b'56thOperations Group62ND FIGHTER SQUADRONWith American involvement in World War II looming on the horizon, the 62nd Fighter Squadron (FS) Spikes were U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Worpelconstituted as the 62nd Pursuit Squadron as part of the 56th Pursuit Group at Savannah Air Base, Georgia, Jan. 15, 1941. The squadron immediately began training for its wartime missions, rapidly transitioning through the P-35, P-36, P-39 and P-40 aircraft. On Dec. 7, 1941, the 62nd FS stepped up to defend the northeastern United States from anticipated enemy air attack while it converted to the P-47 aircraft and prepared to deploy overseas.The squadron arrived in England Jan. 9, 1943. It was declared operationally ready two months later and flew its first combat missions April 13. Two years later, the 62nd FS had emerged All 56th TRS training is conducted across six facilities atas one of the premier fighter squadrons in Europe. Among Luke AFB. This squadron provides Air Force acceptance andits accomplishments were the first P-47 ground attack mission, quality control of courseware and manages all aircrew trainingthe first operational use of rockets by a fighter and the destruction devices for the 56th Fighter Wing. of 357 enemy aircraft. The squadron participated in the Big Week that secured Allied air superiority, escorted the first daylight 61ST FIGHTER SQUADRON bombing mission over Berlin, conducted interdiction missions The 61st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) was constitutedduring the Normandy invasion and provided air support Nov. 20, 1940. It was activated Jan. 15, 1941, in Savannah,during the Battle of the Bulge. On Oct. 11, 1945, the 62nd FS Georgia, training in P-39 Airacobra and P-40 Warhawks. Thedeparted England and returned to the United States aboard the 61st moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 1941 andQueen Elizabeth.again to Charleston, South Carolina, in December 1941, toAs the newly organized U.S. Air Force developed a new help defend the East Coast. In November 1942, P-47 dive testmission, so did the 62nd FS. Flying the P-51 and P-80, the pilots achieved 725 mph, faster than the speed of sound. Insquadron performed escort duty for Strategic Air Command 1944, it was recognized as the first fighter squadron in the bombers, deploying to Alaska and Europe in this role.European theater to score more than 100 victories. DuringIn 1948, the Spikes converted to the interceptor role, a 1943 to 1945, the 61st produced 19 aces, the highest of anymission the squadron would maintain until 1971. Stationed squadron in Europe, destroying 248 aircraft in the air andin the northern tier of the United States, the 62nd Fighter 67.5 aircraft on the ground. It was inactivated October 1945Interceptor Squadron flew the P-80, F-86 and F-101 on patrol at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and reactivated at Selfridgeagainst the ever-present Soviet bomber threat. A highlight Field, Michigan, training in P-47s while transitioning to P-51from this era was the squadron capturing top F-101 squadron Mustangs. In April 1950, the 61st transitioned to the F-80honors at the William Tell 1965 U.S. Air Force Worldwide Shooting Star and later was the first squadron to fly the F-86AWeapons Meet.Sabre. The 61st was inactivated July 25, 1960, at Truax Field,On Sept. 1, 1974, the squadron began its long history as Wisconsin, flying the F-102 Delta Dagger. In June 1975, thea fighter training unit. Activating at Tyndall Air Force Base, 61st was reactivated at MacDill AFB, Florida, flying the F-4Florida, the 62nd assumed the mission of training F-4 and Phantom (later the F-4D). In April 1980, the flying missionF-106 weapons instructors at the United States Air Force changed to the F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon. The 61st transitionedInterceptor Weapons School. The following October, the flag in June 1988 to flying the F-16 C/D and the squadron wasmoved againthis time to rejoin the 56th Tactical Fighter inactivated at MacDill AFB in January 1994. The squadron wasWing at MacDill Air Force Base, Floridaand begin training reactivated April 1, 1994, at Luke AFB, replacing the formerF-4 crews for tactical units around the world.314th Fighter Squadron flying the F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon. The squadrons current mission is to train the worlds finestOn Jan. 1, 1981, the squadron transitioned to the F-16 F-35 pilots. Their nickname is Top Dogs. The squadronFighting Falcon and continued to train fighter pilots until stood down Aug. 27, 2010, and reactivated Oct. 25, 2013.the squadrons inactivation May 12, 1993. The 62nd FS was The 61st was Luke AFBs first squadron to fly the F-35A, thereactivated March 18, 1994, at Luke Air Force Base, where it Air Forces newest fighter. Its first F-35A arrived at Luke AFBcurrently flies the F-16 Block 25 aircraft. Honors earned by March 10, 2014, and an official unveiling ceremony was heldthe 62nd FS include two Distinguished Unit citations, 16 Air March 14, 2014. Force Outstanding Unit awards and seven campaign ribbons. 46 LUKE AIR FORCE BASE THE Premier Fighter Wing'