USAF Patch Fighter USAFE c 509 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron A 10 e3sc

USAF Patch USAFE 509 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron RAF Bentwaters UK A 10 Thunderbolt II Warthog 1987 Subdued Embroidered on twill cut edge 82mm by 70mm three and three sixteenth inches by two and three quarter inches.

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Squadron History

Following its wartime fighter service in Northern Europe 509 Fighter Bomber Squadron was reactivated on 1 December 1952 at Godman AFB Kentucky with F 84 Thunderstreak fighter bomber aircraft assigned to 405 Fighter Bomber Group. 509 FBS reequipped with F 100 Super Sabre aircraft in 1956 and was inactivated on 1 July 1958.

The Squadron reactivated on 9 April 1959 as 509 Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Clark AB Philippines with F 86D Sabre interceptors to provide air defense assigned to 405 Fighter Wing under Pacific Air Forces and received F 102 Delta Dagger interceptors in late 1960.

As the war in Vietnam intensified 509 FIS deployed rotational flights to both Thailand and South Vietnam including the provision of air defense for Bangkok Saigon and Tan Son Nhut AB South Vietnam 1962 to 1970 Don Muang RTAFB Thailand August 1964 to May 1966 and Ching Chuan Kang AB Taiwan 1965 to 1970. With the phase out of the F 102 and the general drawdown of US forces in Indochina 509 FIS was inactivated on 24 July 1970.

The Squadron was reactivated as 509 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1979 at RAF Bentwaters England with A 10 Thunderbolt II Warthog ground attack aircraft assigned to 81 Tactical Fighter Wing under USAFE Third Air Force. 509 TFS carried out close air support tactical fighter training missions and exercises in the United Kingdom and deploying to forward locations in West Germany as Det 3 81 TFW at Ahlhorn AB and Det 4 81 TFW at Norvenich AB.

The Squadron relocated to RAF Alconbury and was reassigned to 10 Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 September 1988 under USAFE dispersal of some of the six squadrons under 81 Tactical Fighter Wing at the twin base of RAF Bentwaters RAF Woodbridge. As a result of the end of the Cold War and a general reduction of USAFE forces 509 TFS was inactivated on 30 December 1992.

This patch dates from 1987.