#1743 63rd FS F-35A Lighting II print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograoh No. 1743 - 15-5120 '63 FS', F-35A Lighting II, 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona
The 63rd Pursuit Squadron was activated on January 15, 1941, at Savannah, Georgia, as a component of the 56th Pursuit Group. It served in an air defense role as it moved to several bases across the northeastern states, and was redesignated a fighter unit in May 1942. The squadron moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, in December 1942, in preparation for European service in World War II. The Squadron moved to Boxted, England in January 1943, where it would operate most of the war. Flying escort for and fighter sweeps ahead of U.S. bomber fleets, the squadron’s pilots destroyed 167.5 enemy aircraft in the air and 110 on the ground. Returning to the U.S. in 1945, the squadron was deactivated, only to be reactivated a year later at Selfridge Field, Michigan. The squadron moved to several bases, finally resting at Chicago’s O’Hare Field where it was merged with its sister squadron, the 62nd. The 63rd reactivated in 1975 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as a training squadron until 1993 when the squadron moved to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The ‘Panthers’ continue their proud tradition of the world’s finest fighter pilots as part of the 56th Fighter Wing. The squadron has flown the P-38, P-36, P-47, P-51, P-80, F-86, F-4D and F-16A/B/C/D. It currently operates the F-35A Lightning II. Honors earned include two distinguished unit citations, seven campaign streamers and the American Theater Service Streamer.
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