter squadrons for contingency operations.
History
World War II
The unit was previously designated the 362d Fighter Squadron (357th Fighter Group) during the Second World War. It was formed and activated in Hamilton FieldHamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, Califonia, in December 1942. Initially in December 1943, the squadron was based at Raydon Wood Airdrome, Army Air Field Station 157, in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where it flew the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
while training in escorting long range bombers. The squadron was soon relocated to RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Leiston Airfield. While stationed there, the Group became known as the 'Yoxford Boys' from:
the area to the north of the airfield, Middleton Moor, was bombed and Lord Haw Haw, the German propagandist broadcast that 'we gave those Yoxford Boys a welcome tonight' indicating that the airfield had been attacked.
While serving in the UK, the squadron provided very long-range escort for the B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators flying to refuelling bases in the northern USSR, bombing targets en-route. The squadron's P-51s also escorted the bombers to targets in Romania
Bombing of Romania in World War II
The bombing of Romania in World War II comprised two series of events: until August 1944, Allied operations, and, following the overthrow of Ion Antonescu's Fascist dictatorship, operations by Nazi Germany....
before landing in southern Italy. After refuelling and rearming the bombers and escorts then returned to the UK, bombing targets in southern France along the way. The hazardous duty of the squadron may explain the adoption of the unit patch on 14 May 1943 that incorporated the clover leaf, a horse shoe and dice as the official emblem of the 362d Fighter Squadron. On 20 August 1946 the 357th was deactivated.
Post-war to 1997
The 162d Fighter Squadron was reactivated on 2 November 1947 and stationed at Cox-Dayton Municipal Airport, Vandalia, Ohio, again equipped with the P-51D Mustang. In 1955, the 162d Fighter Squadron began operating F-84E ThunderjetF-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
s and became known as the "Cougars" because of their unit patch emblem originated by Captain Joe Catron in 1957, when the squadron moved to its new and current location, the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport
Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport
Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport is a public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Springfield, a city in Clark County, Ohio, United States...
. During the same year the squadron received the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak
F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
. The 162d Fighter Squadron participated in the 1961 Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
, and in 1963, the 162d Fighter Squadron and support units were formed into the 178th Tactical Fighter Group. During 1970 the squadron converted to the F-100D Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
and in 1978 converted again to the A-7D Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
light attack aircraft.
The squadron converted to the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
multirole fighter in 1993. Since 1997 the squadron has been known as the "Sabres". In the same year on 27 March, eight F-16s from the 162d Fighter Squadron were reported as participants in a UFO incident that was later explained to have been a part of participation in a "night intercept air combat exercises" over Clermont County. The orange globes that were seen from the ground by civilian observers, were flares used to "divert enemy aircraft sensors and heat-seeking missiles" during combat.
Campaigns
- Air Offensive Europe 1942–1944
- Normandy Campaign 1944
- Northern France 1945
- Ardennes-Alsace 1944–1945
- Central Europe 1945
- Rhineland 1945
Unit decorations
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 6 Mar and 29 June 1944 (Special Order #WD GO 29)
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Derben, Germany, 14 Jan 1945 (Special Order #WD GO 25)
- French Croix De Guerre with Palm: 11 Feb 1944–15 Jan 1945 Foreign Decoration
Major Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(1992–Present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1962–1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
(???–1962)
Previous Designations
- 162d Fighter Squadron (1992–Present)
- 162d Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958–1992)
- 362d Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group357th Fighter GroupThe 357th Fighter Group was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. The 357th operated P-51 Mustang aircraft as part of the U.S. Eighth Air Force and its members were known unofficially as "The Yoxford Boys" after a village near their base...
(1942–1945)
Bases Stationed
- Springfield-Beckley Municipal AirportSpringfield-Beckley Municipal AirportSpringfield-Beckley Municipal Airport is a public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Springfield, a city in Clark County, Ohio, United States...
(1955–Present) - Cox-Dayton Municipal Airport (1947–1955)
Aircraft Operated
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1993–Present)
- A-7D/K Corsair II (1978–1993)
- F-100 Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
(1970–1978) - F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
(1957–1970) - F-84E ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
(1955–1957) - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(1944–1945), (1947–1955) - P-39 Airacobra (1942–1943)
Sources
- Rogers, B., United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978, 2006 ISBN 1-85780-197-0
- World Airpower Journal, US Air Force Air Power Directory, Aerospace Publishing, London, 1992 ISBN 1-880588-01-3