| Unit Name: | 457th Fighter Squadron |
| Dates: | 1944–1945 1953–1959 1972–present |
| Role: | Fighter |
| Command Structure: | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison: | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth |
| Nickname: | Spads[1] |
| Motto: | Spad to the Bone |
| Battles: | Pacific Ocean Theater Global War on Terrorism[2] |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 457th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 27 April 2000) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 457th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 20 January 1945)[3] |
The 457th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve Command unit, assigned to the 301st Operations Group, 301st Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron flies the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Air Combat Command.
The squadron was first activated in 1944 as a long range fighter unit. It deployed to Iwo Jima in the spring of 1945 and engaged in combat until V-J Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It returned to the United States in December 1945 and was inactivated.
The squadron was again activated in 1953 as the 457th Strategic Fighter Squadron. In 1957, it was transferred from Strategic Air Command to Tactical Air Command as the 457th Fighter-Day Squadron. The squadron was inactivated in April 1959.
It began its current active period in July 1972, when the regular Air Force transferred three squadrons of Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs to the reserves.
The 457th Fighter Squadron is the only flying squadron attached to the 301st Fighter Wing. The unit is currently converting to the F-35A Lightning II, which will carry TX tail codes. The just retired Block 30 F-16Cs also carried the unit tail code TX on their F-16s. The earlier Block 25 F-16Cs flown by the unit during 1990-1996 carried TF tail codes. The F-4Ds and F-4Es operated by the 457th from 1981 to 1991 carried TH codes, as did the F-105s operated from 1972 to 1982.
Constituted as 457 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 5 October 1944. Activated on 21 October 1944 at Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida with North American P-51 Mustangs. Assigned to the 506th Fighter Group. Major Malcolm C. Watters was the unit's first commanding officer.[2]
February 1945, the 457th moved to the western Pacific Ocean in spring of 1945. Operated from North Field, Iwo Jima, 25 April - 3 December 1945 (air echelon operated from Tinian, 23 March - 11 May 1945).[2]
Escorted B-29 bombers in raids against Japan, and attacked targets such as enemy airfields, May – August 1945. The unit had on its roster Capt. Abner Aust, the last fighter Ace of WWII, and the only Ace the 457th had.
Between 1953 and 1959, and again since July 1972, trained for a variety of tactical air missions. Frequently deployed for training exercises, some of them overseas.
The 457th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reconstituted at Carswell AFB in 1972. It was initially equipped with 30 F-105D Thunderstick II aircraft. F-105 Operations continued until the winter of 1981/1982, when the F-105s were retired and F-4D Phantom IIs arrived. 27 F-4Ds served at Carswell, until being replaced in 1988 by F-4Es. 26 of the gun nosed Phantoms served for three years. Block 25 F-16Cs arrived early in 1991, and served until 1996. Block 30 F-16Cs then arrived and served until the end of 2023. The unit is converting to the F-35A Lightning II in 2024.
Took part in Operation Deny Flight, enforcing a no-fly zone over Bosnia, in 1993 while flying out of Aviano AB in Italy. Participated in training exercises and deployments. Provided resources for Operation Northern Watch (1999–2000), Operation Southern Watch (2001), Operation Noble Eagle (2001–), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2011).
On 26 April 2019, 16 fighters of the squadron were deployed to Romania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. They were supported by two KC-10A Extender tankers during the flight over the Atlantic to the Spangdahlem Air Base, and from there they flew to the Romanian 71st Air Base. The F-16s participated in the Dacian Viper 2019 exercise and remained at the base until early August.[4]
Since 9/11 units and individual personnel in various career fields have supported a number of missions related to Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle's homeland defense, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.[5] The 457th FS ended a two-month deployment to Balad Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in December 2005.[6]
Activated on 21 October 1944
Inactivated on 16 December 1945
Activated on 20 January 1953
Redesignated 457th Fighter-Day Squadron on 1 July 1957
Redesignated 457th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 January 1958
Redesignated 457th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Inactivated on 1 April 1959
Redesignated 457th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992[2]
Air echelon operated from West Field, Tinian, 23 March–11 May 1945