433d Weapons Squadron

433d Weapons Squadron
	433d WPS F-22A Raptor and F-15C Eagle from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School's 433rd Weapons Squadron fly in formation over Lake Mead, Nev., on 16 July 2010.
Active	1943 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Advanced Air Superiority Fighter Training
Part of	USAF Weapons School
Garrison/HQ	Nellis AFB, Nevada
Tail Code	"WA"
Engagements	; World War II (Asia-Pacific Theater); ; Vietnam War
Decorations	; Distinguished Unit Citation (3x); ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device (6x); ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3x); ; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (World War II); ; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
433d Weapons Squadron emblem

Last updated March 05, 2019

The 433d Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada.^[1]

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Nevada is a state in the Western United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th most extensive, the 32nd most populous, but the 9th least densely populated of the U.S. states. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area where three of the state's four largest incorporated cities are located. Nevada's capital, however, is Carson City.

The unit was first activated in May 1943 and flew the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 433d distinguished themselves in air combat against Japan over New Guinea, Rabaul, and the Philippines, achieving over 200 aerial victories. Reactivated in 1964 for the war in Southeast Asia, the 433d was assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing at Ubon, Thailand, flying the F-4 Phantom II. The 433d was credited with 12 MiG kills over North Vietnam.

History

World War II

Established by Fifth Air Force in Australia in May 1943 specifically to accommodate very long range Lockheed P-38J Lightnings at Amberley Airfield in Queensland, Australia. The 433rd was specifically trained to provide long-range escort for bombers during daylight raids on Japanese airfields and strongholds in the Netherlands East Indies and the Bismarck Archipelago. On 14 August 1943, the 431st transferred from Amberley airfield to Port Moresby. New Guinea.

The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organization has provided 70 years of continuous air power to the Pacific since its establishment in September 1941.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea. Its area is about 50,000 square km.

Engaged in combat operations, providing escort for B-25 Mitchell medium bombers that were engaged in strafing attacks on airdromes at Wewak but also destroyed a number of the enemy fighter planes that attacked the formation. Also intercepted and destroyed many Japanese aircraft which were sent against American shipping in Oro Bay on 15 and 17 October 1943. Covered landings in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Schouten Islands. After moving to Biak in July 1944, the squadron flew escort missions and fighter sweeps to the southern Philippines, Celebes, Halmahera, and Borneo.

Wewak Place in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak.

Oro Bay is a bay in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, located 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Buna. The bay is located within the larger Dyke Ackland Bay. A port is operated by PNG Ports Corporation Limited with limited wharf facilities, located at 8°53′47″S148°29′39″E.

New Guinea is a large island separated by a shallow sea from the rest of the Australian continent. It is the world's second-largest, after Greenland, covering a land area of 785,753 km² (303,381 sq mi), and the largest wholly or partly within the Southern Hemisphere and Oceania.

Moved to the Philippines in October 1944 and attacked enemy airfields and installations, escorting bombers, and engaging in aerial combat during the first stages of the Allied campaign to recover the Philippines, October–December 1944. The squadron flew many missions to support ground forces on Luzon during the first part of 1945. Also flew escort missions to Southeast China and attacked railways on Formosa. Began moving to Ie Shima near Okinawa in August 1945 but the war ended before the movement was completed.

Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. It is ranked 15th largest in the world by land area. Located in the northern region of the archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country's most populous city. With a population of 53 million as of 2015,, it is the fourth most populous island in the world containing 52.5% of the country's total population.

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.404 billion. Covering approximately 9,600,000 square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third- or fourth-largest country by total area. Governed by the Communist Party of China, the state exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

After active combat ended, on 22 September 1945, the squadron moved to Seoul Airfield, Korea for occupation duty as part of the 308th Bomb Wing, assigned to the 315th Air Division of Far East Air Forces. The unit moved to Kimpo Airfield, on 7 January 1946 where the it converted to the very long-range P-51H Mustang. The squadron was reassigned to Nagoya Airfield, Japan in March 1947 and later moved to Itazuke Airfield, Japan in August 1948. It became a subordinate unit of 475th Fighter Wing on 10 August.

Seoul Air Base Airbase near Seoul, South Korea

Seoul Air Base is located in Seongnam city near Seoul in South Korea. Runway 19 and 20 are equipped with an ILS.

Korea is a region in East Asia. Since 1948, it has been divided between two distinct sovereign states: North Korea and South Korea. Korea consists of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and several minor islands near the peninsula. Korea is bordered by China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and neighbours Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan.

The Far East Air Force (FEAF) was the military aviation organization of the United States Army in the Philippines just prior to and at the beginning of World War II. Formed on 16 November 1941, FEAF was the predecessor of the Fifth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces and the United States Air Force.

The squadron was inactivated on 1 April 1949 at Itazuke Airfield, Japan

Cold War

Reactivated by Air Defense Command in 1952 as a Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin and equipped with F-89 Scorpions. Deployed to Eleventh Air Force at Ladd AFB, Alaska, 1954 performing air defense of central and Northern Alaska, responding to GCI directed intercepts of intruding Soviet aircraft. Returned to the Continental United States, being assigned to Minot AFB, North Dakota in 1957. However, no aircraft were assigned to the unit, and January 1958 the 433d FIS was inactivated due to budget restraints.

Was reassigned to Tactical Air Command, being stationed at George AFB, California, assigned to 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. Equipped with F-4C Phantom II tactical fighter-bomber, engaged in training, participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, deployments.

Vietnam War

Was deployed to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in December 1965, becoming part of Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force. Assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, engaged in combat operations over Southeast Asia, the squadron's mission included bombardment, ground support, air defense, interdiction, and armed reconnaissance.

Beginning in May 1967, was re-equipped with new F-4D aircraft. This gave the unit the distinction of being the first in Southeast Asia to be operationally equipped with improved Phantom II. In May 1968, employed laser-guided bombs (LGBs) in combat for the first time. During its final years of combat, used F-4Ds for fast-forward air control, interdiction, escort, armed reconnaissance, and other special missions. Continued combat in Vietnam until mid-January 1973, in Laos until 22 February 1973, and in Cambodia until 15 August 1973. Remained in Thailand until July 1974 when the squadron was inactivated.

Fighter Weapons Squadron

Reactivated as part of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada on 1 October 1976. Mission of the squadron was test and evaluate systems modifications to the McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle prior to those changes being released to operational units of Tactical Air Command and USAFE. Mission assumed by USAF Fighter Weapons School F-15 Division at the end of 1981, inactivated on 30 December.

Flying Training

Reactivated in 1983 at Holloman AFB, New Mexico as a T-38 Talon training squadron to provide Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) training for pilots assigned to fly the F-15 Eagle. Performed training on the T-38 until the LIFT program was sharply cut back in 1991, as part of the end of the Cold War. Inactivated 8 July 1992.

USAF Weapons School

Reactivated at Nellis AFB in 2003, replacing the USAF Fighter Weapons School F-15C Division. Mission was conduct Weapons Instructors Course at the USAF Weapons School and provide the world's most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment. Upon completing the course, graduates return to their home stations, taking the latest tactics, techniques and procedures for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat to their respective units. During the course, students receive an average of 400 hours of graduate-level academics and participate in demanding combat training missions. The climax of the course is the mission employment phase, a two-week staged battle over the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Began teaching F-15 course in Feb 2003. Began instruction with F-22 Raptor, providing a Weapons Instructor Course in 2009.

Lineage

Activated on 14 May 1943 by special authority prior to constitution as 433d Fighter Squadron (Two Engine) on 15 May 1943

Redesignated 433d Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 14 Feb 1944

Redesignated 433d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 8 Jan 1946

Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949

Redesignated 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952

Activated on 1 Nov 1952

Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958

Redesignated 433d Tactical Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 16 Jul 1964.

Organized on 25 Jul 1964

Inactivated on 23 Jul 1974

Redesignated 433d Fighter Weapons Squadron on 10 May 1976

Activated on 1 Oct 1976

Inactivated on 30 Dec 1981, assets re=designated as the USAF Fighter Weapons School F-15C Division.

Redesignated 433d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 25 May 1983

Activated on 1 Sep 1983

Redesignated 433d Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991

Inactivated on 8 Jul 1992

Re-designated 433d Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003

Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of F-15C Division, USAF Weapons School

Assignments

475th Fighter Group, 14 May 1943 – 1 Apr 1949

Attached to 347th Fighter Group, 18 Nov 1947 – 28 Aug 1948

31st Air Division, 1 Nov 1952
520th Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953
11th Air Division, 14 Jul 1954
5001st Air Defense Group, 20 Sep 1954
11th Air Division, 1 Oct 1955
32d Fighter Group, 1 Nov 1957 – 8 Jan 1958
Tactical Air Command, 16 Jul 1964
8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 Jul 1964 – 23 Jul 1974
57th Fighter Weapons (later, 57th Tactical Training; 57th Fighter Weapons) Wing, 1 Oct 1976 – 30 Dec 1981
479th Tactical Training Wing, 1 Sep 1983
479th Fighter Group, 26 Jul 1991
49th Operations Group, 15 Nov 1991 – 8 Jul 1992
USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003 – present

Stations

Charters Towers, Australia, 14 May 1943
RAAF Base Amberley, Australia, c. 1 July 1943
Dobodura Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 14 August 1943

Operated from Port Moresby Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 8 August-3 October 1943

Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 26 March 1944
Hollandia Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 15 May 1944
Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 15 July 1944
Dulag Airfield, Leyte, 9 November 1944

Detachment operated from McGuire Field, San Jose, Mindoro, 5 February—c. 4 March 1945

Clark Field, Luzon, 28 February 1945

Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, 19 April 1945
Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, 8 August 1945
Kimpo AB, Korea, 5 October 1945
Titami, Japan, 21 September 1946
Itazuke AB, Japan, 18 November 1947 – 1 April 1949
Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1 November 1952
Ladd AFB, Alaska, 16 July 1954
Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 November 1957 – 8 January 1958.
George AFB, CA, 25 Jul 1964-Dec 1965
Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, 8 Dec 1965 – 23 Jul 1974
Nellis AFB, NV, 1 Oct 1976 – 30 Dec 1981
Holloman AFB, NM, 1 Sep 1983 – 8 Jul 1992
Nellis AFB, NV, 3 Feb 2003 – present

Aircraft

P-38 Lightning, 1943–1946
P-51 Mustang, 1946–1949
F-94C Starfire, 1953
F-89C Scorpion, 1952–1957
F-4C Phantom II, 1964–1967

F-4D Phantom II, 1967–1974
F-15A/B Eagle, 1976–1981
T-38 Talon, 1983–1992
F-15 Eagle, 2003 – present
F-22 Raptor, 2004 – present

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/ .

↑ http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10763

Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
"ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. Aerospace Defense Command. 21 (1): 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.

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[1] ttp://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10763