77th Fighter Squadron

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Lineage

Organized as 77th Aero Squadron on 20 Feb 1918. Redesignated Squadron A, Barron Field, TX, on 21 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 18 Nov 1918. Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 77th Observation Squadron, which was constituted on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated 77th Pursuit Squadron on 8 May 1929. Activated on 15 Nov 1930. Redesignated: 77th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 6 Dec 1939; 77th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 12 Mar 1941; 77th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 77th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 30 Dec 1942; 77th Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine, on 20 Aug 1943; 77th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 5 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945. Activated on 29 Jul 1946. Redesignated: 77th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 15 Jun 1948; 77th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 Jan 1950; 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958; 77th Fighter Squadron on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1993. Activated on 1 Jan 1994.

Assignments

Unkn, 1918. 20th Pursuit (later, 20th Fighter) Group, 15 Nov 1930?18 Oct 1945. 20th Fighter (later, 20th Fighter-Bomber) Group, 29 Jul 1946 (attached to 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 15 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955); 20th Fighter-Bomber (later, 20th Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Feb 1955 (attached to 39th Tactical Group, 1?31 Aug 1990 and Feb 1991); 20th Operations Group, 31 Mar 1992?30 Sep 1993. 20th Operations Group, 1 Jan 1994?.

Stations

Waco, TX, 20 Feb 1918; Taliaferro Field No. 1, TX, Feb 1918; Taliaferro Field No. 2, (later, Barron Field) TX, Mar?18 Nov 1918. Mather Field, CA, 15 Nov 1930?14 Oct 1932; Barksdale Field, LA, 31 Oct 1932; Moffett Field, 19 Nov 1939; Hamilton Field, CA, 9 Sep 1940; Wilmington, NC, c. 21 Feb 1942; Morris Field, NC, 24 Apr 1942; Drew Field, FL, Aug 1942; Paine Field, WA, 30 Sep 1942; March Field, CA, c. 1 Jan?11 Aug 1943; Kings Cliffe, England, c. 27 Aug 1943?11 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 16?18 Oct 1945. Biggs Field, TX, 29 Jul 1946; Shaw Field (later, AFB), SC, c. 25 Oct 1946; Langley AFB, VA, 19 Nov 1951?22 May 1952; Wethersfield, England, 1 Jun 1952; Shepherds Grove, England, 9 Aug 1955; Wethersfield, England, 27 Apr 1956; RAF Upper Heyford, England, c. 1 May 1970?30 Sep 1993 (deployed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, 1?31 Aug 1990 and Feb 1991). Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1994?.

Aircraft

Evidently included JN?4, JN?6, and perhaps S?4 during 1918. In addition to P?12, 1930?1935, included DH?4 during 1931; P?26, 1934?1938; P?36, 1938?1940; P?40, 1940?1942; P?39, 1942?1943; P?38, 1943?1944; P?51, 1944?1945. P?51, 1946?1948; F?84, 1948?1957; F?100, 1957?1970; F?111, 1970?1993.

Operations

Apparently a flying training unit, 1918. Provided personnel for and helped train new units, 1940?1942. Combat in ETO, 28 Dec 1943?25 Apr 1945. Combat in Southwest Asia, Feb 1991.

Honors

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Germany, 8 Apr 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1956?30 Sep 1957; 1 May 1963?31 Dec 1964; 1 Jan 1965?31 Mar 1966; 1 Jul 1968?31 Mar 1970; 1 Sep 1970?30 Jun 1972; 31 Mar 1973?30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1977?30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1981?30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1987?30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1990 ?30 Jun 1992.

Emblem

On a Red disc bordered Black, five playing spot-cards arranged fanwise from dexter to sinister, 7 clubs, 7 diamonds, ace of spades, 7 hearts and 7 spades, proper. Approved on 29 Aug 1931 (24813 A.C.).

  
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