492nd Fighter Squadron MAD HATTERS

Established: 20 November 1940

Assigned to: 48th Fighter Wing

Home Station: RAF Lakenheath, UK

Primary Mission: F-15E operational squadron

Unit History:

The 492nd Fighter Squadron traces it's roots back to the 55th Bombardment Squadron which was assigned to the 48th Bombardment  Group (Light). The squadron was activated with the rest of the Group on15 Jan 1941 at Savannah, Georgia. The squadron initially flew the Curtiss A-18 Shrike and Douglas A-20 Havoc.

Sep 1942 brought a chance in the Groups mission to dive bombing, hence redesignation of the Group to 48th Bombardment Group (Dive). With this new tasking, the squadron flew the Douglas A-24 Dauntless, the Army version of the Navy's famed dive bomber. Other aircraft flown during this period include the Vultee A-35 Vengeance IV. On 15 Aug 1943 the squadron was redesignated the 492nd Fighter Bomber Squadron. Also on this date, the Group became the 48th Fighter Bomber Group. The squadron transitioned to the Bell P-39 Airacobra and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk during 1943. Finally, in early 1944 the 492nd transitioned to the aircraft that they would take to war, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

The 492nd deployed to Ibsley Airfield near Southhampton, UK, on 29 Mar 1944. Combat missions began on 20 Apr 1944. The first sortie was a fighter sweep over occupied France.  The Group was redesignated to the 48th Fighter Group o 30 May 1944, and the 492nd dropped the "Bomber" from it's designation to become the 492nd Fighter Squadron.

On D-Day, 6 June, the squadron flew beach and convoy cover missions, as well as close air support and aerial reconnaissance sorties. The unit moved to Deux-Jumeaux, France on 18 June 1944. Throughout the reminder of 1944 the squadron provided air cover and support for the advancing Allied troops by attacking enemy armor, road convoys, gun positions and supply dumps. To maintain support for the rapidly advancing Allied forces, the unit moved to Villacoublay, France on 29 Aug 1944 and then moved on 15 Sep to Cambrai/Niergnies, France. Shortly thereafter the squadron moved Saint-Trond, Belgium. While operating from this base the entire Group was presented with that country's Fourragere.

On 6 Dec the Group flew ground attack sorties with the rest of the Group, supporting troops deployed against the enemy at Julich, Germany. The entire Group committed itself so well that the ground forces were able to advance rapidly through this sector.  For these missions, which were conducted in extremely bad weather, the unit earned the Presidential Unit Citation for heroism and professionalism display by it's pilots.

From 19 to 23 Dec 1944, the German Army launched an assault against the Allies now know as the "Battle of the Bulge". Weather conditions were extremely poor and Allied airpower was initially helpless. On Christmas Eve the clouds cleared and all available Allied aircraft were used to repel the German forces. During this period, the 492nd conducted armed reconnaissance missions, attacked marshaling yards, gun positions and enemy troop concentrations.

As the group continued to support the Allied advance , a rapid succession of temporary bases were used; Kelz in Germany on 26 Mar 1945; Kassel, Germany on  17 Apr 1945 and Ilesheim, Germany on 29 April 1945. On 5 July 1945, the unit pulled back to Camp Detroit, Laon. Following the Nazi surrender, the group began to return to the United States. On 7 Nov 1945, the 492nd was deactivated at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina.

The former 48th Fighter Group was reactivated as the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing on 10 July 1952 at Chaumont Air Base, France. The Wing was assigned to the 12th Air Force and became a member of NATO forces. At this time the 492nd Fighter Squadron became the 492nd Fighter Bomber Squadron. The unit was equipped with the Republic F84G Thunderjet.

In Nov of 1953, the Madhatters began transitioning to the North American F-86F Sabre, completing the changeover by Feb 1954.  The next aircraft to be flown by the 492nd began arriving in Sep of 1956. It was the North American F-100D Super Sabre, by Nov 1956 the transition was complete.

The Wing was redesignated the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958 and the 492nd became the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at that time. When President De Gaulle decided to withdraw the French from  the NATO Alliance, the Wing moved to Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, UK on 15 Jan 1960.

On 1 Oct 1971 the squadron was stood down  to transition to the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II aircraft. By 15 Jan 1972, the unit was back in operation, but a shortage of F-4D aircraft limited  operations. This shortage continued until Sep of 1974, when the Wing finally was brought up to full strength. By 1 July 1975 the unit has resumed it's share of NATO operational commitments.  Less than two years later, on 1 Mar 1977, the squadron began transition to the General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark. Maintenance and supply difficulties kept the 492nd from standing back up until 31 Aug 1978.

In Sep of 1982, the squadron was fully operationally qualified to use the "Pave Tack" laser weapon guidance system on their aircraft.

Seven aircraft of the 492nd, along with other 48th wing and Navy aircraft bombed and destroyed strategic targets in and around the Libyan capital on 15 Apr 1986 in retaliation for terrorist attacks upon US Military  personnel stationed in Europe.

In Nov of 1990, the squadron deployed to King Fahd Royal  Air Base, Taif, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. On 17 Jan 1991, the 492nd was once again called into combat at the onset of Operation Desert Storm. During the campaign the squadron flew more than 800 sorties and delivered more than 2,5 million pounds of ordnance. The 492nd deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in December 1991 to support Operation Provide Comfort. Over 560 missions were flown in support of the Kurdish relief effort.  In Mar 1992  the squadron returned to RAF Lakenheath and became the first USAFE unit to transition to the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. The transition was completed on 1 July 1993.

The 492nd returned to Incirlik, Turkey in Aug of 1993 and flew over 460 sorties in support of Operation Provide Comfort. In Feb 1994 the squadron deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support  of Operation Deny Flight. A no notice recall of the squadron to Aviano in July 1994 enabled the 492nd  to distinguish itself through the destruction of  Udbina Airfield and two surface to air missile sites. These actions helped secure the safety of airspace in the "no-fly" zone.

High tempo operations  characterized 1995. The unit was deployed to Aviano on three separate occasions, spent three months at Incirlik AB, Turkey and also managed to participate in the annual Gunsmoke competition and Red Flag 95-2 at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Things were  a bit less hectic the nest year, as squadron aircraft flew in Green Flag exercises at Nellis AFB, another three months deployed to Incirlik AB and in Dec a six jet deployment to Morocco, Africa.

In 1999, the 492nd was one of the prime participants in Operation Allied Force, the bombing of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

PRIMARY ASSIGNED F-15E AIRCRAFT: