The 334th was constituted on 22 August 1942 as an incorporation of the No. 71 Squadron RAF, an Eagle Squadron of American volunteers in Great Britain's Royal Air Force. After the United States entered the war, the squadron was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces. It was officially constituted by War Department letter on 12 August 1942, and was activated at Bushey Hall, England on 12 September 1942.
Currently, the squadron provides worldwide deployable aircraft and personnel capable of executing combat missions in support of worldwide Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployments to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism.
In November 1950, the 334th were sent to the war in Korea. During the war they were credited with 142 kills, and they had six pilots who achieved ace status.
In September 1965 the 334th relocated to Holmsted AFB[clarification needed] because the runway at their home base Seymour Johnson AFB was being re-built. In August the 334th TFS moved to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and exchanged their F105Fs for F-105Ds, and flew non-stop to Hickam Air Force Base, then on to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, and on to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From Takhli combat missions were flown to North Vietnam and Laos. Being on temporary duty, the 334th left their Thuds to be part of the developing 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, and in February 1966 returned to Seymour-Johnson. In January 1968 the 334th went to Korea to support operations during the Pueblo incident. The 334th then returned to Seymour Johnson.
From February 1968 through June 1969, 4TFW Commander Colonel Chuck Yeager flew with the 334th as an 'attached' pilot.
In April 1972, in the midst of a Tactical Air Command ORI, the 334th TFS was deployed to Ubon AB, Thailand after which the squadron was attached to the 25th TFS. The unit began combat operations almost immediately. Soon after the deployment to SEA, the operations officer, Maj Tokanel, lobbied for missions specifically flagged for the 334th TFS. The unit was deployed through Linebacker I and Linebacker II, flying air-to-ground and air-to-air combat missions. The squadron was redeployed back to Seymour Johnson AFB in March 1973.
Gulf War
The 334th flew its first sorties with the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle on 1 January 1991. Throughout the month the 334th served as the host unit for multiple units deploying to Operation Desert Shield. Also, 334th aircrews and support personnel deployed to Operation Desert Storm as augmentees. On 18 June 1991, the squadron became operational on the F-15E, and deployed to Saudi Arabia the next day to relieve elements of the 335th Fighter Squadron, providing combat air patrol and ground alert forces supporting withdrawal of troops from Operation Desert Storm
Lineage
Constituted as the 334th Fighter Squadron on 22 August 1942
Activated on 12 September 1942
Redesignated 334th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 10 November 1945
Activated on 9 September 1946
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 23 April 1947
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 14 June 1948
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 8 March 1955
Redesignated: 334th Fighter-Day Squadron on 25 April 1956
Redesignated: 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated: 334th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991[1]
Assignments
4th Fighter Group, 12 September 1942 – 10 November 1945
4th Fighter Group (later 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 4th Fighter-Bomber Group, 4th Fighter-Day Group), 9 September 1946
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 8 December 1957 – present (deployed to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida 21 October – 29 November 1962, Moron Air Base, Spain 1 April – 13 August 1963, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey 15 February – 29 May 1965, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 2 September 1965 – 5 February 1966, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea 16 December 1969 – c. 31 May 1970, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 11 April – 5 August 1972 and 30 September 1972 – 18 March 1973, Ramstein Air Base, Germany 28 August – 29 September 1980, 26 August – 29 September 1981 and 22 May – 20 June 1984[1]
^ a b c d e f gRobertson, Patsy (24 September 2008). "Factsheet 31 Fighter Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
Futrell, Robert F. (1983). The United States Air Forces in Korea 1950-1953 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-71-4. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.