13th Fighter Squadron

World War II

The squadron's first predecessor was constituted as the 313th Bombardment Squadron and activated on 1 February 1942 at Bowman Field, Kentucky, one of the original three squadrons of the 21st Bombardment Group. It moved a week later to Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi, where it began to organize with North American B-25 Mitchells.^[9][10] The squadron moved to Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 24 April. At Columbia, the unit became a medium bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU).^[9] The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups"^[11] The program was patterned after the unit training system of the Royal Air Force. It assumed responsibility for training the satellite groups and oversaw their expansion with graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units.^[12][13] Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit.^[14]

On 26 May the 313th Squadron moved to Key Field, Mississippi. The squadron interrupted its training mission on 8 June to fly an antisubmarine warfare mission from Hattiesburg Army Air Field, Mississippi, returning to Key Field a few days later. It moved to MacDill Field, Florida on 26 June 1942. At MacDill, the squadron converted to Martin B-26 Marauders. It again flew antisubmarine missions between 31 July and 8 August 1942. The 313th began replacement training operations from May to July 1943, but resumed its OTU mission at MacDill until it was disbanded on 10 October 1943,^[9] as MacDill prepared to transition to Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress training.^[15]

Vietnam War

On 2 May 1966, the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. Although nominally assigned to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, the squadron was operationally controlled by the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat. The squadron was initially equipped with Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs modified to the Wild Weasel III configuration for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission.^{[citation needed]} On 3 June 1967 Major Ralph L. Kuster, Jr. of the squadron shot down a MiG-17 with his F-105D's 20-millimeter cannon. This was the first aerial victory of the squadron.^[16]

In October 1967, the squadron moved to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, where it become part of the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and began flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II. The 13th remained at Udorn for the remainder of the war. In 1971, the squadron adopted a panther named "Eldridge" as a mascot^[h][3] In 1972, Capt Jeffrey Feinstein, a squadron weapon systems officer, flying cannon-armed F-4Es became the last USAF ace of the war, recording five victories over enemy MiG-21 fighters.^[17] The victory that made him an ace came on 13 October 1972 and was the squadron's last aerial victory of the war.^[18] In May 1975, the squadron flew its last combat missions in Southeast Asia during the Mayaguez incident.^[19]

During the war, the squadron compiled 21 aerial victories, including 11 MiG kills, and flew more than 30,000 combat sorties. The squadron was inactivated in June 1975 as the United States withdrew its operational forces from Thailand.^[6]

Replacement training unit

The squadron was activated on 15 January 1976 at MacDill Air Force Base as the 13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and assigned to the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing. The squadron conducted F-4E aircraft pilot and weapon systems officer replacement training at MacDill. The squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1982.^[4]

Misawa Air Base

The squadron was again designated the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated at Misawa Air Base, Japan in June 1985, where it was once more assigned to the 432d Fighter Wing flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 13th became the first permanent fighter squadron stationed on the home islands of Japan since 1972. On 19 September, the 313th Bombardment Squadron was consolidated with the squadron. On 31 May 1991, the 13th was redesignated the 13th Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 432nd Operations Group as part of the Air Force's Objective Wing reorganization. The squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to southwest and central Asia, where the participated in operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.^[4] It was transferred to the 35th Operations Group on 1 October 1994, part of an organizational realignment to ensure wings with rich heritages remained active.^[6]

The squadron achieved initial operational capability in F-16CJs in 1996. On 8 July of that year, the squadron became the first Pacific Air Forces F-16 unit to deploy in support of Operation Southern Watch,^[6] enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, as a result of a policy change allowing all units the opportunity to deploy.^{[citation needed]} In August 1996, Iraqi forces struck Kurds in Irbil. The United States responded with Operation Desert Strike. Deployed squadron elements destroyed an Iraqi SA-8 site and Roland missile system with AGM-88 HARM missiles.^[19] Again, in July 1998, squadron members were protecting coalition aircraft when British pilots operating near Basra found that Iraqi radar had locked onto them and were preparing to fire. Squadron aircraft launched an AGM-88 at the Iraqi radar, forcing the Iraqi missile battery to turn off its radar.^[16]

From 1996 to 2020, the 13th deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan, including in 2014 to Jordan where the Panthers opened the US air campaign against the Islamic State in what would become known as Operation Inherent Resolve.^{[citation needed]} It has participated in Commando Sling exercises with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Commando West exercises with the Singapore Air Force.^[20]

In 2025, the 35th Wing began to retire its F-16s, while the Air Force would begin temporarily deploying Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs to Misawa. Rotations will continue until Misawa upgrades its fighter fleet to the F-35 in 2026.^[21]

Assignments

• 21st Bombardment Group, 1 February 1942 – 10 October 1943
• Pacific Air Forces, 2 May 1966 (not organized)
• 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 May 1966 (attached to 388th Tactical Fighter Wing until 17 October 1967)
• 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (later 432d Tactical Fighter Wing), 15 November 1967 – 30 June 1975
• 56th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 56th Tactical Training Wing), 15 January 1976 – 1 July 1982
• 432d Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 June 1985
• 432d Operations Group, 31 May 1991
• 35th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – present^[4]

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

More information Award streamer, Award ...

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Presidential Unit Citation	10 March 1967–1 May 1967	Southeast Asia 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Presidential Unit Citation	19 September 1967–1 November 1968	Southeast Asia 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Presidential Unit Citation	1 November 1968–31 October 1969	Southeast Asia 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	29–30 June 1966	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	1 July 1966–30 June 1967	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	1 July 1967–30 June 1968	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	21 November 1969–20 November 1970	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	21 November 1970–6 April 1971	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	18 December 1972–27 January 1973	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1977–1 January 1979	13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1980–30 June 1982	13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1991-31 December 1991	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron (later 13th Fighter Squadron)[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1992-30 September 1994	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1995-30 September 1996	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1997-30 September 1999	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1999-30 September 2001	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 2001-30 September 2003	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2004-31 May 2006	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 2008-30 September 2010	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 March 2011-28 February 2013	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm	15 May 1966–28 Jan 1973	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4][i]

Close

More information Campaign Streamer, Campaign ...

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	American Campaign Antisubmarine	1 February 1942–10 October 1943[j]	313th Bombardment Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air	15 May 1966–28 June 1966	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air Offensive	29 June 1966–8 March 1967	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II	9 March 1967–31 March 1968	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air/Ground	22 January 1968–7 July 1968	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III	1 April 1968–31 October 1968	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV	1 November 1968–22 February 1969	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Tet 1969/Counteroffensive	23 February 1969–8 June 1969	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969	9 June 1969–31 October 1969	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970	3 November 1969–30 April 1970	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Sanctuary Counteroffensive	1 May 1970–30 June 1970	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Southwest Monsoon	1 July 1970–30 November 1970	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Commando Hunt V	1 December 1970–14 May 1971	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Commando Hunt VI	15 May 1971–31 July 1971	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Commando Hunt VII	1 November 1971–29 March 1972	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign	29 March 1972–28 January 1973	13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[4]
	Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal		13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Liberation of Iraq	19 March 2003–1 May 2003	13th Fighter Squadron[4]
	Iraqi Surge	10 January 2007–31 December 2008	13th Fighter Squadron[4]

Close