The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. After the war, the squadron was declared inactivated on 26 Dec 1945. The 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reinstated on 8 Sep 1975 and serve the 70th Fighter Squadron was retired on 1 Nov 1991. It was most recently part of the 347th Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operated Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting ground attack missions.
History
World War II
The 70th provided air defense for Fiji from, February–December 1942. It then went on to fly combat missions in South and Southwest Pacific from, 21 December 1942 – 21 July 1944 and 9 September 1944 – 9 August 1945.
Tactical fighter operations
It deployed aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia from, 10 January – 16 September 1992.
Lineage
Constituted as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 14 December 1940
Activated on 1 January 1941
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Redesignated: 70th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 24 May 1944
Inactivated on 26 December 1945
Redesignated 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 September 1975
Activated on 30 September 1975
Redesignated 70th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
Inactivated on 30 June 2000
Assignments
35th Pursuit Group, 1 January 1941 – 15 January 1942
US Army Forces in Fiji, 28 January 1942
347th Fighter Group, 3 October 1942
18th Fighter Group, 30 March 1943
347th Fighter Group, 1 November – 26 December 1945
347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 September 1975 (attached to 86th Tactical Fighter Wing 29 August – 28 September 1989) 347th Operations Group, 1 May 1991 – 30 June 2000
Stations
Hamilton Field, California, 1 January 1941 – 12 January 1942
Nadi Airfield, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, 29 January 1942 (operated from Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands after 21 December 1942) Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 6 April 1943 Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 18 October 1943 Sansapor Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, 23 August 1944 (operated from Wama Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, 9 November 1944 – 16 January 1945)
Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 19 January 1945
McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines, 26 February 1945
San Roque Airfield Zamboanga, Philippines, 4 May 1945
Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan, Philippines, 10 November – 26 December 1945
Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, 30 September 1975 – 30 June 2000 (Deployed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 29 August – 28 September 1989)
Aircraft
Curtiss P-36 Hawk (1941) Bell P-39 Airacobra (1942–1944) Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1943) Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1943–1945) Douglas RA-24 Banshee (1944) McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1975–1987) General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1987–1995) Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (1995–2000)