303d Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 303d Fighter SquadronA-10 Thunderbolts | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1949–1951; 1952–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Whiteman Air Force Base |
| Nickname | KC Hawgs[1] |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations[2] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 303d Fighter Squadron emblem(approved 13 April 1995)[2] |  |
The303rd Fighter Squadron is assigned to the442d Operations Group atWhiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and flies theFairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conductingclose air support missions.
Thesquadron was first activated duringWorld War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to theEuropean Theater of Operations, where it earned aDistinguished Unit Citation for its actions onD-Day. AfterV-E Day, the squadron remained in Germany until the fall of 1946 as part of theoccupation forces.
The squadron was reactivated in thereserve in 1949. It wasmobilized for theKorean War, but was inactivated and its personnel used as fillers for other units. When the reserve began flying operations again in 1952, it was once again activated. The 303d was mobilized again during theBerlin Crisis of 1961. It continued theairlift mission until 1984, when it converted to operatingfighter aircraft.
Thesquadron was constituted on 28 May 1943 and activated on 1 September, as the303d Troop Carrier Squadron, one of four squadrons assigned to the442d Troop Carrier Group atSedalia Army Air Field, nowWhiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The 303d, with its parent unit, was created to provide airlift support ofAllied forces in Europe during World War II using cargo aircraft andgliders. Following their stateside training, the squadron arrived atRAF Fulbeck, England on, 23 March 1944, where they made final preparations for the pending invasion of Europe.[3]
OnD-Day, 6 June 1944, the 303d participated in theairborne assault of the82nd Airborne Division four hours in advance of the first seaborne landings at theNormandy beaches. The squadron went on to participate in other major operations in Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Germany throughout the remainder of the war in Europe.[3]
FollowingV-E Day on 8 May 1945, the squadron remained in Europe as part of theoccupation forces until it was inactivated in 1946.
In 1949 the 303d was reactivated atFairfax Field,Kansas City, Kansas, with its parent unit, the442nd Troop Carrier Wing, and assigned to theAir Force reserve.[3]
Following anotheractive duty tour during theKorean War, the 442nd, with the 303d, eventually relocated toGrandview Air Force Base, Kansas City, Missouri. The airport was renamed Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in 1957 forLieutenantJohn Francisco Richards II andLieutenant ColonelArthur William Gebaur Jr., two Kansas City fliers who died in military combat.[3]
The squadron was recalled to active duty for theBerlin Crisis in 1961 and, from 1966 through 1971, provided support for ongoing activities inSoutheast Asia.[3]
The mission of the 303d changed to fighter aircraft in 1982 when the unit received theFairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II and the unit was redesignated the303d Fighter Squadron.[3]
In 1991 theBase Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the closure and inactivation of Richards-Gebaur. It was later announced that the 442d, with the 303d, would relocate to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri and, on schedule, in June 1994 the unit completed its move to Whiteman.[3]
After its return to its original home at Whiteman, the squadron deployed to Italy to support theNo-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina four times forOperations Deny Flight and Decisive Edge. In 1998, the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf area for 45 days to supportOperation Southern Watch, theUnited Nations' effort to deny Iraqi military access to southernIraq.[3]
In 2000, the squadron's responsibility shifted from Operation Southern Watch to flying CombatSearch and Rescue missions forOperation Northern Watch fromIncirlik Air Base, Turkey.[3]
303d operations and maintenance members, along with two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft deployed to Afghanistan from April to July 2002 in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom. In March 2003, squadron members and aircraft were deployed in ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron made Air Force history when it became the first Air Force fighter squadron to forward deploy into Iraq, soon after arriving in the area of responsibility, and based atTallil Air Base. The squadron made Air Force history again when it became the first Air Force fighter squadron to forward deploy a second time into Iraq, this time to base atKirkuk Air Base. The 303d returned home from Iraq in November 2003 following an eight-month deployment with no aircraft damage and no combat injuries.[3]
In 2006 the 303d won the A-10 gunnery competitionHawgsmoke.
Fox News reported that on 19 January 2018, 12 A-10s from the Squadron were deployed toKandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to provide close-air support, marking the first time in more than three years A-10s had been deployed to Afghanistan.[4]
In April 2023, a group of A-10s were deployed toThessaloniki Airport, Greece for the DEFENDER 23 exercise to train alongside the 113th Fighter Squadron of theHellenic Air Force[citation needed]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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