354th Fighter Squadron


The 354th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force. It was last stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it was part of the 355th Fighter Wing, Arizona. It operated A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.
The squadron conducted close air support, air Interdiction, forward air control – airborne, and combat search and rescue for theater commanders worldwide.

History

World War II

The 354th flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 September 1943 to 25 April 1945.

Vietnam War

The squadron flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 13 March to 12 June 1965, 28 November 1965 – 7 October 1970, and c. 14 January–3 July 1973.

Training

It conducted combat crew training from, 1971–1982 and forward air control training since 1991. In February 2015, the squadron was deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Twelve A-10s and approximately 300 airmen were deployed. The unit will train alongside NATO allies and deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations to further enhance interoperability. The A-10s were the first of several theater security package deployments to Europe, U.S. Air Force officials said, adding that rotations generally will last six months, depending on mission and United States European Command requirements.
In mid-October 2023, the A-10 aircraft of the 354th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the US Central Command to enhance air operations throughout the Middle East in response to the Gaza war. The squadron finished its last operational deployment in April 2024 and flew its last operational mission in June. Its A-10s were transferred to the 190th Fighter Squadron of the Idaho Air National Guard or moved across Davis-Monthan to the "boneyard". and inactivated in September.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 12 November 1942
  • Redesignated 354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952
  • Redesignated 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 13 April 1962
  • Redesignated 354th Fighter Squadron and activated on 1 November 1991.

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Air Offensive, Europe6 July 1943 – 5 June 1944354th Fighter Squadron<
Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944354th Fighter Squadron
Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944354th Fighter Squadron
Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945354th Fighter Squadron
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945354th Fighter Squadron
Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945354th Fighter Squadron
Air Combat, EAME Theater6 July 1943 – 11 May 1945354th Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Defensive6 March 1965 – 30 January 1966354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air31 January 1966 – 28 June 1966354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air Offensive29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 1969354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 1970354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 15 April 1970354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Southwest Monsoon354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign14 January 1973 – 28 January 1973354th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire12 April 1991 – 30 November 1995354th Fighter Squadron
World War II Army of Occupation 9 May 1945 – 1 August 1946354th Fighter Squadron