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Home > Fact Sheets > 81 Fighter Squadron (USAFE)
81 FIGHTER SQUADRON (USAFE)
Posted 2/6/2009
Printable Fact Sheet
Lineage. Constituted as 81 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated: 81 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Special) on 28 May 1942; 81 Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 21 Jan 1944; 81 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated 81 Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Redesignated: 81 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 20 Jun 1949; 81 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Mar 1950. Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 2 Jun 1951. Redesignated 81 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Redesignated: 81 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958; 81 Fighter Squadron on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments. 50 Pursuit (later, 50 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1942-7 Nov 1945. 454 Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947; 50 Fighter (later, 50 Fighter Interceptor) Group, 20 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951. 50 Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 Jan 1953; 50 Fighter-Bomber (later, 50 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Dec 1957; 86 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jul 1971; 52 Tactical Fighter (later, 52 Fighter) Wing, 15 Jan 1973; 52 Operations Group, 31 Mar 1992-.
Stations. Key Field, MS, 15 Jan 1942; Orlando AB, FL, 22 Mar 1942; Cross City AAFld, FL, 18 Jun 1943; Orlando AB, FL, 1 Feb-13 Mar 1944; Lymington, England, 5 Apr 1944; Carentan, France, 25 Jun 1944; Meautis, France, 16 Aug 1944; Orly, France, 5 Sep 1944; Laon, France, 15 Sep 1944; Lyons/Bron, France, 29 Sep 1944; Toul/Ochey, France, 3 Nov 1944; Giebelstadt, Germany, 20 Apr 1945; Mannheim, Germany, 21 May-c. 23 Jun 1945; La Junta AAFld, CO, 6 Aug-7 Nov 1945. McChord Field, WA, 12 Jul 1947; Otis AFB, MA, 20 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951. Clovis AFB, NM, 1 Jan-22 Jul 1953; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Aug 1953; Toul/Rosieres AB, France, 10 Jul 1956; Hahn AB, Germany, 10 Dec 1959; Zweibrucken AB, Germany, 15 Jun 1971; Spangdahlem AB, Germany, 15 Jan 1973-.
Commanders. Lt William R. Compton, 15 Jan 1942; Maj William J. Cummings Jr., 2 Nov 1942; Lt Col Charlie R. Bond Jr., 24 Nov 1942; Capt Stephen Poleschuk, l7 Sep 1943; Lt Col Gail L. Stubbs, 20 Jan 1944; Lt Col Robert D. Johnston, 17 Sep 1944-unkn (at least through May 1945). Unkn, 12 Jul 1947-20 Jun 1949; Lt Col Michael Petroski, by Jun 1950-unkn. Maj David W. McMillan, 1 Jan 1953; Lt Col Edward A. McGough III, 6 May 1953; Maj Robinson Risner, 14 Dec 1954; Maj Thomas H. Curtis, 9 Jul 1956; Maj Clifford H. Meier, 20 Aug 1957; Maj Nelton R. Wilson, 20 Sep 1959; Lt Col Henry L. Parker, 8 Jul 1960; Lt Col Walter M. Fowler, 26 Jun 1962; Lt Col Roland B. Elam Jr., 12 Aug 1963; Maj Robert D. Carter, 16 Mar 1965; Lt Col Tony M. Gregret, 20 Sep 1965; Lt Col Lester W. Krushat, 17 May 1966; Lt Col Kennith F. Hite, 1 Jul 1968; Lt Col Robert P. Foster, 1 Jun 1969 (temporary); Lt Col Wallace E. Durst, 15 Jun 1969; Lt Col Paul R. Schaffer Jr., 22 Dec 1970; Lt Col Don R. Emigholz, 2 Jan 1973; Lt Col Albert G. Arnold, c. 23 Jan 1975; Lt Col Alfred C. Stipe, 18 Mar 1977; Lt Col Robert D. Green, 14 Jul 1978; Lt Col Charles B. Pickell, 26 Dec 1978 (temporary); Lt Col Robert D. Green, Mar 1979; Lt Col Guy H. Morgan Jr., 2 May 1980; Lt Col Lawrence W. Peters, 7 Nov 1980; Lt Col Gerald R. Linn, 9 Jul 1982; unkn, 8 Nov-22 Dec 1982; Lt Col Thomas L. Ticktin, 22 Dec 1982; Lt Col Dennis J. McMahan, 27 Jan 1984; Lt Col Gary M. Rubus, 23 Apr 1985; Lt Col Keith L. Cotner, 20 Nov 1986; Lt Col Dennis R. Larsen, 13 Jun 1988; Lt Col Randall G. Gelwix, 5 Jun 1990; Lt Col Daniel W. Shelor, 27 Jan 1992; Lt Col Terry V. Jackson, 21 Jun 1993; Lt Col Thomas D. Popp, 25 Feb 1994; Lt Col John F. C. Rhoades, 27 May 1994; Lt Col John C. Seymour, 12 Jun 1995; Lt Col Gregory A. Schulze, 12 Jun 1996; Lt Col Christopher E. Haave, 14 Jul 1998; Lt Col Mark E. Koechle, 7 Apr 2000; Lt Col Patrick C. Malackowski; 8 Jul 2002; Lt Col John A. Cherrey, 12 Jul 2004; Lt Col Keith D. McBride, 30 Mar 2006; Lt Col Timothy J. Hogan, 7 Sep 2007-.
Aircraft. P-40, 1942-1943; P-47, 1943-1945. F-51, 1953; F-86, 1953-1958; F-100, 1958-1966; F-4, 1966-1993; F-16, 1987-1990, 1993-1994; OA/A-10, 1994-.
Operations. Conducted air defense training and trained cadres of other units in fighter tactics, 22 Mar 1942-28 Jan 1944; combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 1 May 1944-7 May 1945. Trained in close air support and reconnaissance since 1953; added defense-suppression mission late 1969. In the 1970s, flew F-4 Wild Weasel aircraft; tasked to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft. Deployed personnel and equipment to Shaik Isa, Bahrain, to support operations in Southwest Asia, Sep 1990-Jun 1991. Served as only A-10 squadron based in Europe, 1994-. Took part in combat operations over Serbia in 1999. After terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, supported Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease Fire Campaign. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, 13-20 Mar 1945; Germany, 25 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Sep 1990-26 Feb 1991. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1970-15 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Aug 1995-31 Jul 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1999; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 20 Jan 2009.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 13 Jan 2009.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Newest rendition approved on 12 Apr 2007; originally approved on 3 Jul 1967.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.
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