114th Fighter Squadron

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114th Fighter Squadron
114th Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle[a]
Active1942–1945; 1946–1952; 1952–1958; 1984–present
Country United States
Allegiance Oregon
Branch  Air National Guard
RoleANG interceptor training
Part ofOregon Air National Guard
Garrison/HQKingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon
Nickname(s)Eager Beavers[1]
Motto(s)The Land of No Slack[citation needed]
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II[2]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm[2]
Insignia
114th Fighter Squadron emblem
439th Bombardment Squadron emblem[3]


The 114th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 173d Fighter Wing located at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon. The 114th is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle.

History[edit]

World War II[edit]

Organization and preparation for combat[edit]

The squadron was first activated on 26 June 1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, as the 439th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 319th Bombardment Group. a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombardment group.[2][4][5] The squadron trained for combat at Barksdale and Harding Field, in Louisiana. The air echelon began ferrying its aircraft to England via the North Atlantic route on 27 August 1942, with the squadron officially moving to RAF Shipdham on 12 September 1942. By late October to early November,[b] squadron aircraft were in place at RAF Horsham St Faith.[2][6] The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Mary on 5 September.[6]

Mediterranean Theater of Operations[edit]

Formation of 319th Bombardment Group B-26 Marauders taking off

The air echelon of the squadron departed England on 12 November 1942 for Saint-Leu Airfield, Algeria. Although this was supposed to be a simple repositioning flight, it became the squadron's introduction to combat when the 319th Group formation strayed from its planned route and flew over occupied France, where they were attacked by German aircraft.[7] Some of the ground echelon had made the amphibious landing at Arzeu beach on 8 November.[4] However, it was not until the following March that all aircraft had made the move to North Africa.[6]

The squadron began combat quickly, flying its first sorties during November. Until March 1943, it made strikes at enemy targets in Tunisia, including railroads, airfields, and harbor installations. It struck enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea to block reinforcements and supplies from reaching opposing Axis forces.[4]

In March 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and moved to Oujda Airfield, French Morocco for a period of reorganization and training. On 1 June, it moved forward to Sedrata Airfield, Algeria and resumed combat operations. It participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria, that month. The following month it provided air support for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. After Sicily fell, it directed most of its attacks on targets in Italy. It supported Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy, in September. These operations concentrated on airfields, marshalling yards airfields, viaducts, gun sites and other defense positions. In November, it moved from Africa to Decimomannu Airfield, Sardinia to shorten the range to targets in central Italy.[4]

From January to March 1944, the squadron supported Allied ground forces as they advanced in the Battle of Monte Cassino and Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio. As ground forces approached Rome, it flew interdiction missions. On 3 March 1944, the squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for an attack on rail facilities in Rome, while carefully avoiding damage to religious and cultural monuments. Eight days later, it earned a second DUC for an attack on marshalling yards in Florence, disrupting communications between Florence and Rome. Its support of French forces between April and June earned the squadron the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.[4]

A-26 at Machinato Airfield in 1945

In August and September 1944, the squadron supported Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, moving forward to Serragia Airfield, Corsica the following month. It attacked German supply lines in northern Italy, including bombing bridges over the Po River. It also attacked some targets in Yugoslavia. It continued combat operations while transitioning into the North American B-25 Mitchell from its Marauders. At the end of the year, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and returned to the United States in January 1945 to begin training with the Douglas A-26 Invader in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific.[4]

Combat in the Pacific[edit]

The squadron completed its training in the new bomber and departed to reenter combat in April 1945. It arrived on Okinawa in early July and was estblished at Machinato Airfield later that month. It flew its first mission in the Pacific on 16 July 1945.[citation needed] It flew missions in China and Japan, attacking airfields, shipping, marshalling yards, industrial centers and other targets until V-J Day. It was briefly assigned to VII Bomber Command when the 319th departed Okinawa on 21 November 1945. The squadron left in December, and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 6 January 1946.[2][4]

New York Air National Guard[edit]

The squadron was allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946 and redesignated the 114th Bombardment Squadron, Light and received federal recognition on 26 June 1946 The 114th Bombardment Squadron was equipped with A-26 Invader light bombers and assigned to the 106th Bombardment Group at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn.

When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, the entire 106th Bombardment Group was federalized and brought to active duty. The group moved to March Air Force Base, California and assigned to Fifteenth Air Force of Strategic Air Command (SAC). It was assigned Boeing B-29 Superfortress medium bombers, and the mission of the 106th Group was the training of reservists to backfill rotating B-29 combat crews serving on Okinawa. The squadron served with SAC until returning to New York state control on 1 December 1952 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 441st Bombardment Squadron.

Upon return to Floyd Bennett Field, the 114th again was equipped with B-26s and resumed training with its light bombers and flew them until its conversion to an air defense fighter unit in 1956. Under Air Defense Command, the 106th Fighter-Interceptor Group initially received Lockheed F-94 Starfires and in 1957 the North American F-86D Sabre.

The State of New York was notified by Headquarters, United States Air Force on 26 September 1957 that support for the 114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron would be ended due to fiscal constraints. Despite protests from the Governor of New York State that this was in violation of the law with respect to State militia units, the Air Force eventually prevailed and the 114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1958.

Oregon Air National Guard[edit]

114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4C Phantom II, about 1985[c]

In 1982,the Air Force decided to establish an air defense "schoolhouse" for McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom pilots at Kingsley Field, which would be managed by the Oregon Air National Guard. The Oregon Guard activated the 8123rd Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron on 1 January 1983 and assigned it to the 142nd Fighter Group, which was located at Portland International Airport. The squadron began the first class during February 1983. On 1 February 1984, this mission expanded to training pilots and Weapons Systems Officers for all Air National Guard air defense squadrons. The 8123rd was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new 114 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.[1] In August 1987, the 114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was consolidated with the 114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

114th Fighter Squadron Block 15 ADF F-16A formation about 1990.

The Air Force decided in 1987 to add the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon to the nation's air defense arsenal. Kingsley field was selected to receive the first of 270 F-16s to be modified for air defense role. 18 of the newly designated F-16A/B block 15 Air Defense Fighter were assigned to Kingsley to replace the F-4C,which was being phased out of the air defense inventory. The first F-16 aircraft arrived at Kingsley Field in August 1988 and in mid-November 1988, the last F-4 class graduated. The first Air Defense Fighter modified F-16 aircraft arrived 1 March 1989, and the first class on 13 July 1989.[1]

The squadron added a new medical training program to its curriculum in January 1990, with the F-16 Flight Surgeon Training Course (also known as "Top Knife") being the first of its kind in the nation. "Top Eye" for optometrists joined the program in January 1994, followed by "Top Drill" for dentists in April 1994. The courses help orient military doctors to the rigors of high performance flight.[1]

In 1995, National Guard units were reorganized into the Objective Wing, which had been implemented in the regular air force starting in 1991. As a result, the 142nd Group became a wing and the squadron was transferred to the wing's new 142nd Operations Group. On 1 April 1996, the 173d Fighter Wing was formed at Kingsley as a host organization and parent unit for the 114th Fighter Squadron when the unit was authorized to expand, with the 114th being transferred from the 142d Fighter Wing at Portland to the new Wing at Kingsley. Along with the 114th FS, the 173d consists of the 173d Operations Group, 173d Maintenance Group, 173d Mission Support Group and 173d Medical Group.

The F-16As were retired in the late 1990s as their service life was ending. The squadron began receiving McDonnell Douglas F-15A/B Eagles in 1998. Was upgraded to the F-15C/D Eagle in 2004, continuing its mission as an ANG interceptor training unit.

Lineage[edit]

114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  • Constituted as the 439th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 26 June 1942
Redesignated 439th Bombardment Squadron, Medium 1944
Redesignated 439th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 February 1945
Inactivated on 13 December 1945
  • Redesignated 114th Bombardment Squadron, Light and allotted to National Guard on 24 May 1946[8]
Organized on 1 March 1947
Extended federal recognition on 17 June 1947
Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 March 1951
Redesignated 114th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 1 April 1951
Inactivated, released from active duty, returned to New York state control and redesignated 114th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 1 December 1952
  • Activated on 1 December 1952
Redesignated 114th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical in 1955
Redesignated: 114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 15 June 1957
Inactivated on 14 September 1958 and withdrawn from Air National Guard
Consolidated with the 114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 17 August 1987
114th Fighter Squadron
Constituted as the 114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and allotted to the Oregon Air National Guard in 1983
Activated and extended federal recognition on 1 February 1984
Consolidated with the 114th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 17 August 1987
Redesignated 114th Fighter Squadron on 15 March 1992

Assignments[edit]

  • 319th Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942
  • VII Bomber Command, 18 December 1945 – 4 January 1946[8]
  • New York National Guard, 1 March 1947
  • 106th Bombardment Group, 21 March 1947
  • 106th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 1 November 1952
  • 106th Bombardment Group (later 106th Fighter Group), 1 November 1952 – 30 September 1958
  • 142d Fighter Group (later 142d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 142d Fighter Group), 1 February 1984
  • 142d Operations Group, 11 October 1995
  • 173d Operations Group, 1 April 1996

Stations[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

References[edit]

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

Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is McDonnell Douglas F-15C-21-MC Eagle, serial 78-0488. This plane was sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 26 June 2010. Baugher, Joe (16 April 2023). "1978 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ The 319th Group suffered several losses on the ferry flight, as winter weather began to impact the northern ferry route. Other planes were delayed for weather or aircraft malfunctions. As a result, further deployments of B-26 units to Europe travelled over the South Atlantic route, Freeman, pp. 15, 55.
  3. ^ Aircraft is McDonnell Douglas F-4C-19-MC Phantom II, serial 63-7581. Nicknamed Patches. Sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 19 September 1989 and scrapped on 3 February 2016. Baugher, Joe (3 September 2023). "1963 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d No bykine (30 May 2020). "114 Fighter Squadron" (PDF). USAF Unit History. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Maurer,Combat Squadrons, pp. 543-44
  3. ^ Watkins, p. 82
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 198-199
  5. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542-545
  6. ^ a b c Freeman, p. 265
  7. ^ Freeman, p. 55
  8. ^ a b c Lineage, assignment, and aircraft information through 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 543-44.
  9. ^ a b Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
  10. ^ Station information through 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 543-44, except as noted.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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