#1615 355th FS F-35A Lightning II
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1615 - 185355 '355 FS', F-35A Lightning II, 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska.
The 355th Fighter Squadron was first activated on 15 November 1942 at Hamilton Field, CA and was assigned to the 354th Fighter Group flying US Air Defense operations with the P-39 Airacobra. Shortly after, on 3 November 1943, the group transitioned to the 9th Air Force in England within the European Theatre of Operations and received their first combat aircraft; the P-51B Mustang which was later replaced by the P-47D Thunderbolt. The 355th Fighter Squadron conducted combat operations from several locations in England, France and Germany flying both the P-51B and P-47D and produced 10 aces within the European Theatre of Operations. Throughout the conflict the 355th made a significant contribution to the 354th Fighter Groups’ 957 total claims (air and ground) against enemy aircraft, 701 of which were air-to-air. Following cessation of hostilities, the squadron remained in Germany for a short period before returning to Bolling Field, DC on 15 February 1946 where it was inactivated on 31 March 1946. Following reactivation at Myrtle Beach, SC on 19 Nov 1956 within the 354th Fighter-Day Wing (later, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing) the 355th was redesignated as the 355th Fighter-Day Squadron on 28 Sep 1956 and flew the F-100D/F Super Sabre with a further redesignation as the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron following on 1 Jul 1958. During a long association with the Super Sabre the squadron conducted deployed operations to Europe and latterly, combat operations in SE Asia until re-equipping with the A-7D Corsair II in 1970. The 355th continued to conduct combat operations in SE Asia with the A-7D and operated the type with distinction until 1977. The 355th was next earmarked to operate the A-10A Thunderbolt II with the first of their factory-new aircraft being received in February 1978. Maintaining a long association with both the A-10A and Myrtle Beach AFB the 355th flew the aircraft operationally in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, DELIBERATE GUARD, SOUTHERN WATCH, and DESERT FOX; during this period the squadron was again redesignated, this time as the 355th Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. The 355th was reactivated at Eielson AFB, Alaska on 20 August 1993 and continued to operate the O/A-10A, notably supplying personnel and aircraft to organizations deployed to Afghanistan in Spring 2004 and Jan 2005 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The 355th remained at Eielson AFB until deactivation on 15 August 2007. Most recently, the 355th was an active-duty associate fighter squadron at Fort Worth Naval Air Station (NAS), TX from 5 October 2015 through to 25 October 2019 whereupon the 355th was relocated back to Eielson AFB on 18 December 2020 to fly the F-35A Lightning II. The 355th received the first of its new aircraft on 29 April 2021 to become the second combat coded F-35 squadron in PACAF. Today the 355th projects the capability to produce 5th Generation airpower anywhere around the globe in support of any type of mission it is tasked to complete.
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