480th Fighter Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon over Germany, 2015 | |
| Active | 1942–1944; 1951–1956; 1957–1959; 1962–1971; 1976–1994; 2010–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter, Wild Weasel |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa |
| Garrison/HQ | Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany |
| Nickname(s) | Warhawks[1] |
| Motto(s) | First In, Last Out[2][3] Escadrille to Warhawks[4] We Deliver (1951–1956) |
| Equipment | General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon |
| Engagements | European theater of Operations Cuban Missile Crisis Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Odyssey Dawn Operation New Dawn Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[4] |
| Insignia | |
| 480th Fighter Sq emblem[a][4] |  |
| Patch with 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem[b][4] |  |
| 580th Air Resupply Squadron emblem |  |
| Tail codes | CA-CZ (Dec 1965-Apr 1969)[c] HK (Apr 1969 – Nov 1971) SP (Nov 1976 – Apr 1994; Aug 2010 – present) |
The 480th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the "Warhawks", is an active United States Air Force unit operating the General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. The 480th, assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany is the only United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa flying unit performing the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission.
The first predecessor of the squadron, the 480th Bombardment Squadron, served as a Replacement Training Unit from 1942 until it was disbanded in May 1944 in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces training and support units in the United States. It was consolidated with the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1985.
The squadron's second predecessor was organized in 1951 as the 580th Aerial Resupply Squadron. It engaged in special operations in Europe and the Middle East from 1952 until 1956. It was redesignated the 480th Air Resupply Squadron in 1985 before being consolidated with the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
The 480th Fighter-Bomber Squadron was activated in September 1957 as the fourth squadron of the 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing. Redesignated 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1958, it was inactivated the following year along with the 366th Wing for budgetary reasons. It was activated again in 1962 in France to replace Air National Guard units that had been mobilized for the Berlin Crisis of 1961. The following year, as the Air Force withdrew its fighter units from France, the squadron moved to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it transitioned to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. It deployed to Viet Nam in 1965 and flew combat missions until inactivating in 1971 with the withdrawal of United States forces from Viet Nam.
- ^ 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs (10 July 2017). "Liberty Wing welcomes Warhawks". Spangdahlem Air Base. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Michel, Marshall (10 December 2010). "480th Fighter Squadron Embraces the Spirit of the Lafayette Escadrille". Kaiserslautern American. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ Hunter, Jamie (7 September 2017). "Magnum Force". Key Military. Key Publishing. Retrieved 18 December 2022. (subscription required for full access)
- ^ a b c d Dollman, TSG David (13 October 2016). "Factsheet 480 Fighter Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
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