35th Fighter Squadron

35th Fighter Squadron
Unit name	35th Fighter Squadron
Dates	1940–1945; 1946–1958; 1971–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter
Role	Air superiority
Command structure	8th Fighter Wing / Pacific Air Forces
Garrison	Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
Nickname	Panthers
Motto	"Attack to Defend"
Battles	World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Aircraft fighter	F-16 Fighting Falcon

35th Fighter Squadron is a combat-ready unit of the United States Air Force, currently operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon from Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. As part of the 8th Fighter Wing under Pacific Air Forces, the squadron maintains a constant state of readiness to defend allied interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Its history spans multiple major conflicts, earning numerous honors for its actions in World War II, the Korean War, and subsequent operations.

History

The squadron was first constituted as the 35th Pursuit Squadron on 22 December 1939 and activated on 1 February 1940 at Moffett Field, California. Initially equipped with P-36 Hawk and P-40 Warhawk aircraft, it trained under the Fourth Air Force before deploying to the Pacific Theater of Operations following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, the unit, redesignated as a fighter squadron, engaged in intense aerial combat across the Southwest Pacific, providing crucial air cover for campaigns like the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and supporting ground forces during the Philippines campaign (1944–1945). Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron was inactivated in the Philippines in 1945, only to be reactivated the following year as part of the Strategic Air Command at Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico.

Assignments

Throughout its service, the squadron has been assigned to several major commands and wings. After its postwar reactivation, it served with the 14th Fighter Group and later the 479th Fighter Group. A significant period began in 1971 when it was reassigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, a partnership that continues today under the 8th Fighter Wing. This assignment has placed it under the operational control of Pacific Air Forces and the Seventh Air Force, focusing on the defense of the Korean Peninsula. Previous assignments have included periods under Tactical Air Command and Air Combat Command, reflecting shifts in the United States Department of Defense's global strategy.

Aircraft

The squadron has operated a succession of iconic fighter aircraft. Its early service involved the P-36 Hawk and P-40 Warhawk. During World War II, it transitioned to the P-39 Airacobra and the P-38 Lightning, the latter proving highly effective in the Pacific. In the postwar and Korean War era, it flew the F-80 Shooting Star and the F-86 Sabre, engaging MiG-15s over MiG Alley. Later, it operated the F-4 Phantom II during the Vietnam War and the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 1980s to the present, with variants including the F-16C and F-16D Block 40 models equipped for precision night attack missions.

Operations and deployments

The squadron has a extensive combat record, beginning with defensive patrols after Pearl Harbor and offensive sweeps over New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies. During the Korean War, it flew close air support and air superiority missions from bases in Japan and South Korea. In the Vietnam War, operating from Thailand, it conducted interdiction strikes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and provided combat air patrols. More recently, it deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm, conducting combat patrols over Iraq, and later participated in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, executing Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses and strike missions.

Emblem and lineage

Approved on 22 January 1942, the squadron's emblem features a black panther's head on a disc, symbolizing speed, power, and aggression, with the motto "Attack to Defend." The unit's lineage and honors are maintained by the United States Air Force Historical Research Agency. Its history includes several redesignations: from 35th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) to 35th Fighter Squadron in 1942, and later to 35th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and back to 35th Fighter Squadron. Campaign participation credit spans from the Air Offensive, Japan to the Cease-Fire in Korea, Vietnam Air Offensive, and Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Notable personnel

Several distinguished aviators have served with the squadron. Among them is John L. "Jack" Ilfrey, a World War II flying ace credited with eight aerial victories while flying the P-38 Lightning in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Another notable member is General William L. Kirk, who later served as Commander of Pacific Air Forces. The squadron has also been associated with recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star for acts of valor during combat operations in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Category:United States Air Force fighter squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1940