| Unit Name: | 67th Fighter Squadron |
| Dates: | 1941–present |
| Role: | Fighter |
| Command Structure: | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison: | Kadena Air Base |
| Nickname: | Fighting Cocks |
| Motto: | "Bring It On, we'll keep coming |
| Battles: | World War II
Korean War |
| Decorations: | Navy Presidential Unit Citation Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] |
| Notable Commanders: | Brig Gen Robbie Risner Gregory S. Martin |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 67th Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 26 December 1995) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 67th Fighter Squadron emblem (Approved 8 March 1945) |
The 67th Fighter Squadron "Fighting Cocks" is a fighter squadron of the United States Air Force, part of the 18th Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 67th is equipped with the F-15C/D Eagle.
The 67th Fighter Squadron is one of two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle squadrons in the Asian-Western Pacific area of operations, supporting Pacific Command operational plans and headquarters-directed contingency operations.[2]
Continually active since January 1941, the 67th was activated as a single-engine fighter operational and replacement training unit as part of the 58th Pursuit Group. 67th Pursuit Squadron, nicknamed the “Fighting Cocks,” stationed at Harding Army Airfield in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was equipped with just a few obsolete Seversky P-35 fighters. On January 23 1942, the Fighting Cocks embarked from Brooklyn, New York, for New Caledonia aboard the Army transport ship Thomas A. Barry. Another freighter carried 45 disassembled and crated P-400 aircraft and 2 P-39Fs. May 1,1942 the Air Corps reorganized as the United States Army Air Forces. The 67th was renamed the 67th Fighter Squadron. August 21,the 67th Fighter Squadron, with five P-39/P-400 aircraft, joined Marine and Navy squadrons on Guadalcanal. Due to the limitations of the Aircraft the role of the 67th was limited to ground support and strafing Japanese positions. The Airacobra was very well suited to this role as exhibited during the Japanese assault of September 14, after which, General Vandegrift remarked, “You won’t read about this in the newspapers, but you and your flight of P-400s just saved Guadalcanal. Later that year the 67th was resupplied with new model P-39 Airacobras, fitted with proper oxygen systems. The 67 was moved to Kila KiIa Air Field in New Guinea in May 1943. Designated the 67 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 24 May 1944 and equipped with P-38 aircraft.[3]
Deployed to South Pacific Area, 1943, being assigned to the 347th Fighter Group, Thirteenth Air Force. Began combat operations in February 1944, providing protection for U.S. bases and escorting transports initially, then escorting bombers over New Guinea and sea convoys to Admiralty Islands. From Noemfoor, bombed and strafed Japanese airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands.
Moved to the Philippines in November, flew fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported U.S. ground forces, and protected sea convoys and transport routes. Beginning in July 1945, attacked railways, airfields, and enemy installations in Korea and Kyushu, Japan from Okinawa.
After V-J Day, flew reconnaissance missions over Japan. Moved without personnel or equipment to the Philippines in December, aircraft sent to depots in the Philippines. Became part of the defense forces of Far East Air Forces in the postwar years at Clark Field, being deployed to Okinawa in 1949.[1]
As a result of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950, the squadron was moved from the Philippines to Taegu Air Base, South Korea in July. At Taego, the squadron exchanged its Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jets for propeller-driven North American F-51D Mustangs which were more suited to the ground attack and support role. Combat targets included tanks and armored vehicles, locomotives, artillery and antiaircraft guns, fuel and ammunition dumps, warehouses and factories, and troop concentrations.
In August, advancing communist forces and insufficient aircraft parking at Taegu forced the unit to move to Japan, but it returned to South Korea the following month to support UN forces in a counteroffensive. Because the front advanced so rapidly, operations from Pusan East Air Base soon became impractical, and the unit moved in November to Pyongyang East Air Base, North Korea.
The Chinese Communist intervention caused the unit to move twice in as many weeks, first to Suwon Air Base, South Korea, then to Chinhae Air Base. From there the unit continued to support ground forces and carry out armed reconnaissance and interdiction missions. Throughout the conflict, the squadron moved from base to base in South Korea. In January 1953 the squadron rejoined the wing at Osan-ni Air Base where it transitioned to the North American F-86 Sabre without halting the fight against the enemy. It flew its first F-86 counter air mission on 26 February 1953. In the final days of the war, the squadron attacked dispersed enemy aircraft at Sinuiju and Uiju Airfields.
The squadron remained in Korea for some time after the armistice. It moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in November 1954, performing tactical fighter operations in South Korea, Japan, Formosa (later Taiwan), and the Philippines with frequent deployments. In 1957, the squadron upgraded to the North American F-100 Super Sabre.
Was re-equipped with the Republic F-105 Thunderchief in 1962. As a result of the increased level of combat in Southeast Asia, the squadron was deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it carried out tactical bombardment missions over North and South Vietnam in 1965, returning to Kadena at the end of October.
Moved to Misawa Air Base, Japan in December 1967, being reassigned to the 39th Air Division. Equipment was changed to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, with a mission to rotate squadrons to South Korea, providing air defense of the nation. Remained in Japan/South Korea until returned to Kadena in March 1971, being reassigned back to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Until May 1975, primary mission was the air defense of Taiwan, performing frequent rotational temporary duty to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base. Chinese air defense mission ended with United States' political recognition of Communist China and end of United States military deployments to Taiwan.
For the past 35 years, the squadron has operated from Kadena Air Base, providing air defense in the Far East.
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.[4]
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 67th Fighter Squadron with a reduction of its flying hours, placing it into a basic mission capable status from 5 April-30 September 2013.
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 24 May 1944
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 6 May 1946
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 17 July 1946
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 14 March 1947
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 10 November 1949
Redesignated 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 67th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1991[1]
Deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 1–7 March 1949