63d Fighter Squadron | |
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Active | 1941–1945; 1946–1958; 1975–2009; 2016–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Fighter Training |
Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
Garrison/HQ | Luke Air Force Base |
Nickname(s) | Panthers |
Engagements | Battle of Normandy Battle of the Bulge[1] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Major Harold E. Comstock (later Colonel) Major (later Lt General) Gerald W. Johnson Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) John S. Loisel[1] Major Donavon F. Smith (later Lt General) |
Insignia | |
63d Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 2 March 1995)[2] | |
63d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 26 January 1956)[3] | (modified 2 March 1995) |
63d Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 22 June 1943)[4] |
The 63d Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 56th Operations Group, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-35A aircraft, and conducts advanced fighter training since its reactivation in 2016. When this Squadron was reactivated in 1975, their mission was to train pilots and weapons systems officers for the McDonnell F-4E Phantom II, and they switched to the F-4D in 1978.