614th Tactical Fighter Squadron

The 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 401st Operations Group at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, where it was inactivated on 1 January 1992.

614th Tactical Fighter Squadron
An F-16C Fighting Falcon of the squadron based at Torrejon AB[note 1]
Active1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1954–1992
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleTactical Fighter
Nickname(s)Lucky Devils
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
614th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 15 November 1943)[1][note 2]

The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 614th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States it moved to England, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for combat action. Following V-E Day, the squadron was inactivated in England. It was briefly active in the reserves from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped.

The squadron was redesignated the 614th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated in 1954 at Alexandria Air Force Base, Louisiana. After temporary deployments to Southeast Asia, the squadron moved to Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam. It engaged in combat operations until being withdrawn from the theater and moving to Torrejon Air Base, Spain, where it continued fighter operations until inactivating in 1992, as the Air Force withdrew permanently stationed units from Spain. Shortly before inactivating, its planes and pilots were used to man a provisional organization during Operation Desert Storm.

History

World War II

Organization and training for combat

The 614th Bombardment Squadron was activated March 1943 at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, as one of the original squadrons of the 401st Bombardment Group.[1][2] The initial cadre for the squadron was drawn from the 395th Bombardment Group at Ephrata and the 383d Bombardment Group at Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota. The cadre soon departed for Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, where they conducted simulated combat missions with the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics out of Brooksville Army Air Field.[3]

The ground echelon moved to Geiger Field, Washington, in May 1943 and to Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana, in July. At Great Falls the first combat crews were assigned to the squadron.[4] In the final stage of training the squadrons dispersed with the 614th training at Glasgow Army Air Field.[5]

After completing training the ground echelon left for overseas on 19 October 1943. After staging at Camp Shanks, New York, they embarked on the RMS Queen Mary and sailed on 27 October disembarking at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde on 3 November 1943. The air echelon staged for deployment at Scott Field, Illinois, then flew to England under the control of Air Transport Command via Newfoundland, Iceland and Scotland.[5]

Combat in the European Theater
Squadron B-17G Flying Fortress[note 3]

On arrival in England, half of the 401st Group's aircrews were immediately reassigned to the 351st Bombardment Group.[5] The rest of the squadron became part of the Eighth Air Force at RAF Deenethorpe. The 614th became part of the 92d Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-S.

On 26 November the 614th flew its first combat mission against Bremen, Germany.[6] The 401st Group did not suffer the combat loss of an airplane until its ninth mission on 30 December.[7] The squadron operated chiefly against strategic targets, bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields.[2] On 11 January 1944 the squadron was in the lead group of the 1st Bombardment Division in an attack against aircraft manufacturing facilities at Oschersleben, Germany. Although the bombers were able to attack, poor weather conditions prevented the division from receiving effective fighter cover. For over three hours the bomber formation suffered more than 400 attacks by Luftwaffe fighters, including air-to-air rocket attacks. Despite these attacks the unit continued its attack and struck a telling blow against German aircraft production for which the squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[2][8]

A little over a month later, on 20 February, the squadron earned its second DUC for an attack on the Erla Maschinenwerke aircraft manufacturing facilities in Leipzig, Germany. Despite fighter attacks and battle damage to the 614th's planes, 100% of the unit's bombs fell within 1,000 feet of the aiming point.[2][9] Beginning in October 1944, the unit concentrated its attacks on Axis oil reserves.[2]

In addition to strategic missions, squadron operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications to support Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion. On D-Day the 614th attacked Normandy beachhead areas dropping bombs five minutes before troops landed.[10] The following month it provided close air support for Operation Cobra, the breakthrough at Saint-Lô, it also supported the siege of Brest in August and Operation Market Garden in September. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, the unit attacked transportation and communications in the battle area. It supported airborne forces involved in Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.[2]

The squadron flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945 against Brandenberg.[11] It had flown 254 combat missions from Deenethorpe airfield.[12] After V-E Day, the squadron flew missions to Linz, Austria, to evacuate British and French prisoners of war. It also flew Trolley sightseeing missions at low level, flying ground support personnel over the Ruhr and Frankfurt am Main to see the damage that had been done as a result of their efforts.[13]

The unit was alerted for redeployment to the Pacific Theater and the last plane departed Deenethorpe in early June. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on the fifth.[14] Upon arrival in the US, personnel were granted thirty days leave, reassembling at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, but plans had changed and personnel were either transferred to Boeing B-29 Superfortress units or processed for discharge and the squadron was inactivated.[15]

Reserve operations

The squadron was activated at Brooks Field (later Brooks Air Force Base), Texas in January 1947 as a unit of the reserves. It trained under the supervision of the 178th AAF Base Unit (later 2593d Air Force Reserve Training Center) of Air Defense Command (ADC).[16] It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped. [17] In 1948, Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[18] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[19] and the 613th was inactivated in June.[1]

Fighter operations

Tactical Air Command
401st Group F-84F Thunderstreak

The squadron was redesignated the 614th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated at Alexandria Air Force Base, Louisiana in February 1954. Initially equipped with North American F-86 Sabres, then with Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks, by 1957 the squadron was flying North American F-100 Super Sabres as the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron.[1] The squadron participated in firepower demonstrations military exercises and maneuvers. It also deployed aircraft and personnel to Europe and the Middle East to support NATO. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron operated from Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. By 1965, however, deployments had begun to the Pacific and Southeast Asia.[20]

Squadron F-100D Super Sabre[note 4]

Combat in Vietnam

In the spring of 1966, the squadron's parent wing moved to Torrejon Air Base, Spain, but the squadron remained at England Air Force Base until September, when it moved to Phan Rang Air Base, in the Republic of Vietnam, where it was assigned to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. Shortly after the squadron's arrival at Phan Rang, the 366th Wing moved on paper to Da Nang Air Base, and the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing became the squadron's new headquarters. The squadron continued combat operations in Vietnam until the 35th Wing stood down from combat on 26 June 1971.[21]

Operations in Europe and the Middle East
Squadron F-4D Phantom II[note 5]
F-16 "87-0257"shot down during Operation Desert Storm.

The squadron moved on paper to rejoin the 401st Wing at Torrejon in July 1971, replacing the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron and assuming its personnel and McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs.[22] The squadron deployed to advanced locations in Europe and the Middle East, where it stood alert status. it deployed its forces to Doha International Airport, Qatar in 1990, where they formed the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Provisional). It flew 1,303 sorties into Iraq and Kuwait, delivering 3.7 million pounds of ordnance. It was the first USAF unit to ever deploy to Qatar. It was inactivated in 1992 as the United States removed its combat units permanently stationed in Spain.

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 614th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 March 1943
Activated on 1 April 1943
Redesignated 614th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 1 November 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
  • Redesignated 614th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 27 December 1946
Activated in the reserve on 10 January 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Redesignated 614th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 24 November 1953
Activated on 8 February 1954
Redesignated 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Inactivated on 1 January 1992

Assignments
  • 401st Bombardment Group, 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945
  • Tenth Air Force, 10 January 1947
  • 401st Bombardment Group, 30 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 401st Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 February 1954
  • 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 401st Tactical Fighter Wing), 25 September 1957
  • 834th Air Division, 27 April 1966[23]
  • 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 18 September 1966
  • 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 10 October 1966
  • 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 July 1971 – 1 January 1992

Stations
  • Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 April 1943
  • Geiger Field, Washington, 4 June 1943
  • Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana, 8 July 1943 – 19 October 1943 (deployed to Glasgow AAF after August)
  • RAF Deenethorpe (AAF-128),[24] England, 4 November 1943 – 20 June 1945
  • Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 1–28 August 1945
  • Brooks Field (later Brooks Air Force Base), Texas, 10 January 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Alexandria Air Force Base (later England Air Force Base), Louisiana, 8 February 1954
  • Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, 18 September 1966
  • Torrejon Air Base, Spain, 15 July 1971 – 1 January 1992[25]

Aircraft
  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945
  • North American F-86 Sabre, 1954–1955
  • Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 1954–1957
  • North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957–1971
  • McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, 1971–1983
  • General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1983–1992

Awards and Campaigns
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Distinguished Unit Citation11 January 1944Germany 614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation20 February 1944Germany 614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation10 October 1966–10 April 1967614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device3 September 1967–2 May 1968614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device1 October 1968–13 April 1969614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device14 April 1969–13 April 1970614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device1 December 1970–25 June 1971614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1963–31 December 1963614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award5 August 1964–7 November 1964614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award8 August 1964–15 November 1964614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1984–30 June 1985614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 April 1989–31 March 1991614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm18 September 1966–25 June 1971614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[26]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Air Offensive, Europe4 November 1943 – 5 June 1944614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Central Europe22 March 1945 – 21 May 1945614th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Vietnam Air Offensive18 September 1966 – 8 March 1967614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[27]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[27]
Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[27]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[27]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 1969614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 1970614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Southwest Monsoon1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Commando Hunt V1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
Commando Hunt VI15 May 1971 – 15 July 1971614th Tactical Fighter Squadron[28]
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See also

References

Notes
Explanatory notes
  1. Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16C Block 30F Fighting Falcon, serial 87–221.
  2. The design was originated by Mrs J. J. Casagrande, wife of a squadron navigator. Closway, p. 36
  3. Aircraft is Vega built Boeing B-17G-1-VE Flying Fortress, serial 42-39847 "Battlin' Betty". This aircraft was shot down by flak and fighters on the 11 April 1944 mission to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Politz/Sorau. The entire crew became Prisoners of War. The photo was taken at RAF Deenethorpe.
  4. Aircraft is North American F-100D-85-NH Super Sabre, serial 56-3408. Taken about 1960.
  5. Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-31-MC Phantom II, serial 66-7768 at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, in 1978. This plane was retired to AMARC as FP0476 on 3 April 1990. it is now on display at Bastrop, Texas.
Citations
  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 685–686
  2. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 285–286
  3. Closway, p. 44
  4. Closway, pp. 44–45
  5. Closway, p. 45
  6. Closway, p. 46
  7. Closway, p. 47
  8. Closway, pp. 40, 47, 62 (reproducing War Department General Order 50, 17 June 1944)
  9. Closway, pp. 40, 63 (reproducing War Department General Order 83, 2 October 1945)
  10. Closway. p. 43
  11. Closway, p. 55
  12. Closway, p. 62
  13. Closway, pp. 56–57
  14. Closway, p. 58
  15. Closway, p. 59
  16. See Mueller, p. 54
  17. See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 685–686 (no aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
  18. "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. Knaack, p. 25
  20. Ravenstein, pp. 214–215
  21. Ravenstein, pp. 60–63
  22. See Fletcher, p. 190 (simultaneous activation and inactivation of squadrons)
  23. "Factsheet 834 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  24. Station number in Anderson
  25. Fletcher, p.190 (through 1982)
  26. "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 10 July 2019. (search)
  27. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 1, p. 439
  28. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 83

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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