58th Fighter Squadron

58th Fighter Squadron
Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the first Air Force pilot qualified on an F-35, pilots the military's first F-35.
Active	1941–1945; 1946–1960; 1970–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter Training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Eglin Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Gorillas
Engagements	EAME Theater World War II Asia-Pacific Theater World War II Vietnam War 1991 Gulf War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (5x) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
58th Fighter Squadron emblem (modified and reinstated 14 July 1971)[1]
Patch with 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 30 March 1951)[2]
58th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 18 January 1944)[1]	]

The 58th Fighter Squadron (58 FS) is part of the 33d Fighter Wing, a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the F-35A, B, and C, organized under Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Its mission is to train US Air Force operators and maintainers on employment and maintenance of the F-35A Lightning II, as part of the overall 33d FW mission of training American and international aircrews and maintainers of US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and international Air Forces.

Activated as the 58th Pursuit Squadron (part of the 33d Pursuit Group) stationed at Mitchel Field, New York, the squadron was charged with the ongoing mission of aerial defense of the United States. When the United States entered World War II, the 58th took an active role in the war effort by participating in several operations during a three-year overseas tour. These operations include the invasion of Morocco in November 1942, combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater from November 1942 to February 1944, and operations in the China-Burma-India campaign, April 1944 to August 1945. During the operations in the Mediterranean Theater, the 58th earned the nickname "Gorillas" for the guerrilla warfare-like techniques it utilized. While operating in the various theaters, the 58th flew the P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-38 Lightning. As a result of its superior performance, the 58th received the Distinguished Unit Citation for combat operations conducted in central Tunisia.^[3]

After its service in World War II, the 58th was reactivated as part of the postwar Air Defense Command in June 1948 at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Equipped with F-84C Thunderjets, the squadron was part of the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Group, providing air defense over New England.^[4] In 1950, the squadron was updated to F-86A Sabre day interceptors, however in 1952 most of the Sabres were sent to the 4th Fighter Group in Korea. Those were replaced by the new F-94B Starfire day/night all-weather dedicated interceptor. In an ADC re-organization, the squadron's parent 33d Fighter Group was replaced by the 4707th Defense (later re-designated Air Defense) Wing, which along with the 59th, 60th, and 437th Fighter-Interceptor squadrons were charged with New England air defense. In 1953 it upgraded to the more advanced F-94C, receiving the new interceptors directly from Lockheed, one of the first squadrons to be equipped with the new aircraft.^[4] The squadron was again upgraded two years later, when it received the new F-89D Scorpion from Northrup.^[5]

In 1960, it was moved to Walker AFB, New Mexico when it was transferred to the new Albuquerque Air Defense Sector, its new mission being the air defense of the desert Southwest along the border with Mexico. The squadron remained at Walker for a year, until Strategic Air Command assumed full control of the base and it was inactivated at the end of 1960, ending the squadron's air defense mission.^[5]

This fluctuation of activity leveled out when the 58th, part of the re-designated 33d Tactical Fighter Wing was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida and began flying the F-4 Phantom II. In 1972, the 58th was deployed to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand under what was known as the "Summer Help Program." During this period, the 58th was credited as the first temporary duty unit to down an enemy aircraft. On 2 June 1972, Major Philip W. Handley and Lieutenant John J. Smallwood shot down a MiG-19 with a 300-round burst from their M-61A Vulcan Cannon, disproving the perception that American aircrews had lost their dogfighting skills. Smallwood was later shot down and to this day remains listed as missing in action. Just over two months later on 12 August 1972, another 58th fighter was credited with a kill after shooting down a MiG-21 with an AIM-7 Sparrow, a radar guided missile. This second kill was the last credited to the 58th during its six-month rotation in Southeast Asia.^[3]

In 1979, the 58th Fighter Squadron became the first squadron in the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing to receive the F-15 Eagle. The 58th proved the war fighting capability of the F-15 during its deployment to Germany for exercise Coronet Eagle. During the exercise, the 58th utilized 18 F-15s to fly 1001 sorties in less than three weeks. The unit repeated this deployment in 1982 utilizing 24 F-15s making it the first full F-15 deployment in history. Ten years later, the 58th participated in Operation Just Cause where forces successfully removed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from power in Panama.^[3]

The 58th was once again called upon in August 1990 when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Twenty-four F-15s under the command of Colonel Rick Parsons departed Eglin Air Force Base for King Faisal Air Base, Saudi Arabia as part of the buildup of coalition forces in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In the early morning hours of 17 January 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced. Captain John J.B. Kelk claimed the first aerial victory by downing the first MiG-29. As the war progressed, the 58th flew 1,689 combat sorties and destroyed 15 other enemy aircraft. During the course of the war, the 58th accomplished feats that no other coalition member matched including: the most air-to-air kills, the most double kills, and the most sorties and hours flown by any F-15 unit in theater. The 58th also destroyed the most MiG-29s (a total of five) and had the only wing commander who had an air-to-air victory.^[3]

On 25 June 1996, one day before their departure for a scheduled rotation as part of Operation Southern Watch, a terrorist bomb ripped through the Khobar Towers complex that housed squadron personnel. Nineteen U.S. personnel were killed, twelve of which were members of the 33d Fighter Wing.^[3]

Some recent accomplishments of the 58th include: the first fighter squadron to bring the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) into full operation, numerous rotations to the Saudi Arabian theater supporting Operation Southern Watch by patrolling the no-fly zone, and participation in Operation Uphold Democracy where the United States helped bring control back to Haiti.^[3]

The 58th Fighter Squadron operated the F-15 Eagle to support the various combatant commanders by providing air superiority on call until September 2009^[3] and then became DoD's first F-35 Lightning II training squadron on 1 Oct. 2009.^[6] with seven officers and one enlisted airman. Its first F-35A is expected to arrive in the fall of 2010.^[7]

• Constituted as the 58th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940

Activated on 15 January 1941

Redesignated 58th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942

Redesignated 58th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 8 February 1945

Inactivated on 8 December 1945

• Redesignated 58th Fighter Squadron, on 17 July 1946

Activated on 20 August 1946

Redesignated 58th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 14 June 1948

Redesignated 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950

Discontinued and inactivated on 25 December 1960

• Redesignated 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 16 March 1970

Activated on 1 September 1970

Redesignated 58th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991^[1]

• Cesar Rodriguez
• Chappie James

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
• Isham, Marty J.; McLaren, David R. (1993). Lockheed F-94 Starfire: A Photo Chronicle. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-88740-451-0.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. 21 (1). Aerospace Defense Command: 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.