22nd Fighter Squadron

22nd Fighter Squadron
22nd Fighter Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 79-0063
Active	1940–1946; 1946–2010
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Motto(s)	Red Hot Fighters
Engagements	World War II Antisubmarine, American Theater Air Offensive, Europe Battle of Normandy Northern France Campaign Rhineland Campaign Ardennes-Alsace Campaign Central Europe Campaign Operation Desert Storm Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citations (2×) Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (16×) Belgian Fourragere[1]
Commanders
Notable commanders	William R. Looney III "Toons"; Edwin Buzz Aldrin "Buzz"; James F. "Nails" Knight
Insignia
22nd Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 27 June 1945)[1]

The 22nd Fighter Squadron, sometimes written as 22d Fighter Squadron, (22 FS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52nd Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

Originally constituted as the 22nd Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) in 1939, it first deployed to the Caribbean before deploying to England and Europe from 1944. After WWII, the unit returned to its prewar mission defending the Panama Canal, before once again deploying to Europe in 1948. It remained there until 1991, at which time some parts of the squadron redeployed to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The squadron was inactivated in 2010 to combine with the 23rd Fighter Squadron and was redesignated the 480th Fighter Squadron. At various times during its existence, the squadron has gone by the colloquial names "Stingers", "Adlers", "Bees", "Bumblebees" and "The BIG 22: Last of the Red Hot Fighter Squadrons".