27th Fighter Squadron

27th Fighter Squadron
F-22A serial 03-4042, the first F-22A Assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron, 2005
Active1917–1945; 1946–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSquadron
Role
  • Fighter
  • Air Dominance
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQJoint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia
Nickname(s)Fighting Eagles[citation needed]
Tail code"FF"
Engagements

  • World War I

  • World War II – Antisubmarine

  • World War II – EAME Theater

  • 1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait)

  • Operation Northern Watch
    Operation Southern Watch[1]
Decorations

  • Distinguished Unit Citation (3x)

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (10x)[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Robert J Elwood
Insignia
27th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 17 September 1971)[1]

The 27th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force 1st Operations Group located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. The 27th is equipped with the F-22 Raptor.[1]

The 27th Fighter Squadron is the oldest active fighter squadron in the United States Air Force, with over 100 years of service to the nation. It was organized as the 21st (later 27th) Aero Squadron on 8 May 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a pursuit squadron. It took part in the Champagne-Marne defensive; Aisne-Marne offensive; St. Mihiel offensive, and Meuse-Argonne offensive.[2]

During World War II the unit served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as part of Twelfth Air Force as a P-38 Lightning fighter squadron, participating in the North African and Italian campaigns. During the Cold War it was both an Air Defense Command fighter-interceptor squadron as later as part of Tactical Air Command. It was the first USAF operational squadron equipped with the F-15A Eagle in January 1976.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2018). "Factsheet 27 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. ^ Gorrell[page needed]
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 138–139