Lineage

Constituted 96 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated: 96 Pursuit Squadron (I) (Twin Engine) on 22 Apr 1942; 96 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 96 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945. Activated on 12 Apr 1947. Redesignated 96 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 15 Aug 1947. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949. Redesignated 96 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952. Activated on 1 Nov 1952. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated 96 Flying Training Squadron on 22 Jun 1972. Activated on 1 Feb 1973. Inactivated on 26 Jun 1992. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1998.

Assignments

82 Pursuit (later, 82 Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-9 Sep 1945. 82 Fighter Group, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949. 4710 Defense Wing, 1 Nov 1952; 525 Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953; 82 Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. 82 Flying Training Wing, 1 Feb 1973; 82 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-26 Jun 1992. 340 Flying Training Group, 1 Apr 1998-.

Stations

Harding Field, LA, 9 Feb 1942; Muroc, CA, 30 Apr 1942; Glendale, CA, 18 May-16 Sep 1942; Eglington, Northern Ireland, 5 Oct 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 24 Dec 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 1 Jan 1943; Berteaux, Algeria, 1 Apr 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Algeria, 13 Jun 1943; Grombalia, Tunisia, 4 Aug 1943 (operated from Maddalina, Sicily, 6-18 Sep 1943); San Pancrazio, Italy, c. 3 Oct 1943; Lecce, Italy, 10 Oct 1943; Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Lesina, Italy, c. 30 Aug-9 Sep 1945. Grenier Field (later, AFB), NH, 12 Apr 1947-2 Oct 1949 (deployed at Ladd AFB, AK, 4 Apr-29 Jun 1948). New Castle Aprt, DE, 1 Nov 1952-8 Jan 1958. Williams AFB, AZ, 1 Feb 1973-26 Jun 1992. Laughlin AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1998-.

Commanders

Unkn, 9 Feb-30 Apr 1942; Capt Roy M. Loe, 1 May 1942; 1 Lt F. P. Jenks, 24 May 1942; Maj Harley C. Vaughn, 16 Jul 1942; Capt Raymond H. Lynn, 25 Jun 1943; Maj Buddy A. Strozier, 2 Jul 1943; Maj Donald L. Perry, 29 Sep 1943; Maj Clayton M. Isaacson, 21 Mar 1944; Maj Richard E. Willsie, Aug 1944; Lt Col Charles P. Hardy, c. Feb 1945; Lt Col Franklin H. MacNaughton, May-5 Sep 1945. None (not manned), 12 Apr-15 Jun 1947; Maj William F. Wilkerson, 16 Jun 1947; Maj George L. Jones, c. Jul-2 Oct 1949. Lt Col Jack C. West, 1 Nov 1952; Maj James M. Thomas, c. Jan 1953; Maj John F. Ambrecht, c. Aug 1954; Maj Dwaine A. Sandborn, Nov 1955; Lt Col McClung, 1956; Lt Col Herbert L. Phillips, c. Jul 1956; Maj Robert B. Moorhead, 1957-c. 8 Oct 1957; none (not manned), 8 Oct 1957-8 Jan 1958. Col Russell C. Roberts Jr., 1 Feb 1973; Lt Col Richard A. Griffin, 12 Feb 1974; Lt Col Albert R. Langford Jr., 15 Jun 1975; Lt Col Bache, by Jun 1976; Lt Col Duane G. Divich, by Jun 1977; Lt Col Benny J. Atkins, 27 Jun 1979; Lt Col Robert J. W. Desanto Jr., 12 Mar 1981; Lt Col Gerald M. Bergeman, 10 Dec 1981; Lt Col Robert M. Negley Jr., 23 Jul 1983; Lt Col William C. Henny, 24 May 1985; Lt Col Ernest J. Houghton, 26 Jul 1986; Lt Col Wolfgang E. K. Gesch, 19 Jul 1988; Lt Col Linwood N. Chayer, 2 Jul 1990-26 Jun 1992. Lt Col Julie Tizard, 1 Apr 1998-.

Aircraft

P-38, 1942-1945. P (later, F)-51, 1947-1949. F-94, 1952-1957. T-37, 1973-1992. T-37, 1998-; T-38, 1998-; T-1, 1998-.

Operations

Combat in the ETO and MTO, 25 Dec 1942-6 May 1945. Fighter escort and air defense, 1947-1949. Air defense, 1952-1957. Conducted jet pilot training, 1973-1992. Trained Air Force Reserve instructor pilots, 1998-.

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 Aug 1943; Italy, 2 Sep 1943; Ploesti, Rumania, 10 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 May 1983-30 Apr 1985; 1 Jun 1989-31 May 1991.

Emblem

Approved on 18 Aug 1942.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 6 Apr 2001.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.