Lineage

Constituted 59th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 59th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 59th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 8 Feb 1945. Inactivated on 8 Dec 1945. Redesignated 59th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 17 Jul 1946. Activated on 20 Aug 1946. Redesignated: 59th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 14 Jun 1948; 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jan 1950. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 Jan 1967. Activated on 30 Sep 1968. Inactivated on 17 Dec 1969. Redesignated 59th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 16 Mar 1970. Activated on 1 Sep 1970. Redesignated 59th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991.

Assignments

33d Pursuit (later, 33d Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941?8 Dec 1945. 33d Fighter (later, 33d Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 20 Aug 1946; 4707th Defense (later, 4707th Air Defense) Wing, 6 Feb 1952 (attached to Northeast Air Command, 28?31 Oct 1952; 64th Air Division, 1 Nov 1952?31 Jan 1953); 64th Air Division, 1 Feb 1953; 4732d Air Defense Group, 1 Apr 1957; Goose Air Defense Sector, 1 Apr 1960; 37th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966?2 Jan 1967. 408th Fighter Group, 30 Sep 1968?17 Dec 1969. 33d Tactical Fighter (later, 33d Fighter) Wing, 1 Sep 1970; 33d Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991?.

Stations

Mitchel Field, NY, 15 Jan 1941 (operated from Groton, CT, 7?14 Dec 1941); G L Martin Aprt, MD, 15 Dec 1941; Philadelphia, PA, 10 May?12 Oct 1942 (operated from Paine Field, WA, May?Jun 1942) Port Lyautey, French Morocco, 10 Nov 1942; Casablanca, French Morocco, 17 Nov 1942; Thelepte, Tunisia, c. 8 Jan 1943; Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 10 Feb 1943; Telergma, Algeria, 13 Feb 1943; Berteaux, Algeria, 2 Mar 1943 (operated from Thelepte, Tunisia, 20 Mar?12 Apr 1943); Ebba Ksour, Tunisia, 12 Apr 1943; Menzel Temime, Tunisia, 20 May 1943; Sousse, Tunisia, 9 Jun 1943; Pantelleria, 18 Jun 1943; Licata, Sicily, 16 Jul 1943; Paestum, Italy, 13 Sep 1943; Santa Maria, Italy, 18 Nov 1943 (operated from Paestum, Italy, 1?31 Dec 1943); Cercola, Italy, c. 1 Jan?c. 5 Feb 1944; Karachi, India, 12 Feb 1944; Fungwanshan, China, 19 Mar 1944; Moran, India, 5 Sep 1944; Nagaghuli, India, 21 Nov 1944; Piardoba, India, 2 May 1945; Dudhkundi, India, 15 May?15 Nov 1945; Camp Shanks, NY, 7?8 Dec 1945. Neubiberg, Germany, 20 Aug 1946; Bad Kisssingen, Germany, Jul?25 Aug 1947; Andrews Field, MD, 25 Aug 1947; Roswell AAFld (later Walker AFB), NM, 16 Sep 1947; Otis AFB, MA, 16 Nov 1948; Goose Bay Aprt, Labrador, 28 Oct 1952; Bergstrom AFB, TX, 1?2 Jan 1967. Kingsley Field, OR, 30 Sep 1968?17 Dec 1969. Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Sep 1970?.

Aircraft

P?39, 1941; P?40, 1941?1944; P?47, 1944?1945; P?38, 1944?1945. P(later F)?51, 1946?1949; F?84, 1948?1950; F?86, 1950?1952; F?94, 1952?1956; F?89, 1955?1960, F?102, 1960?1966. F?101, 1968?1969. F?4, 1973?1979; F?15, 1979?.

Operations

Air defense of US, Dec 1941?Oct 1942. Combat in MTO, 10 Nov 1942?2 Feb 1944, and CBI, 5 Jun 1944?18 Jun 1945. Part of US occupation forces in Germany, 1946?1947. Air defense of US and North America, 1947?1969.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Algeria-French Morocco with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Air Combat, EAME Theater; India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Tunisia, 15 Jan 1943. Air Force

Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Dec 1960?1 Dec 1961; 30 Sep 1968?30 Jun 1969; 1 Jul?30 Nov 1969; 1 Oct 1978?30 Apr 1980; 1 May 1984?30 Apr 1986; 1 Apr 1990?31 Mar 1992.

Emblem

On a disc quartered saltirewise, Yellow at top and bottom and chequey Yellow and White on the sides, a Blue disc bearing a Yellow leaping lion with Brown mane and body, White teeth and claws, head and claws detailed Black, and Red mouth, in front of two White clouds and above five White stars; all within a narrow Yellow border. Approved on 19 Dec 1942 (K 2813) modified on 6 Aug 1986. MOTTO: GOLDEN PRIDE. Approved on 6 Aug 1986.