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391st Fighter Squadron

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391st Fighter Squadron
391st Fighter Squadron insignia
Active1943–1946; 1953–1959; 1962–1971; 1971–1990; 1992–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQMountain Home Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Bold Tigers[1]
Motto(s)Fortune Favors the Bold...Tigers
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Vietnam War
Global War on Terrorism[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Belgian Fourragère
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt Col Anthony "Mafia" O’Shea
Insignia
Patch with 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 21 March 1978)[1]
391st Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (approved 24 September 1954)[2]

The 391st Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The squadron participated in combat missions in World War II and the Vietnam War, provided air defense in Korea and Japan from 1968 to 1971, and continues to provide tactical air command for the United States Air Force. It currently operates McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, conducting close air support missions.

History

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World War II

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The 391st flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 March 1944 to 3 May 1945.[1]

Tactical Air Command

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Vietnam War

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The squadron flew in combat in Southeast Asia from 2 February 1966 to 21 July 1968.[1]

Pacific air defense

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It provided air defense in Korea and Japan from 22 July 1968 to 14 February 1971.[1]

2013 sequestration

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Squadron F-111F[note 1]

Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. The across-the-board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan.[3]

Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013.[3] This affected the 391st Fighter Squadron with a stand-down grounding from 9 April-30 September 2013.[3]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 391st Fighter Squadron (Single-Engine) on 24 May 1943
Activated on 1 June 1943
Redesignated 391st Fighter Squadron, Single-Engine on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 20 August 1946
  • Redesignated 391st Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 November 1952
Activated on 1 January 1953
Redesignated 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Inactivated on 1 April 1959
  • Activated on 30 April 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 8 May 1962
Inactivated on 28 February 1971
  • Activated on 1 July 1971
Inactivated on 1 July 1990
  • Redesignated 391st Fighter Squadron on 1 March 1992
Activated on 11 March 1992[1]

Assignments

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Stations

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Deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, 6 December 1956 – 11 June 1957
Deployed to:
Taegu Air Base, South Korea, 22 July–7 October 1968, 7 February–5 March 1969, 1 May–2 June 1969, 1–30 August 1969, 1–15 February 1970, 15–29 March 1970)
Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, 26 April–10 May 1970, 7–21 June 1970, 30 August–12 September 1970, 4–18 October 1970, 1–15 November 1970, 13–19 December 1970, 1–15 February 1971)

Aircraft

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Aircraft is General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark, serial 70-2394, taken on 16 September 1972.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dollman, TSG Davis (16 October 2016). "Factsheet 391 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 480–481
  3. ^ a b c Everstein, Brian; Weisgerber, Marcus (8 April 2013). "Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons". Military Times. Retrieved 4 October 2016.

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency