13th Fighter Squadron

13th Fighter Squadron
13th FS F-16 Fighting Falcon departs for the Fort Irwin ranges[note 1]
Active	1942–1943; 1966–1975; 1976–1982; 1985–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Nickname(s)	"The Panther Pack"
Motto(s)	Cave Putorium[1]
Mascot(s)	Eldridge
Engagements	Antisubmarine campaign Vietnam War[2]
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[2]
Insignia
13th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 16 August 2007)[2]
13th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 15 August 1985)[3]
313th Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 13th Fighter Squadron is a fighter squadron of the United States Air Force. The squadron flies the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

The squadron traces its heritage back to the 1942 activation of the 313th Bombardment Squadron. The squadron served in the continental United States as a training unit until its 1943 disbanding. The squadron was reactivated in 1966 as the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, fighting in the Vietnam War. The squadron flew Wild Weasel anti-SAM missions with the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, operating out of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. The squadron moved to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in October 1967, flying F-4s in combat air patrols against North Vietnamese MiGs and ground strike missions. The squadron was inactivated with the end of the war in 1975. The squadron was reactivated in 1976 a training squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and inactivated again in 1982. The squadron was reactivated as the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1985 at Misawa, flying the F-16. It was redesignated the 13th Fighter Squadron in 1991.

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).