The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. After the war, the squadron was declared inactivated on 26 Dec 1945. The 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reinstated on 8 Sep 1975 and serve the 70th Fighter Squadron was retired on 1 Nov 1991. It was most recently part of the 347th Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operated Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting ground attack missions.

70th Fighter Squadron
The Ninth Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II East Demonstration Team, 1998
Active1941–1945; 1975–2000
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter
Nickname(s)White Knights
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
70th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 17 May 1954[2]

History

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World War II

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The 70th provided air defense for Fiji from, February–December 1942. It then went on to fly combat missions in South and Southwest Pacific from, 21 December 1942 – 21 July 1944 and 9 September 1944 – 9 August 1945.

Tactical fighter operations

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Squadron McDonnell F-4E Phantom in 1984[note 1]

It deployed aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia from, 10 January – 16 September 1992.[1]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 14 December 1940
Activated on 1 January 1941
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 24 May 1944
Inactivated on 26 December 1945
  • Redesignated 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 September 1975
Activated on 30 September 1975
Redesignated 70th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991[3]
Inactivated on 30 June 2000

Assignments

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Stations

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Aircraft

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is McDonnell F-4E-39-MC Phantom II serial 68-447.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d "Factsheet 70 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  2. ^ Maurer, pp. 259-260
  3. ^ a b c Lineage, including stations, assignments and aircraft, through 1991 in AFHRA Factsheet, 70 Fighter Squadron

Bibliography

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

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