| 416th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 F-117A Nighthawk flying over the Sierra Mountains[note 1] | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1953–1958; 1958–1972; 1979–1983; 1989–1993 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Nickname(s) | Silver Knights (1958-1983) Ghostriders (1989-1993) |
| Engagements |  World War II (EAME Theater)  Vietnam War  1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait) |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 416th Fighter Squadron emblem[note 2] |  |
| 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem[note 3] |  |
| 416th Night Fighter Squadron emblem[note 4] |  |
The 416th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1993.
The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 416th Night Fighter Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to England, where it was equipped with British aircraft and conducted advanced night fighter training with the Royal Air Force, which included its introduction to combat. Three months later, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It flew combat missions until V-E Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It served as part of the occupation forces until 1946, when it inactivated and transferred its personnel and equipment to another unit. The squadron was again activated as the 416th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, when it replaced an Air National Guard squadron that had been mobilized for the Korean War. After converting to jet fighters, the squadron deployed to France, serving as part of NATO until inactivating in 1958.
The squadron was shortly reactivated in Japan, serving until June 1964, when, as the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, it returned to the United States. It deployed to Southeast Asia twice before moving permanently to South Vietnam in 1965. It flew combat missions there until 1970, with one flight serving as Fast FACs. Before returning to the United States in 1970, it earned additional combat awards. After serving as a training unit, it was inactivated in July 1971. As the 416th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, it again trained fighter pilots from 1979 to 1983.
The squadron's most recent activation began in October 1989, when it replaced a classified unit flying stealth fighters. It continued flying the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, including during Desert Storm until 1993, when it transferred its mission to another unit.
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