457th Fighter Squadron
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 F-16 Fighting Falcon. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Air Combat Command.
| 457th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
457th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon | |
| Active | 1944–1945 1953–1959 1972–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth |
| Nickname(s) | Spads |
| Motto(s) | Spad to the Bone |
| Engagements | Pacific Ocean Theater Global War on Terrorism |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 457th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 27 April 2000) | |
| 457th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 20 January 1945) | |
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.