History 14th Fighter Squadron

1 history

1.1 world war ii
1.2 air force reserves
1.3 vietnam war
1.4 fighter operations in japan

history
world war ii

supermarine spitfire pr.xi in squadron markings

the squadron first activated @ colorado springs, colorado in june 1942 14th photographic reconnaissance squadron, although more month before moved nearby peterson field , began training lockheed f-4 lightnings under 3d photographic group. in august 1942, 3d group moved england. squadron remained assigned 3d, remained in colorado, attached second air force. in july 1943, squadron assigned 7th photographic reconnaissance , mapping group , moved on paper 7th group england. 7th group drew on 13th photographic squadron, flying lightnings in england cadre. 14th squadron began train supermarine spitfire mk. v fighters in july 1943 before equipping photographic reconnaissance mk. xi version of spitfire in late summer.

the 14th flew combat reconnaissance missions in european theater of operations 12 august 1943 until 25 april 1945. squadron s spitfires flew majority of target photography missions (including first spitfire reconnaissance mission on berlin in march 1944), while other squadrons of 7th, equipped lightnings, concentrated on photographic mapping. squadron deep penetration missions included reconnaissance of oil refineries determine when repairs had been performed justify returning them eighth air force s target list. earned distinguished unit citation reconnaissance missions flown on france between 31 may 1944 , end of june. squadron flew on 300 successful sorties support operation overlord, invasion of normandy. flew missions on netherlands support operation market garden in october 1944 , conducted damage assessment of germany until 23 july 1945. in late 1944, squadron s unarmed aircraft, flying themselves, began prove vulnerable jet powered messerschmitt me 262s entering service luftwaffe. squadron aircraft lost on 5 september 1944 first army air forces loss german jet fighter. unit turned aircraft in depots during late summer , fall of 1945. squadron personnel returned united states , unit inactivated @ port of embarkation in december 1945

air force reserves

the squadron activated in november 1947 @ binghamton, new york reserve reconnaissance unit , assigned 65th reconnaissance group, located @ nearby rome army air field. squadron did not possess tactical aircraft, assigned north american t-6 texans , beechcraft at-11 kansans proficiency flying. binghamton s airport had not been completed @ time, seems probable aircraft operated tri-cities airport in nearby endicott. president truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in number of units in air force, , 14th inactivated , not replaced reserve flying operations @ binghamton ceased.

in june 1952, squadron redesignated 14th troop carrier squadron , again activated part of 65th troop carrier wing, replaced 914th reserve training wing @ mitchel air force base, new york. squadron began train curtiss c-46 commando assistance of regular air force 2233d air force reserve flying training center. on 1 april 1953, 514th troop carrier wing, had been mobilized korean war, returned reserves , replaced 65th wing. part of reorganization, 14th troop carrier squadron inactivated in april 1953 , personnel, equipment , mission assumed 337th troop carrier squadron, simultaneously transferred reserves @ mitchel.

vietnam war

squadron rf-4c landing @ udorn rtafb in 1968

the squadron returned reconnaissance mission when organized @ bergstrom air force base, texas in april 1967 14th tactical reconnaissance squadron. after equipping mcdonnell rf-4 phantom ii, squadron trained in reconnaissance 75th tactical reconnaissance wing until october.

the squadron took 3 days move udorn royal thai air force base , flew first combat missions in southeast asia on 2 november 1967. phantoms of squadron replaced mcdonnell rf-101 voodoos of 20th tactical reconnaissance squadron, inactivated on 1 november 1967. continued fly combat until august 1973. period in 1971, reconnaissance squadron in southeast asia. documented aerial photography communist takeover of cambodia , republic of vietnam in 1975.

fighter operations in japan

squadron f-16c @ mcas iwakuni

the squadron again activated in 1987 14th tactical fighter squadron @ misawa air base, japan. trained close air support using conventional weapons. provided air defense of northern japan. squadron has provided personnel , aircraft support operations in iraq , afghanistan.

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