480th Fighter Squadron


The 480th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Warhawks, is an active United States Air Force unit operating the General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. It is assigned to the 52d Operations Group, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, having been reactivated on 13 August 2010. The 480th FS is the only USAFE unit specialised in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.
On 29 July 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the 480th Fighter Squadron will be relocating to Italy in the future.

History

World War II

The squadron was first activated by III Bomber Command as the 480th Bombardment Squadron on 15 July 1942 flying the B-26 Marauder, assigned to the 336th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944 while based at Lake Charles Army Air Field.

Tactical Air Command (1957–1959)

The unit was reactivated as the 480th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 25 September 1957 at England Air Force Base, Louisiana, as part of the 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing. During this time it was equipped with the North American F-100D/F Super Sabre and Republic F-84 Thunderjet. On 1 July 1958, the unit was redesignated the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On 1 April 1959, it was inactivated again due to budgetary reductions.

United States Air Force Europe (1962–1963)

Three years later on 30 April 1962, the 480th TFS was reactivated again under United States Air Forces in Europe and assigned to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. Arriving at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France, with the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak on 8 May. The squadron relocated to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base on 21 December 1962, where they remained until 1963 when the squadron was withdrawn from France upon request of French government, due to disagreements over the basing of nuclear-weapon capable F-100 Super Sabres on French soil. While based in France, the 480th TFS underwent deployments to Wheelus Air Base in Libya as well as participating in USAFE exercises.

Vietnam War

In July 1963, the 480th TFS was reassigned to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it re-equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II in 1965. The squadron was deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, on 5 February 1966 as part of the USAF buildup in Southeast Asia. From here, the Warhawks carried out operations over North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos. The 480th TFS were the first squadron to shoot down a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 during the Vietnam War. While at Da Nang Air Base, the squadron scored nine MiG kills.
In November 1967, a member of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Capt. Lance Sijan, ejected from his disabled aircraft and was badly injured in North Vietnam. Despite his injuries, he evaded enemy forces for more than 40 days and then, when captured, managed to escape briefly. Captain Sijan later died in a prison camp and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The 480th TFS converted to the F-4D by May 1968. On 15 April 1969, the squadron moved to Phù Cát Air Base, South Vietnam. The continued drawdown of United States forces from Vietnam resulted in the inactivation of 37th TFW at Phù Cát AB on 31 March 1970. The wing assets remained and were re-designated as the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing when the 12th TFW was moved without personnel or equipment from Cam Ranh Bay Air Base on 1 April 1970, to replace the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and its units.
On 20 October 1971, the 480th TFS flew its last combat mission, which was also the last combat sortie for 12th TFW. 480 TFS F-4Ds were originally scheduled for redeployment to Holloman AFB, however, instead were distributed to bases throughout Southeast Asia: Clark Air Base, Philippines; Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base and Udon AB, Thailand; Da Nang AB; and Inspection and Repair as Necessary facilities at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taiwan. The 480 TFS was therefore inactivated on 17 November 1971.

United States Air Force Europe (1976–1994)

The 480th TFS was reactivated on 15 November 1976 as part of the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany, flying the F-4D Phantom II. In 1979, the Warhawks converted to the F-4E Phantom II.
In late 1983, the 480th TFS, along with the entire 52nd TFW, was tasked with the Wild Weasel mission, being equipped with eight F-4G Advanced Wild Weasels and 16 F-4E Phantom IIs.
In April 1987, the 480th began receiving the General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon, initially operating it in tandem with the F-4G. In 1991, the F-4Gs were transferred over to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron leaving the 480th as a sole F-16 unit. In October 1991, the squadron was redesignated as the 480th Fighter Squadron.
In 1993, the 480th FS became the USAF's first squadron to be equipped with the Block 50 F-16s, and was again tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.
On 1 April 1994, the squadron was inactivated again as part of the post-Cold War force reductions, being replaced by the 22nd Fighter Squadron who had relocated to Spangdahlem from Bitburg Air Base on the same day.

Modern Era (2010–present)

Spangdahlem Air Base

In April 2010, the 52nd Fighter Wing's strength was reduced by one third when 20 F-16CJs were transferred to other units. As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron.
In March 2011, the 480th FS deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn in order to create a no-fly zone over Libya. They flew their first sortie on 21 March 2011, tasked with the SEAD. On 2 May 2011, the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Iraq as part of.
In March 2012, the 480th deployed to Konya Air Base to take part in Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2012 with the Turkish Air Force, practising SEAD.
On 7 April 2016, the 480th EFS deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, returning to Spangdahlem on 12 October.
On 8 October 2019, F-16CJ 91-0340 crashed near Zemmer due to it suffering partial power loss while flying during bad weather, the pilot ejected with minor injuries. The 480th EFS deployed to Uvda Air Base in Israel between 3 and 14 November 2019 to participate in Exercise Blue Flag 2019.

Future

On 29 July 2020, it was announced by the Department of Defense that the 480th FS would be re-positioned from Spangdahlem to Italy as part of a plan to withdraw forces from Germany.

Lineage

; 480th Bombardment Squadron
; 480th Air Resupply Squadron
; 480th Fighter Squadron