366th Fighter Squadron
The 366th Fighter Squadron is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 275th Fighter Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Originally formed on 1 January 1943 as the 366th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), the squadron participated in the European Theatre of Operations and was inactivated on 7 November 1945. The 366th was reactivated as a reserve squadron in April 1972, flying Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs from Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. The unit transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in 1982, flying it until transitioning to the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon in 1990. In 1997, the 366th transitioned to their current aircraft, the General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, with which they have conducted air superiority missions over Iraq as a part of Operation Northern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
World War II
The 366th began their WWII service by flying bomber escort missions for the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. In April and May 1944, the 366th flew dive bombing missions against German marshalling yards and airfields in preparation for Operation Overlord. On D-Day and 7 June 1944, the 366th escorted troop carrier formations landing on the Cotentin Peninsula. For the remainder of June 1944, the 366th attacked rail lines, troop formations, bridges, and transportation infrastructure before moving to Cretteville France in July. From Cretteville, the squadron took part in operations resulting in the Allied breakthrough at St Lo, continuing to fly escort, interdiction, and close air support missions throughout 1944 and 1945. The squadron remained in Germany until VE Day in July 1945, returning to the United States where it would be inactivated on 7 November 1945.
Air Force Reserve
After a break of 27 years, the squadron was reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve Command in 1972 at Youngstown Air Reserve Station in northeast Ohio. The 366th was initially assigned to the 950th Tactical Fighter Group, flying Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs. On 9 March 1983, the unit was reassigned to the newly-formed 275th Tactical Fighter Wing, having recently transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The 366th participated in Exercise Patriot Pearl at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico in 1988. In late 1989, the squadron began transitioning to the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, a process that was completed in 1990. In June 1994, the unit participated in Exercise Central Enterprise, sending 6 F-16s to Karup Air Base, Denmark. The 366th participated in Operation Northern Watch in 1999, two years after transitioning to newer General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcons, enforcing the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. They later deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch and again for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. They have deployed several times in recent years, including to South Korea in support of a Theatre Support Program in 2012 and to Bagram Airfield in 2015.
Lineage
Constituted as the 366th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 20 December 1942
Activated on 1 January 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Redesignated 366th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 13 April 1972
Activated in the Reserve on 13 April 1972
Redesignated 366th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1993
Assignments
358th Fighter Group: 1 February 1943 – 7 November 1945
950th Tactical Fighter Group: 13 April 1972 – 9 March 1983
275th Tactical Fighter Wing: 9 March 1983 – 1 October 1993
275th Operations Group: 1 October 1993 – Present
Stations
Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 1 January 1943
Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland, 20 April 1943
Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey, 29 May 1943
Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 16 June 1943
Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 13 August 1943 – 25 September 1943
RAF Goxhill (Station 345), England, United Kingdom, 20 October 1943
RAF Leiston (Station 373), England, United Kingdom, 4 December 1943
RAF Raydon (Station 157), England, United Kingdom, 21 January 1944
RAF High Halden (Station 411) England, United Kingdom, 13 April 1944
Cretteville (A-14), France, 4 July 1944
Pontorson (A-28), France, 14 August 1944
Vitry-le-François (A-67), France, 15 September 1944
Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield (A-80), France, 16 October 1944
Toul-Croix de Metz Airfield (A-90), France, 20 November 1944
Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield (Y-79), Germany, 8 April 1945
Reims-Champagne Airport (A-62), France, 23 June 1945 – 10 July 1945
La Junta Army Air Field, Colorado 3 August 1945 – 7 November 1945
Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio 13 April 1972 – Present
Aircraft
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1943)
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1945)
Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1972–1982)
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1982–1990)
General Dynamics F-16A/B Block 15 Fighting Falcon (1990–1997)
General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcon (1997–present)
Note: I am posting this in Non-Shipbucket in response to recent feedback about my particular style of canopy and detailing being non-SB. Until a consensus has been reached on whether or not it is allowed "officially", I will post such works in this sub-forum.