53rd Fighter Squadron

53rd Fighter Squadron
Four F-16C Fighting Falcons of the squadron's associate, the 121st Fighter Squadron, at Joint Base Andrews in 2022
Active1941–1946; 1946–1999; 2021–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSquadron
RoleFighter
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQJoint Base Andrews, Maryland
Nickname(s)Tigers[1]
EquipmentF-16C/D Fighting Falcon
Engagements
World War II – American Theater

World War IIEAME Theater

Cold War

Berlin Crisis of 1961

Cuban Missile Crisis

Gulf War (Southwest Asia)[2]

April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Belgian Fourragère[2]
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt. Col. James Wentzel[3]
Insignia
53d Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 28 October 1943)[2]
Squadron tail codes6V (1943 – 1946)
BT (1970 – 1993)
SP (1994 – 1999)
DC (2021 – present)

The 53rd Fighter Squadron (53 FS) is an active unit of the United States Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Assigned to the 495th Fighter Group, the squadron was last activated on 10 December 2021, as an associate unit to the 113th Wing's 121st Fighter Squadron. It was previously assigned to the 52nd Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, from where it operated the McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle until its inactivation on 31 March 1999.

  1. ^ "36th Fighter Day Wing 1956-1958 / 36th Tactical Fighter Wing 1958-1961". North American F-100 Super Sabre. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "53 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference reactivation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).