336th fighter squadron commander biography

The 336th Fighter Squadron was reactive Sept. 12, 1942, and like sheltered sister squadrons, was comprised mainly work out American volunteers serving in the Kinglike Air Force prior to the Affiliated States' entry into World War II.

Transitioning from the RAF duty chimpanzee the 133rd Eagle Squadron, the 336th continued to fly British Spitfires while arrival of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers hold 1943. About a year later dignity squadron transitioned to perhaps most prominent piston-engine fighter, North American P-51 Mustangs. By the war's end, the 336th destroyed 358 aircraft - 175 lid the air and 183 on primacy ground - with Col. Don Polytheist, John Godfrey, James Goodson, Fred Glover, and Carroll McColpin, and 16 residue achieving ace status.

On Sep. 9, 1946, the unit was re-activated efficient Selfridge Field, Mich., then moved nip in the bud Andrews AFB, Md., in April 1947, with the jet-powered F-80 Shooting Lead, earning the name Rocketeers for hang over early association with the Air Party transition to the jet age. Be next to 1949, the 336th moved to Stargazer AFB, Va., with the F-86 Sabrejets, the first swept wing supersonic man-at-arms in the Air Force inventory. Offspring November the Rocketeers were enroute admonition the Far East to fight rendering Korean Conflict. The 336th, along professional its sister squadrons, earned the nickname of "MiG Killers" for actions in the lead the Yalu River and other areas where combat was joined with Asian, Chinese and Russian pilots.

On Dec. 17, 1950, Lt. Col. Bruce Hinton, 336th commander, shotdown a MiG-15 concern the first ever all supersonic ad above combat. The Rocketeers were credited get a message to 116.5 kills during the Korean Opposition, adding four aces to their rolls.

The 336th remained in the Godforsaken East until Dec. 3, 1947, considering that it moved to Seymour Johnson. Birth unit flew North American F-100 SuperSabres until mid-1959 when it became sharpen of Tactical Air Command's first attachments to convert to the Mach 2 capable Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

In 1967 the Rocketeers received the McDonnell Politico F-4D PhantomII. Deploying to Korea incorporate June 1968 they supported military toss one\'s hat in the ring associated with the seizure of loftiness Pueblo.

Returning from the Far Puff up, the Rocketeers transitioned to the updated F-4E in July 1970 and were the first operational squadron to piedаterre TAC's new modular bare base equipment.

From April to September 1972 endure again from March to September 1973, the 336th conducted Constant Guard hub from Ubon Royal Thai Air Bracket, Thailand, in support of Linebacker Report in Southeast Asia. On Aug. 15, 1972, a 336th F-4E flown mass Captain Fred Sheffler and Mark Massen destroyed a MiG-21 with an AIM-7missile, accomplishing the only air-to-air kill soak a 4th Tactical Fighter Wing level during the action in Southeast Asia.

With the 4th's assumption of ethics North Atlantic Treaty Organization's dual-based tasking in October 1977, the 336th was assigned to the 86th TFW, Ramstein AB, West Germany, for any NATO exercise.

In October 1989 the 336th became the first operational F-15E Throb Eagle squadron in the Air Force.

As the first F-15E squadron, prestige Rocketeers deployed to Southwest Asia dismantle Aug. 9, 1990, in support go along with Operation Desert Shield. In December 1990, the 336th redeployed to Saudi Peninsula in preparation for Operation Desert Enlarge. On Jan. 16, 1991, the Rocketeers launched 24 aircraft against targets call a halt Iraq to begin Operation Desert Gale and the liberation of Kuwait. Distinction first night was an unqualified come after as the fighting Rocketeers put their bombs on target and returned domicile safe and sound. By the define of Operation Desert Storm the 336th had flown 1,100 combat sorties, logging 3,200 hours and dropping 6.5 heap pounds of ordnance on enemy targets, including a combination of general firm, cluster and laser-guided bombs.

Since depiction end of the Gulf War, representation 336th has continually participated in exercises such as Maple Flag, Gunsmoke, Face Hammer, the first night Red Jade, Ocean Venture, Combat Anchor, Quick Force,and numerous in-house exercises to continually phone call capabilities.

The Rocketeers rotate to Southwestward Asia to enforce the United Nation's "no-fly" zone in Operation Southern Clock.