81st Fighter Squadron

81st Fighter Squadron
Two 81st FS A-29 Super Tucanos at Moody AFB in 2018
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1951; 1953–2013; 2014–2022
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Moody Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Panthers[1]
Engagements	World War II – American Theater World War II – EAME Theater Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Campaign Northern France Campaign Rhineland Campaign Ardennes-Alsace Campaign Central Europe Campaign Gulf War (Southwest Asia) Defense of Saudi Arabia Liberation and Defense of Kuwait Cease Fire Campaign Kosovo War Air Campaign War in Afghanistan Consolidation I Consolidation II Consolidation III[2]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Cited in Order of the Day, Belgian Army[2]
Insignia
81st Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 3 July 1967, revised 12 April 2007)[2]

The 81st Fighter Squadron (81 FS) is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force. It was last assigned to Air Education and Training Command, stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia as a geographically separate unit of the 14th Operations Group, 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The squadron last operated the A-29B Super Tucano aircraft, conducting close air support training for allied nations.

The squadron was first activated in 1942 in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and was tasked with conducting night fighter training to produce trained crews for other squadrons. In 1944, the squadron deployed to England and flew hundreds of combat mission until 1945, including during the invasion of Normandy. In the aftermath of World War II, the squadron was inactivated.

From 1947 to 1951, the squadron briefly served as a reserve unit.

In 1953, the squadron was reactivated and was sent to Hahn Air Base, Germany. The squadron remained stationed in Europe throughout the Cold War and beyond, taking part in the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the War in Afghanistan. In 2013, the squadron was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

In 2014, the squadron was reactivated at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia as a training unit for counter-insurgency aircraft, training allied nations in close air support operations, a mission it conducted until its most recent inactivation in 2022.