The 94th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

1st Operations Group The 1st Operations Group (1 OG) is the flying component of the 1st Fighter Wing, assigned to the USAF Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit i ...

located at

Joint Base Langley–Eustis Joint Base Langley–Eustis is a United States military facility located adjacent to Hampton and Newport News, Virginia. The base is an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Langley Air Force Base and the United States Army's Fort E ...

, Virginia. The 94th is equipped with the

F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American twin-engine, jet-powered, all-weather, supersonic stealth fighter aircraft. As a product of the United States Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was de ...

. The 94 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized on 20 August 1917 as the

94th Aero Squadron The 94th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service fighter squadron that fought on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I.. The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 1st O ...

of the

United States Army Air Service The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial warf ...

Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-use airport, Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he ...

, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

as a pursuit squadron. It took part in the

Champagne-Marne defensive The United States campaigns in World War I began after American entry in the war in early April 1917. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) served on the Western Front, under General John J. Pershing, and engaged in 13 official military camp ...

; Aisne-Marne offensive;

St. Mihiel offensive The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12 to 15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States agains ...

, and Meuse-Argonne offensive.Gorrell, History of the 94th Aero Squadron In 1924, it was consolidated with the

103d Aero Squadron The 103rd Aero Squadron was an aviation pursuit squadron of the U.S. Air Service that served in combat in France during World War I. Its original complement included pilots from the disbanded Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps. O ...

(Pursuit). The 103d was largely composed of former members of the

French Air Service The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...

Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille () was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille of the History of the Armée de l'Air (1909–1942)#World War I (1914–1918), ''Aéronautique Mil ...

(from the French ''Escadrille de Lafayette''). This was a squadron of American volunteer pilots who had joined the French Air Service prior to the United States entry into the war on 6 April 1917.Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 314–316 In July 1926, with the disestablishment of the U.S. Army Air Service, the squadron became part of the

U.S. Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

(USAAC). In June 1941, the squadron became part of the renamed

U.S. Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(USAAF). During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the unit served in the

Mediterranean Theater of Operations The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the North African Theater of Operations, United States Army (NATOUSA), was a military formation of the United States Army that supervised all U.S. Army for ...

(MTO) as part of

Twelfth Air Force The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The command is the air component to U ...

as a

P-38 Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinc ...

fighter squadron, participating in the

North African North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

and

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

campaigns. In September 1947, it became part of the newly established

(USAF). During the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

it was both an

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...

(ADC) fighter-interceptor squadron, and later as part of

Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...

(TAC). It was one of the first USAF operational squadrons equipped with the

F-15A Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force (USAF) selected McDonnell Douglas's desi ...

in January 1976.Rogers, . With the disestablishment of TAC in 1992, it was assigned to the newly established

Air Combat Command The Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the prim ...

(ACC).

Overview

The 94 Fighter Squadron (94 FS) is tasked to provide air superiority for the United States and allied forces by engaging and destroying enemy forces, equipment, defenses or installations for global deployment as part of the 1st Fighter Wing. The squadron flies one of today's most advanced air dominance fighters, the

F-22A Raptor The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American Twinjet, twin-engine, Jet engine, jet-powered, Night fighter, all-weather, supersonic Stealth aircraft, stealth fighter aircraft. As a product of the United States Air Force's Advanced Ta ...

, being the USAF's second operational F-22 squadron in 2006. 94 FS aircraft, like other aircraft from the 1st Fighter Wing, have the tail code "FF".

History

The 94th Fighter Squadron has a long history and traditions that date back to

. The squadron was activated at

, Texas, on 20 August 1917 as the

. On 8 April 1924, the unit was consolidated with the

which was organized on 31 August 1917.

World War I

: ''See

for an expanded World War I history'' On 30 September 1917, two officers and 150 enlisted men left Texas for France and were sent to seven different aircraft factories for maintenance and repair training. In April 1918, the 94th was reunited and stationed at the Gengault Aerodrome near

Toul, France Toul () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, and the river Moselle and Canal de la Marne au Rhin. Climate Toul h ...

, where it began operations as the first American squadron at the front. It was placed under the command of Major

Raoul Lufbery Gervais Raoul Victor Lufbery (March 14, 1885 – May 19, 1918) was a French and American fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I. Because he served in both the French Air Force, and later the United States Army Air Service in World War I, he i ...

, an ace pilot and veteran of the

. As the first American squadron in operation, its aviators were allowed to create their squadron insignia. They used the opportunity to commemorate the United States' entry into World War I by taking the phrase of tossing one's "hat in the ring" (a

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

phrase to signify one's willingness to become a challenger) and symbolizing it with the literal image of

Uncle Sam Uncle Sam (with the same initials as ''United States'') is a common national personification of the United States, depicting the federal government of the United States, federal government or the country as a whole. Since the early 19th centu ...

's red, white and blue

top hat A top hat (also called a high hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally made of black silk or ...

going through a ring. On 14 April, Lt. Douglas Campbell and Lt. Alan Winslow downed two German aircraft. These were the first victories ever scored by an American unit. No 94th pilot achieved more aerial victories than 1st Lt. Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker, who was named America's "Ace of Aces" during the war. In his

Nieuport 28 The Nieuport 28 C.1, a French biplane fighter aircraft flown during World War I, was built by Nieuport and designed by Gustave Delage. Owing its lineage to the successful line of sesquiplane fighters that included the Nieuport 17, the Nieupor ...

and later his SPAD S.XIII, Rickenbacker was credited with 26 of the squadron's 70 kills during World War I. By the end of hostilities, the 94th had won battle honors for participation in 11 major engagements and was awarded the

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

with Palm. The squadron was assigned to the

1st Pursuit Group First most commonly refers to: * First, the ordinal form of the number 1 First or 1st may also refer to: Acronyms * Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array * Far Infrared a ...

based at

Toul Toul () is a Communes of France, commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Departments of France, department in north-eastern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, Fra ...

(5 May 1918), and subsequently at

Touquin Touquin () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Demographics Inhabitants of Touquin are called ''Touquinois''. See also *Communes of the Seine-et-Marne department The following ...

(28 June 1918),

Saints In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Orth ...

(9 July 1918) and Rembercourt (1 September 1918). Rickenbacker took command of the squadron on 25 September, at the start of the Meuse Argonne Offensive, and retained it through the end of the war. Another flying ace of this squadron was

Harvey Weir Cook Harvey Weir Cook (June 30, 1892 – March 24, 1943) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. He was also a pioneer in civilian commercial aviation and a leading figure in the development of aviation ...

. The 103d Aero Squadron constructed facilities, December 1917 – 1 February 1918; with flight echelon originally composed of former members of the Lafayette Escadrille, participated in combat as a pursuit unit with the French Fourth Army, French Sixth Army, Detachment of the Armies of the North (French),

French Eighth Army The Eighth Army () was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. During World War I, there were two 8th armies. The first was the former ''Détachement d'armée de Belgique'' (Army Detachment in Belgium) which existed ...

, and the American First Army, 18 February – 10 November 1918. On 8 April 1924, the 103d was consolidated by the Air Service with the 94th Pursuit Squadron.

Between the wars: 1920s and 1930s

The squadron returned home in the spring of 1919, and after several moves, the 94th settled with the 1st Pursuit Group at

Selfridge Field, Michigan Selfridge or ''variation'' may refer to: People * Andy Selfridge (1949–2019), American former National Football League player * Harry Gordon Selfridge (1856–1947), American-born founder of Selfridges Department Store * John Selfridge (19 ...

, in July 1922. In 1923, the unit was re-designated the 94th Pursuit Squadron. The squadron stayed in Michigan for the remainder of the inter-war years, training in its pursuit role. The squadron flew 17 different aircraft during this period, culminating with the

. One week after

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Reci ...

, the 94th moved to

Naval Air Station San Diego Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado ( ...

, California. Expecting to see action in the Pacific, the squadron instead received orders for Europe. In the summer of 1942, the 94th and its parent group deployed under its own power to

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, the

U.K. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, via

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Labrador Labrador () is a geographic and cultural region within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the primarily continental portion of the province and constitutes 71% of the province's area but is home to only 6% of its populatio ...

Greenland Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...

, and

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

as part of

Operation Bolero Operation Bolero was the commonly used reference for the code name of the United States military troop buildup in the United Kingdom during World War II in preparation for the initial cross-channel invasion plan known as Operation Roundup, to ...

. This marked the first time that a fighter squadron flew its own aircraft from the United States to Europe.

World War II

In May 1942, all pursuit groups and squadrons were re-designated "fighter". In November the 94th Fighter Squadron entered combat in North Africa during

Operation Torch Operation Torch (8–16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa whil ...

. Based in

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

, and

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, the 94th again distinguished itself in combat by winning two Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations as part of the 1st Group. In addition, the squadron earned 14 Campaign honors, participating in almost every campaign in North Africa and Europe. 64 pilots of the 94th Fighter Squadron were credited with 124 Axis aircraft destroyed. The 94th produced a total of six aces in

. In April 1945 the 1st Fighter Group received two YP-80 jets for operational testing. The 94th Squadron's Major Edward LaClare flew two operational sorties in the YP-80 although without encountering combat.

Cold War

94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86A-5-NA Sabre 49-1278

94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-106 58-0786 - Selfridge AFB Michigan

After the end of World War II, the 94th trained in the Lockheed

P-80 Shooting Star The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star is the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, two p ...

, America's first operational jet fighter, and was stationed at

March AFB March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), previously known as March Air Force Base (March AFB), is located in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Comm ...

, California. In July 1950, the group became the 94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) and was eventually assigned to

(ADC), later renamed

Aerospace Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was establishe ...

(ADC). After the P-80, the squadron flew several aircraft in the interceptor role, including the

F-86 The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Sov ...

F-102 The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger is an interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair. A member of the Century Series, the F-102 was the first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter op ...

and

F-106 The Convair F-106 Delta Dart is an all-weather interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair. The F-106 was designed in response to the 1954 interceptor program. Envisioned as an imagined "Ultimate Int ...

. In 1956, the 94th won the Worldwide Rocket Firing Meet held at Vincent AFB, Arizona. In the 1960s, the unit was among the first ready units sent to Florida during the

Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis () in Cuba, or the Caribbean Crisis (), was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of Nuclear weapons d ...

in October 1962. The squadron carried out combat air patrol missions off the coast of Florida, setting a record for F-106 hours and

sortie A sortie (from the French word meaning ''exit'' or from Latin root ''surgere'' meaning to "rise up") is a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strongpoint. The term originated in siege warf ...

s. During the 1960s, the 94th, along with other ADC units, maintained an alert force in Alaska. With its supersonic F-106s, the squadron intercepted Russian bombers on missions over the

Bering Sea The Bering Sea ( , ; rus, Бе́рингово мо́ре, r=Béringovo móre, p=ˈbʲerʲɪnɡəvə ˈmorʲe) is a marginal sea of the Northern Pacific Ocean. It forms, along with the Bering Strait, the divide between the two largest landmasse ...

. Then, in June 1969, with tensions mounting following the

Pueblo Incident USS ''Pueblo'' (AGER-2) is a ''Banner''-class technical research ship, placed into service during World War II, then converted to a spy ship in 1967 by the United States Navy. She gathered intelligence and oceanographic information, monitoring ...

and the downing of an

EC-121 The Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star is an American airborne early warning and control radar surveillance aircraft operational in the 1950s in both the United States Navy (USN) and United States Air Force (USAF). The military version of the Lock ...

electronic observation plane by

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

, the squadron deployed to

Osan AB Osan Air Base (K-55; ; Hanja: ) is a United States Air Force (USAF) and Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) base located near Songtan station in the city of Pyeongtaek, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

, for six months. It then replaced the 75th FIS at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan until 1 July 1971. At that time, the squadron was redesignated the 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, reassigned to Tactical Air Command, and reunited with the 27th and 71st Squadrons under the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing (1 TFW), flying the F-4E. The 94th assumed the duties of a Replacement Training Unit (RTU), providing F-4 aircrews for operational combat squadrons. In 1975, the 1st TFW moved to Langley AFB, Virginia, and began the 94 TFS flying the F-15A and F-15B Eagle, with the squadron becoming combat-ready in early 1977. In September 1992, the squadron was renamed the 94th Fighter Squadron (94 FS). The 94th Fighter Squadron did not deploy to

Southwest Asia West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenia ...

for the first Persian

Gulf War , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

, although many of its pilots and maintenance personnel did as augmenters to both the 71st and 27th Fighter Squadrons from the 1st Fighter Wing. The 94th successfully supported the UN-sanctioned

Operation Southern Watch Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from August 1992 to March 2003. United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of moni ...

and

Operation Northern Watch Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a Combined Task Force (CTF) charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq. Its mission began on 1 January 1997. The coalition partn ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

with many deployments to

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

and

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

in the period leading up to the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

. The 94th Fighter Squadron pilots repeatedly defeated Iraqi surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) attacks while enforcing UN sanctions, without loss or damage to a single aircraft. Since the

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...

on the United States, the aircraft of the 94th have patrolled the skies of the

East Coast of the United States The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic Coast, and the Atlantic Seaboard, is the region encompassing the coast, coastline where the Eastern United States meets the Atlantic Ocean; it has always pla ...

Modern era

In 2006, the 94th became the second operational squadron to fly the

, receiving its first F-22A in June 2006, and receiving its full complement of F-22As, with AF Ser. No / tail number (T/N) 05-0094, in June 2007. This was due to the 94 FS trading tail number 086 for 094 with the 90th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 3rd Wing based at

Elmendorf AFB Elmendorf Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally known as Elmendorf Field, it became Elmendorf Air Force Base after World War II. It is the home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Air Command ( ...

, Alaska

Additionally, the 1st FW traded AF Ser. No. / tail number 05-0084 to the 90th Fighter Squadron for tail number 05-0101. Tail 10-194 is the current flagship of 94th Fighter Squadron.

2013 Sequestration

Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan. Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. This affected the 94th Fighter Squadron with a stand-down grounding from 9 April-30 September 2013.

Lineage

; 103d Aero Squadron * Organized as the 103d Aero Squadron on 31 August 1917 : Redesignated 103d Aero Squadron (Pursuit) on 13 February 1918 : Redesignated 103d Aero Squadron, 4 March 1919 : Demobilized on 18 August 1919Gorrell, History of the 103d Aero Squadron : Reconstituted on 8 April 1924 and consolidated with the 94th Pursuit Squadron as the 94th Pursuit Squadron ; 94th Fighter Squadron * Organized as the 94th Aero Squadron on 20 August 1917 : Redesignated 94th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) on 30 March 1918 : Redesignated 94th Aero Squadron on 1 June 1919 : Redesignated 94th Squadron (Pursuit) on 14 March 1921 : Redesignated 94th Pursuit Squadron on 25 January 1923 : Consolidated with the 103d Aero Squadron on 8 April 1924 : Redesignated 94th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 December 1939 : Redesignated 94th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 12 March 1941 : Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942 : Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 28 February 1944 : Inactivated on 16 October 1945 * Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 April 1946 : Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 20 June 1946 : Activated on 3 July 1946 : Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 15 June 1948 : Redesignated 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 16 April 1950 : Redesignated 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1971 : Redesignated 94th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991

Assignments

;; 103d Aero Squadron * Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 31 August 1917 * Aviation Concentration Center, 5 November 1917 *

Third Aviation Instruction Center Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...

, 28 December 1917 * Air Service Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force, 13 February 1918 (attached to Groupe de Combat 21 18 February 1918,

Sixth Army (France) The Sixth Army () was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. World War I The Sixth Army was formed 26 August 1914, composed of troops from various disparate French armies: two active army corps, the ( 4th and 7th res ...

11 April 1918,

Army of the North (France) The Army of the North or is a name given to several historical units of the French Army. The first was one of the French Revolutionary Armies that fought with distinction against the First Coalition from 1792 to 1795. Others existed during th ...

after 30 April 1918) * 2d Pursuit Group, 5 July 1918 *

3d Pursuit Group The 3rd Pursuit Group was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the First United States Army. Formed in France in July 1918, the group was assigned to the 1st Pursuit Wing and saw a ...

, 7 August 1918 * 1st Air Depot, 5 June 1919 * Advanced Section Services of Supply, 6–19 February 1919 * Eastern Department, 4 March-18 Aug 1919 ;; 94th Aero (later, 94th Pursuit) Squadron * Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 20 August 1917 * Aviation Concentration Center, 5 October 1917 : Overseas transport: '' RMS Adriatic'', 27 October-10 November 1917 * Headquarters Air Service, AEF, 12 November 1917 : Attached to French Air Service for training, 19 November 1917 – 24 January 1918 * 3d Instructional Center, 24 January 1918 * 1st Pursuit Organization Center, 30 March 1918 *

, 5 May 1918 * 5th Pursuit Group, 20 November 1918 * 1st Air Depot, 17 April 1919 * Advanced Section Services of Supply, 5 May 1919 * Post Headquarters, Mitchel Field, 1 June 1919 * 1st Pursuit Group, 22 August 1919 to consolidation. ;; Consolidated Squadron * 1st Pursuit (later, 1st Fighter) Group, from consolidation in 1924 to 16 October 1945 * 1st Fighter (later, 1st Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 3 July 1946 : Attached to

Alaskan Air Command The Alaskan Air Command (AAC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command originally established in 1942 under the United States Army Air Forces. Its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise di ...

, 13 October 1947 – 16 February 1948 * 4705th Defense Wing, 6 February 1952 *

27th Air Division The 27th Air Division was a United States Air Force numbered air division and the geographic Air Defense Command region controlled by the 27th AD. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command (ADC)'s Tenth Air Force, at Luke Air Force Bas ...

, 1 March 1952 * 1st Fighter Group, 18 August 1955 *

1st Fighter Wing The 1st Fighter Wing (1 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Fifteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, VA. where it is a tenant unit, being supported by the 633d Air Base Wing. Its ...

, 1 February 1961 : Attached to

314th Air Division The 314th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces at Osan Air Base, South Korea, where it was inactivated in September 1986. The unit was first organized during World War II as ...

, c. 6 June – 17 November 1969 *

23d Air Division 3D, 3-D, 3d, or Three D may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics * A three-dimensional space in mathematics Relating to three-dimensionality * 3D computer graphics, computer graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geo ...

, 1 December 1969 * 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 July 1971 * 1st Operations Group, 1 October 1991–present

Stations

;; 103d Aero Squadron *

, Texas, 31 August-30 October 1917 *

Aviation Concentration Center Camp Albert L. Mills (Camp Mills) was a military installation on Long Island, New York. It was located about ten miles from the eastern boundary of New York City on the Hempstead Plains within what is now the village of Garden City. In September ...

, Garden City, New York, 5 November 1917 :: Overseas transport: RMS Baltic, 23 November-7 December *

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, England, 8 December * Windall Downs Rest Camp,

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

, England, 8 December *

Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...

, England, 23 December * American Rest Camp,

Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...

, France, 24 December *

Issoudun Aerodrome Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...

, France, 28 December * La Noblette Aerodrome, France, 13 Feb 1918 * Bonne Maison Aerodrome, France, 8 April 1918 * Leffrinckouke Aerodrome, France, 30 April 1918 * Crochte Aerodrome, France, 6 June 1918 * Gengault Aerodrome (Toul), France, 30 June 1918 *

Vaucouleurs Aerodrome 'VaucouleursAerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located West-Northwest of Vaucouleurs, in the Meuse (department), Meuse Departments of France, department of France, and approximately east of Paris. Overview The ...

, France, 7 August 1918 *

Lisle-en-Barrois Aerodrome Lisle-en-Barrois Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France, used by the French Air Service from 1915, and later by the Air Service, United States Army. It was located on the plateau north of the commune of Lisle-en-Barrois, approxim ...

, France, 20 September 1918 *

Foucaucourt Aerodrome Foucaucourt Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France, used both by French units, and squadrons of the Air Service, United States Army. It was located ESE of Foucaucourt-sur-Thabas, in Meuse, a department in Lorraine in north-e ...

, France, 6 November 1918 *

Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome : ''see also: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force'' When the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917, the Air Service of the United States Army existed only as a branch of the Signal Corps, and was kno ...

, France, 5 Jun 1919 * Brest, France, 6-19 Feb 1919 * Garden City, New York, 4-18 Mar 1919 * Undetermined, 19 March-18 Aug 1919 ;; 94th Aero (later, 94th Pursuit) Squadron *

, Texas, 20 August 1917 *

, Garden City, New York, 5–27 October 1917 *

, England, 10 November 1917 * British Rest Camp #2,

, France, 11 November 1917 * Reuilly Barracks,

Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, 18 November 1917 : Squadron divided into flights and sent to several locations in France for training *

, France, 24 January 1918 * Epiez Aerodrome, France, 1 April 1918 * Gengault Aerodrome, Toul, France, 7 April 1918 *

Touquin Aerodrome Touquin Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France, used briefly in June–July 1918 by French escadrilles and units of the Air Service, United States Army, and again by the French from February to May 1919. It was located in the � ...

, France, 29 June 1918 *

Saints Aerodrome Saints Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France, used by a significant number of units of the Air Service, United States Army. It was located North of Saints, in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Overview Th ...

, France, 9 July 1918 * Rembercourt Aerodrome, France, 30 August 1918 * Noers Aerodrome, Longuyon, France, 20 Nov 1918 * Coblenz Aerodrome, Germany, 31 Dec 1918 *

, France, 17 Apr 1919 *

Le Mans Le Mans (; ) is a Communes of France, city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe (river), Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the Provinces of France, province of Maine (province), Maine, it is now the capital of ...

, France, 5–18 May 1919 *

Mitchel Field Mitchell may refer to: People and fictional characters *Mitchell (surname), including lists of both people and fictional characters *Mitchell (given name), lists of people and fictional characters Places Australia * Mitchell, Australian Ca ...

, New York, 1 Jun 1919 *

Selfridge Field Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Un ...

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

, 27 June 1919 *

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, c. 31 August 1919 *

Ellington Field Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base is a joint installation shared by various active component and reserve component military units, as well as aircraft flight operations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the aegi ...

, 1 July 1921 *

, 1 July 1922 to consolidation. ;; Consolidated Squadron *

, from consolidation in 1924 *

San Diego Naval Air Station Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, 9 December 1941 * Long Beach Army Air Field,

, 6 February – 20 May 1942 * RAF Kirton in Lindsey,

, 10 June 1942 * RAF Ibsley,

, 27 August – 24 October 1942 *

Tafaraoui Airfield Oran Tafaraoui Airport is a joint civil/military airport in Oran Province, Algeria . History During World War II, it was a primary mission objective of the United States Army 34th Infantry Division during the Allied Operation Torch landings on 8 ...

, 15 November 1942 *

Nouvion Airfield Nouvion Airfield was a pre-war airport and World War II military airfield in Algeria, located about 5 km west of Camp Militaire d' El Ghomri in Mascara province; about 76 km east of Oran. History The facility was built in the 1930s as ...

, 21 November 1942 * Youks-les-Bains Airfield,

, 28 November 1942 : Detachments operated from

Maison Blanche Airport Houari Boumediene International Airport () , also known as Algiers Airport or Algiers International Airport, is the main international airport serving Algiers, the capital of Algeria. It is located east southeast of the city. The airport is n ...

, 6–14 December 1942 * Biskra Airfield,

, 14 December 1942 * Chateaudun-du-Rhumel Airfield,

, 14 February 1943 *

Mateur Airfield Mateur Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 4 km north-northwest of the town of Mateur, 52 km northwest of Tunis. It was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force d ...

, c. 20 June 1943 : Detachments operated from:

Dittaino The Dittaino (Greek: ; Latin: Chrysas) is a river of central Sicily which rises in the Heraean Mountains, not far from the modern towns of Gangi and Enna. It is long. After flowing through the territory of Assorus, where its tutelary divinity ...

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

, 6–18 September 1943 : Detachments operated from: Gambut,

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

, 4–12 October 1943 * Djedeida Airfield,

, c. 1 November 1943 *

Monserrato Monserrato (''Pauli'' or ''Paulli'' in Sardinian language) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, southern Sardinia, Italy, located about northeast of Cagliari. Monserrato borders the following municipalities: Caglia ...

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...

, 29 November 1943 *

Gioia del Colle Airfield Gioia del Colle Air Base is an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) base located in the province of Bari, Apulia, Italy, located approximately south-southeast of Gioia del Colle. World War II During World War II the air base was captured by ...

, c. 10 December 1943 * Salsola Airfield,

, January 1944 : Detachments operated from: Aghione,

Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...

, 10–18 August 1944 : Detachments operated from: Vincenzo Airfield,

, 9 January – 18 February 1945 * Lesina Airfield,

, 16 March 1945 *

Marcianise Marcianise is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy. History In the area of the commune of Marcianise numerous tombs of Etruscan and Roman age have been excavated, although Oscan elements should have pre-exis ...

, 26 September – 16 October 1945 * March Field (later, AFB),

, 3 July 1946 : Deployed at

Ladd Field Ladd or Ladds may refer to: People * Ladd (surname) * Brent Ladds (born 1951), Canadian ice hockey administrator * Ladd McConkey (born 2001), American football player Places ;In the United States * Ladds, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Lad ...

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

, 13 October 1947 – 16 February 1948 *

George AFB George Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located within the city limits, 8 miles northwest, of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. Established by the United States Army Air Co ...

, 18 July 1950 *

Selfridge AFB Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Uni ...

, 18 August 1955 : Deployed at

, c. 6 June – 17 November 1969 *

Wurtsmith AFB Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in Iosco County, Michigan. Near Lake Huron, it operated for seventy years, from 1923 until decommissioned in 1993. On January 18, 1994, Wurtsmith was listed as a Superfun ...

, 31 December 1969 *

MacDill AFB MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, 1 July 1971 *

Langley AFB Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1 ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

, 30 June 1975–present

Aircraft

103d Aero Squadron *

Spad VII The SPAD S.VII C.1 was the first in a series of single-seat biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugge ...

, 1918 * Spad XIII, 1918 94th Aero (later, 94th Pursuit) Squadron *

, 1918 * Spad XIII, 1918-1919 * Fokker D.VII, Albatros D.V, Pfalz D.III, and Roland D.VI, during 1919 * Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, 1919–1922 * Curtiss JN-4, JN-6, Airco DH.4, Orenco D, and PW-5, during the period 1919 to consolidation in 1924 * Thomas-Morse MB-3, 1922 to consolidation in 1924 Consolidated Squadron * Thomas-Morse MB-3, from consolidation in 1924 to 1925 * PW-8, 1924–1926 * P-1 Hawk, 1925–1931 * P-2 Hawk, P-3 Hawk, and P-5 Hawk, 1926–1931 * Boeing P-12, 1930–1932 * P-6 Hawk, 1932 * Berliner-Joyce P-16, 1932–1934 * P-6 Hawk, P-26 Peashooter, and Consolidated P-30, Consolidated P-30 (PB-2), 1934–1938 * Seversky P-35, 1934–1941 * P-36 Hawk, 1938–1940 * P-40 Warhawk (and probably P-43 Lancer), 1939–1941 *

, 1941–1945 * P-80 Shooting Star, 1946–1949 * F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1949–1960 * F-106 Delta Dart, 1960–1971 * F-4 Phantom II, 1971–1975 * F-15 Eagle, 1976–2005 *

, 2006–present

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * *

External links

14 July 2008 - 90th anniversary Commemoration of 27th, 94th, 95th, 147th aero squadrons in France
{{Navboxes , list = {{Tactical Air Command {{Aerospace Defense Command {{USAAF 12th Air Force World War II Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, 094 Military units and formations in Virginia Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces, 094