358th Fighter Squadron
| 358th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Active | 1942–1946; 1951–1972; 1972–2014; 2015–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Whiteman Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Lobos |
| Engagements |
European Theater of Operations Korean War |
| Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major Jeremiah Parvis |
| Notable commanders |
William J. Hovde |
| Insignia | |
| 358th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 14 November 1972) |  |
| 56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 26 September 1952) |  |
The 358th Fighter Squadron is part of the 495th Fighter Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The squadron was reactivated there in 2015. The squadron was formerly part of the 355th Operations Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, operating the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions, until its 2014 inactivation.
The squadron was activated on 12 November 1942 as a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group. It trained under First Air Force initially at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, then moving for second and third stage training to Norfolk Airport in Virginia from 17 February 1943 and last at Philadelphia Airport in Pennsylvania from 4 March. While in training, it served in an air defense role over large cities and military installations in the eastern United States.
The squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in July 1943, where it became part of VIII Fighter Command in England. The squadron's primary mission was to escort Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers to and on the return flights over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. It engaged in numerous air battles on an almost daily basis with Luftwaffe day interceptor aircraft while escorting the heavy bombers. The squadron upgraded to long-range North American P-51D Mustangs in March 1944, with the USAAF gaining air superiority with the P-51 and by 1945, almost complete air supremacy over the skies of Nazi Germany. In addition, the squadron conducted fighter sweeps over enemy airfields, destroying Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground as well as attacking enemy targets of opportunity over Germany and Occupied Europe. The squadron remained in combat until the German Capitulation in May 1945, moving from England to various Occupation airfields in Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe army of occupation in July. On 20 December the squadron became the 56th Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather Scouting. In April 1946 the squadron returned to the United States and inactivated on 20 November.
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Wikipedia