366th Fighter Squadron

366th Fighter Squadron
Currently operated F-16C/D Block 30 Fighting Falcons of the 366th FS
Active	1943 – 1945, 1972 – Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Size	~250 full and part time Reservists, 24 aircraft
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Youngstown Air Reserve Base
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Col Anna Byrne, USAFR
Insignia
366th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 7 January 1990)
Fuselage code (1 January 1943 – 7 November 1945)	IP
Tail code (13 April 1972 – 1 January 1990)	YN
Tail code (1 January 1990 – Present)	YG
Aircraft flown
Fighter	General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon

The 366th Fighter Squadron is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 275th Fighter Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Base, 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 Base, 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.

History

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 in 1972 at Youngstown Air Reserve Base 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.

F-16A Block 15 82-0900 at YARS in 1991

Evolution of 366th FS F-16 Markings, 1990-Present

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 Base, 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)

External Links

366th Fighter Squadron - Wikipedia
366th Fighter Squadron - American Air Museum in Britain

Important: This is an Alternate Universe version of the 366th FS and, while the WWII history is more or less real, should not be considered historical in any way.