476th Tactical Fighter Squadron

476th Tactical Fighter Squadron (later 476th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron)
479th Tactical Fighter Wing F-104 Starfighters deployed to Southeast Asia
Active	1942–1944; 1957–1969
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Motto(s)	Caeruli Ultra Sonitus Equites (Latin)
Engagements	Vietnam War
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem

The 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It flew North American F-100 Super Sabre and Lockheed F-104 Starfighter fighters at George Air Force Base, California from October 1957 until 1968, when moved to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, where was to fly McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs, but did not become operational before inactivating in March 1969.

It was consolidated in September 1985 with the 476th Bombardment Squadron, which served as a medium bomber training unit from 1942 to 1944, when it was disbanded in a reorganization of Army Air Forces training units, as the 476th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, but the consolidated squadron has not been active.

History

Tactical fighter operations

The 476th Fighter-Day Squadron was activated in October 1957 at George Air Force Base, California ^[1] and assigned to the 479th Fighter-Day Wing. ^[2] It was equipped with North American F-100 Super Sabres, however it was programmed to receive the new Lockheed F-104C Starfighter tactical strike version of the Starfighter. Delays in development caused the squadron not to receive the F-104 until September 1958, when it was the first Tactical Air Command squadron to be equipped with the new aircraft. It was primarily intended for nuclear strike, but it could also carry out ground attack missions with conventional weapons.^{[ citation needed ]}

After attaining operational readiness with the Starfighter, it deployed to Spain for air defense missions over the Strategic Air Command Boeing B-47 Stratojet Operation Reflex base at Moron Air Base. It was also used by the USAF and Lockheed for demonstrations for NATO military sales to replace Republic F-84F Thunderstreak combat aircraft. It deployed in this role to Hahn Air Base, Germany in 1962.^{[ citation needed ]}

During the early days of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965, North Vietnamese fighter aircraft became a problem for attacking USAF and US Navy strike aircraft. In response, the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing from George AFB, California began regular rotations to Da Nang in April 1965. Their job was to fly MiG combat air patrol (MiGCAP) missions to protect American fighter bombers against attack by North Vietnamese fighters.

It flew these missions armed with the F-104's single M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The effect of F-104 deployment upon North Vietnamese MiG operations was immediate and dramatic. MiGs soon learned to avoid contact with USAF strikes being covered by F-104s. During the entire deployment of the 476th only two fleeting encounters between F-104Cs and enemy fighters occurred.^{[ citation needed ]}

The squadron deployed to Taiwan in 1968 to reinforce the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) air defense mission. The squadron returned to the United States without aircraft in July 1968, the F-104Cs remaining in Taiwan and were sold to the ROCAF.^{[ citation needed ]} The squadron planned to be re-equipped with McDonnell F-4C Phantom IIs as part of the phaseout of the F-104 from TAC,^{[ citation needed ]} however the squadron was placed in nonoperational status and its personnel were transferred to the new 4535th Combat Crew Training Squadron. ^[3]

The squadron moved without personnel or equipment to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina in late September 1968 ^[4] to operate the F-4 Phantom II with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing but did not become operational before it was inactivated in March 1969. ^[5]

World War II bomber training

Main article: 335th Bombardment Group

B-26 Marauder as flown by the squadron during World War II

The 476th Bombardment Squadron was activated on 17 July 1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana as one of the original components of the 335th Bombardment Group, and was equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders. ^{[6] [7] [8]} The 476th acted as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for the B-26. ^[8] However, the AAF found that standard military units, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, in the spring of 1944, the 335th Group, its components and supporting units at Barksdale, were disbanded on 1 May and replaced by the 331st AAF Base Unit (Medium, Bombardment). The squadron was replaced by Section P of the new base unit. ^{[7] [9] [10]}

Consolidation

The two inactive squadrons were consolidated as the 476th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 19 September 1985. ^[11]

Lineage

476th Bombardment Squadron

• Constituted as the 476th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 July 1942

Activated on 17 July 1942: Disbanded on 1 May 1944 ^[6]

Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 474th Tactical Fighter Squadron as the 474th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron ^[11]

476th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

• Established as the 476th Fighter-Day Squadron on 26 September 1957

Activated on 8 October 1957

Redesignated 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958

Inactivated on 18 March 1969

Consolidated with the 476th Bombardment Squadron as the 476th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 19 September 1985 ^[11]

Assignments

• 335th Bombardment Group, 17 July 1942 – 1 May 1944 ^[6]
• 479th Fighter-Day Wing (later 479th Tactical Fighter Wing): 8 October 1957 – 25 September 1968 (attached to 65th Air Division 12 November 1959 – 28 March 1960, 8 April – 17 August 1961, 6 January – 1 April 1964; 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 April – 10 August 1962; 2d Air Division, 7 April – 11 July 1968) (nonoperational 11 July – 25 September 1958) ^[2]
• 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 September 1968 – 18 March 1969 (Not operational) ^[5]

Stations

• Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 17 July 1942 – 1 May 1944 ^[6]
• George Air Force Base, California, 8 October 1957 – 25 September 1968 ^[12]

Deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain, 12 November 1959 – 28 March 1960; 8 April – 17 August 1961; 6 January – 1 April 1964; Hahn Air Base, West Germany, 8 April – 10 August 1962; Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, 7 April – 11 July 1968

• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 25 September 1968 – 18 March 1969

Aircraft

• Martin B-26 Marauder, 1942-1944 ^[6]
• North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957-1958 ^[2]
• Lockheed F-104C Starfighter, 1958-1968 ^[2]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	28 July 1966 – 21 May 1967	476th Tactical Fighter Squadron [13]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	American Theater without inscription	17 July 1942 – 1 May 1944	476th Bombardment Squadron [6]
	Vietnam Defensive	1965–1966	476th Tactical Fighter Squadron [13]

References

Notes

1. See Mueller, p. 191 (start of time at George AFB).
2. Ravenstein, pp. 266-267
3. See Mueller, p. 191 (simultaneous inactivation and activation of squadrons).
4. Mueller, p. 525
5. Ravenstein, pp. 12-14
6. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 577
7. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 214-215.
8. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
9. "Abstract, History 335 Bombardment Group [and 331 AAF Base Unit], July 1942 – October 1944". Air Force History Index. 2 December 1961. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
10. See Mueller, p. 19 (showing simultaneous activation and inactivation of units at Barksdale).
11. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
12. Mueller, p. 191
13. AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 400

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN   48003657. OCLC   704158 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.

  Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN   48003657. OCLC   704158 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.

• 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 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• 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 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-53-6 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.