Lineage

Constituted 301 Fighter Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. Activated on 13 Oct 1942. Redesignated 301 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, c. 21 Aug 1944. Inactivated on 19 Oct 1945. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1949. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 901 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, which was constituted on 7 Apr 1958. Activated on 1 Aug 1958. Inactivated on 2 Jul 1969. Redesignated 301 Fighter Squadron on 1 Dec 1999. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jan 2000.

Assignments

332 Fighter Group, 13 Oct 1942-19 Oct 1945. 332 Fighter Group, 1 Jul 1947-1 Jul 1949. 4228 Strategic Wing, 1 Aug 1958; 454 Bombardment Wing, 1 Feb 1963-2 Jul 1969 (attached to 4252 Strategic Wing, Dec 1965-Mar 1966 and Jul-Dec 1967). 944 Operations Group, 1 Jan 2000-.

Stations

Tuskegee AAFld, AL, 13 Oct 1942; Selfridge Field, MI, 29 Mar 1943; Oscoda AAFld, MI, 9 Nov 1943; Selfridge Field, MI, 19 Nov 1943-23 Dec 1943; Taranto, Italy, 29 Jan 1944; Montecorvino, Italy, 8 Feb 1944; Capodichino, Italy, 15 Apr 1944; Ramitelli Airdrome, Italy, 30 May 1944; Cattolica Airdrome, Italy, c. 4 May 1945; Lucera Airdrome, Italy, c. 18 Jul-30 Sep 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 17-19 Oct 1945. Lockbourne AAB (later, AFB), OH, 1 Jul 1947-1 Jul 1949. Columbus AFB, MS, 1 Aug 1958-2 Jul 1969. Luke AFB, AZ, 1 Jan 2000-.

Commanders

1Lt Frederick E. Miles, 15 Jan 1943; Capt Charles H. Debow, 26 Jan 1943; Capt Lee Rayford, 28 Feb 1944; Capt Armour G. McDaniel, Jan 1945; Capt Walter M. Downs, c. 25 Mar 1945-unkn. Capt Charles I. Williams, by 1 Oct 1947; Capt Richard C. Pullam (acting), 30 Apr 1948; Capt Charles I. Williams, Aug 1948; Capt Richard C. Pullam, 25 Aug 1948-30 Apr 1949; unkn, 1 May-1 Jul 1949. Capt Dino Perazzola, c. 1 Aug 1958; Lt Col Homer W. Lear, 22 Oct 1958; Lt Col Malcolm P. Micklewait, c. Aug 1960; Lt Col Everett C. Sunderman, c. Aug 1963; Lt Col Alexander O. Froede Jr., by Jun 1964; Lt Col Homer B. Wells, by Jun 1965; Lt Col Franklin C. Kendziora, 5 Aug 1966; Lt Col Seth W. Scruggs, by Mar 1968; Lt Col Ralph M. Falkner, by Jun 1968-2 Jul 1969.

Aircraft

P-39, P-40, 1943-1944; P-47, 1944; P-51, 1944-1945. P-47, 1947-1949. KC-135, 1958-1969.

Operations

One of four African-American fighter squadrons to enter combat during WWII. Combat in ETO and MTO, 15 Feb 1944-26 Apr 1945. Aerial refueling operations under Strategic Air Command, 1959-1969.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

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

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 24 Mar 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 Oct 1959-15 Jul 1960; 1-31 Jul 1965 and 1 Dec 1965-1 Mar 1966 [one award]; 2 Mar-1 Apr 1966 and 1 Jul-31 Dec 1967 [one award]; 1 Jul-1 Dec 1968.

Emblem

Approved on 29 Jun 1945. [Not displayed here because squadron needs to procure a new official painting]

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 25 Sep 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Jun 1969.