357th Fighter Squadron

357th Fighter Squadron
357th Fighter Squadron Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 76-0532 at Davis–Monthan AFB, 1991
Active1942–1946; 1952–1960; 1962–1970; 1971–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter Training
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQDavis–Monthan Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Dragons[1]
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations Vietnam War
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
357th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 23 January 2008)[2]
357th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 24 June 1943)[3]

The 357th Fighter Squadron is part of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft training pilots for close air support missions.

The squadron was first activated during World War II as a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron. After training in the United States the unit deployed to the European Theater of Operations. The unit entered combat operations in the summer of 1943, continuing in combat until April 1945. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for carrying out a difficult attack in April 1944. The squadron moved to Germany, where it was briefly part of the occupation forces before returning to the United States where it was inactivated in November 1945.

  1. ^ "Factsheet 355th Operations Group". 355th Wing Public Affairs. 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
  2. ^ Robertson, Patsy (4 December 2012). "Factsheet 357 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons p. 445