USAF Patch Fighter USAFE c 511 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron g A 10 d4a

USAF Patch USAFE 511 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron 81 TFW A 10 Thunderbolt II Warthog 1984 RAF Bentwaters Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 101mm four inches diameter.

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Squadron History

Following its wartime fighter service in Northern Europe 511 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. 511 FBS reequipped with F 100 Super Sabre aircraft in 1956 and was inactivated on 1 July 1958 when Godman AFB was closed.

The Squadron reactivated on 9 April 1959 as 511 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 511 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 511 FIS was inactivated on 24 July 1970.

The Squadron was reactivated as 511 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 January 1980 at RAF Bentwaters England with A 10 Thunderbolt II Warthog ground attack aircraft assigned to 81 Tactical Fighter Wing under USAFE Third Air Force. 511 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 1 81 TFW at Sembach 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. 511 TFS was deployed to King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia on 22 December 1990 for Operation Desert Shield and undertook combat air support operations during the subsequent operation Desert Storm destroying many enemy tanks and vehicles including along the Highway 80 escape route before the ceasefire declared on 28 February 1991. 511 TFS remained in theatre carrying out combat air patrols and returned to RAF Alconbury on 16 June 1991.

As a result of the end of the Cold War and a general reduction of USAFE forces 511 TFS was inactivated on 30 December 1992.

This patch dates from 1984.