The squadron moved to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida in June 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron assumed an air defense alert posture from October until tensions eased in November 1962. It continued training and participation in exercises with deployments to both Europe and the Pacific.[2] In 1965, the squadron deployed to Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam and in March 1966, when the 31st Wing moved from Homestead to Tuy Hoa Air Base, the squadron moved to join it.[1]
An F-100 Super Sabre flies over the base at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam in 1967
The 306th engaged in combat operations in South Vietnam from 1965 until 1970, earning a Presidential Unit Citation, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, as well as a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm from the Republic of Viet Nam.[1] In 1970, the Air Force began implementing Operation Keystone, which was the withdrawal of units from Vietnam in the process of "Vietnamization."[3] However, withdrawal was primarily governed by budgetary reasons and troop ceilings imposed by Congress.[4] In the fall of 1970, under Project Keystone Robin Alfa, the 31st Wing and its squadrons returned to the United States.[5]
The 306th was briefly a paper unit at England Air Force Base, Louisiana, but on 31 October the 31st Wing was re-established at Homestead Air Force Base, where it replaced the 4531st Tactical Fighter Wing, which was discontinued.[6] At Homestead, the squadron took over McDonnell F-4E Phantom IIs formerly flown by the 4531st. The squadron was inactivated in July 1971.[1]
The 306th was reactivated in July 1978 and served as a F-4E replacement training unit, as the 31st again added a fourth squadron. It replaced its F-4Es with F-4Ds in 1980.
The squadron was inactive from 1983 until 1985, when it activated with mixture of F-16A/B Block 15 Fighting Falcons for combat readiness operations. It was inactivated after about a year and its aircraft and personnel transferred to the 308th Fighter Squadron.
31st Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 31st Tactical Fighter Wing), 25 September 1957 (attached to 7227th Combat Support Group, 8 April – 16 July 1960, 15 February – 1 March 1961, 20 August – 1 September 1961, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing 24 April – 19 July 1962,[7] 7227th Combat Support Group, 27 June – 30 September 1963, 7231st Combat Support Group, 1 May – 8 August 1964, 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing, 7 July 1965 – 27 January 1966)[8]
4403rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 23 September 1970
31st Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 October 1970 – 15 July 1971
31st Tactical Fighter Wing (later 31st Tactical Training Wing), 1 July 1978 – 1 September 1983
31st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 October 1985 – 31 October 1986
George Air Force Base, California, 1 March 1959 (deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, 8 April–16 July 1960, Clark Air Base, Philippines, 15 February–1 March 1961, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 20 August–1 September 1961, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, after 24 April 1962)
Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, 1 June 1962 – 6 December 1966 (deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa until 19 July 1962, Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 27 June–30 September 1963, Cigli Air Base, Turkey, 1 May–8 August 1964 and 7 July 1965 – 27 January 1966)
^Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon Block 15 serial 83-1077 taking off during the 'Long Rifle III' competition at MacDill AFB on 28 August 1987. The semi-annual air-to-ground gunnery competition tests tactical air crews' abilities to plan and execute long-range missions, execute attacks on first-look targets and accurately deliver ordnance. This aircraft was retired to Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as FG0303 15 December 1994. It was transferred to the Portuguese Air Force in 1999 as FAP 15134 under Peace Atlantis II.
^Squadron color discontinued in 1960s when aircraft were camouflaged, but later resumed in Vietnam.
^Aircraft is North American F-100D-90-NA Super Sabre serial 56-3311 with a full bomb load after takeoff from Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam in 1967
^Aircraft is McDonnell F-4D-27-MC Phantom serial 65-621 at Homestead AFB, Florida in 1981. This aircraft crashed 68 nautical miles East Southeast of Key West, Florida on 5 July 1983.
Davies, Peter E. North American F-100 Super Sabre. Ramsbury, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2003. ISBN1-86126-577-8.
Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN0-88740-513-4.
United States
United States Air Force
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
