USAF Patch Fighter USAFE b 53 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron F 4 Phantom b4a

USAF Patch USAFE 53 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron F 4 Phantom 1966 36 TFW Bitburg AB Fully embroidered cut edge 105mm by 100nn four and one eighth inches by four inches.

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Squadron History

53 Fighter Squadron Jet was deployed to Furstenfeldbruck AB  West Germany in August 1948 in reaction to the Berlin Blockade and other Cold War tensions in Europe reassigned to 36 Fighter Group United States Air Forces Europe with its F 80s for tactical operations included air defense tactical exercises maneuvers and photographic reconnaissance. The Squadron upgraded to F 84E Thunderjets in 1950 and was relocated to Bitburg AB. In August 1953 F 86Fs replaced the F 84s and the Squadron was redesignated 53 Fighter Day Squadron in 1954. F 100 Super Sabres were received in 1956 and on 8 July 1958 the Squadron was redesignated 53 Tactical Fighter Squadron with the additional mission to deliver tactical nuclear weapons.

In May 1961 the Squadron received F 105 Thunderchief fighter bombers and continued with the tactical nuclear strike mission with highest alerts during the Berlin Wall crisis in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961. The Squadron reequipped with F 4 Phantom II in 1966.

F 15A Eagles replaced the Phantoms in April 1976 with the more advanced F 15Cs and F 15Ds replacing them in 1980. The Squadron deployed for Desert Storm 1990 91 and was redesignated 53 Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1991.

In July 1993 HQ USAFE announced the closure of Bitburg AB and the inactivation of the 36 Operations Group. On 25 February 1994 53 Fighter Squadron was reassigned to 52 Operations Group relocating to Spangdahlem AB and supported no fly zone operations over Bosnia and northern Iraq and other combat operations.

The Squadron was inactivated in March 1999 following the decision to reduce the number of F 15 Squadrons by increasing aircraft from 18 to 24 for each Squadron.

This patch dates from 1966.