66th Weapons Squadron
Encyclopedia
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 66th Weapons Squadron (66 WPS) is a United States Air Force Weapons School A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
instructional flying unit, at Nellis AFB, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
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Overview
Established in 2003, the 66th Weapons Squadron teaches graduate-level instructor courses that provide the world's most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment to officers of the combat air forces and mobility air forces. The 66th WPS focuses on the A-10 Thunderbolt IIA-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
, with the climax of the course being the mission employment phase, a two-week staged battle over the Nevada Test and Training Range.
Upon graduation, the new weapons officers return to the field to serve as unit weapons and tactics officers, providing advanced instruction and technical advice to their commanders, operations officers, and personnel.
World War II
Formed as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron in January 1941 as part of the Army Air Corps Northeast Defense Sector (later I Fighter CommandI Fighter Command
The I Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York...
) at Mitchel Field, New York. Trained in New England and provided air defense of the northeast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
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Was reassigned to the U.S. Army Middle East Force in Egypt, July 1942, becoming part of IX Fighter Command
IX Fighter Command
The IX Fighter Command is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany. It was inactivated on 16 November 1945....
. Took part in the British Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
, engaged in combat during the Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
and, as part of Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, supported the Commonwealth Eighth Army's
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
drive across Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, escorting bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s and flying strafing
Strafing
Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. This means, that although ground attack using automatic weapons fire is very often accompanied with bombing or rocket fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the...
and dive-bombing
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
missions against airfields, communications, and troop concentrations until Axis defeat in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
in May 1943. The unit participated in the reduction of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
(May–June 1943) and the conquest of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(July–August 1943).
The squadron supported the British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli
Termoli
Termoli is a town and comune on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, and it is a local resort town known for its beaches and old fortifications...
and subsequent operations in Italy, being reassigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1943. It flew dive-bombing, strafing, patrol, and escort missions.
In 1944, converted to P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
aircraft and flew interdiction operations in Italy. The moved to Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
on 30 March 1944 to operate as a separate task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
. It flew interdiction missions against railroads, communication targets, and motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
s behind enemy lines, providing a minimum of 48 fighter-bomber sorties per day.
Participated in the French campaign against Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
in June 1944 and in the invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
of Southern France in August. It engaged in interdiction and support operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to May 1945.
The 66th flew its last combat mission on 2 May 1945. Remained in northern Italy after the end of the European War, demobilizing throughout the summer of 1945. It was reassigned to the United States in August 1945 without personnel or equipment and was inactivated at the end of August.
Cold War
Reactivated in August 1946 as part of Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air Force
The Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
(Later Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
) as part of the air defense forces in the northwest Pacific. Squadron began training new P-51 pilots at Elmendorf Field, Alaska. Later, it was equipped with F-80Bs in March–April 1948, F-80Cs in October–December 1948, F-94Bs in the summer of 1951, and F-89Cs in September 1953. With these aircraft, the squadron provided fighter aircraft defense in support of the Alaska Area until late in the 1950s.
Was reassigned to Oxnard AFB, California in 1957, but was never equipped or manned due to budgetary constraints, inactivated by Air Defense command, January 1958.
Reactivated by Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
at Nellis AFB, Nevada in October 1969 Assumed the F-105C/D Thunderchief assets of the provisional 4537th Fighter Weapons Squadron, tail coded "WC". Mission was to perform "Wild Weasel" training for USAF pilots and electronic warfare officers to be deployed to combat missions in Southeast Asia. Squadron aircraft carried tail code "WA" by October 1971, black/yellow checkered tail stripes. Squadron also assumed F-4C Phantom II assets, tail coded "WD" until October 1971, then changed to "WA" as the F-105s. Trained with the F-4s and F-105s until July 1975 and Wild Weasel training and aircraft reassigned to George AFB, California.
Remained in non-operational status until October 1977 when reorganized as an A-10 Squadron, tail coded "WA", black/yellow checkered tail stripes. Performed fighter weapons training with the A-10 until the end of 1981, when inactivated and squadron was reassigned to the USAF Fighter Weapons School, being re-designated as "A-10 Division".
Modern era
Reactivated in February 2003 as 66th Weapons Squadron (65 WPS), replacing USAF Weapons SchoolUSAF Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
A-10 division. Provides USAF Weapons School syllabus support, priority test mission support and road shows that visit various units throughout the CONUS to ACC units for training.
Lineage
- Constituted 66th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940
- Activated on 15 Jan 1941
- Re-designated: 66th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 Jan 1942
- Re-designated: 66th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
- Re-designated: 66th Fighter Squadron on 1 Jun 1942
- Re-designated: 66th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 21 Aug 1944
- Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945
- Activated on 15 Aug 1946
- Re-designated: 66th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 20 Jul 1948;
- Re-designated: 66th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 Jan 1950
- Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958
- Re-designated 66th Fighter Weapons Squadron on 22 Aug 1969
- Activated on 15 Oct 1969
- Inactivated on 30 Dec 1981, assets re-designated A-10 Division, USAF Weapons School
- Re-designated 66th Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003
- Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of A-10 Division, USAF Weapons School
Assignments
- 57th Pursuit (later, 57th Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1951-7 Nov 1945
- 57th Fighter (later, 57th Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 15 Aug 1946
- 10th Air Division, 13 Apr 1953
- 414th Fighter Group414th Fighter GroupThe 414th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command, being activated at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina 2010.-Overview:...
, 1 Dec 1957-8 Jan 1958 - 57th Fighter Weapons (later, 57th Tactical Training; 57th Fighter Weapons) Wing57th WingThe 57th Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy into a combat arena to conduct integrated combat operations.-Mission:The 57...
, 15 Oct 1969-30 Dec 1981 - USAF Weapons SchoolUSAF Weapons SchoolThe USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
, 3 Feb 2003-Present
Stations
- Mitchel Field, NY, 15 Jan 1941
- Bradley FieldBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, CT, 18 Aug 1941 - Farmingdale Army Airfield, NY, 14 Dec 1941
- Quonset Point NAS, RI, 27 Feb 1942
- Hillsgrove Army Airfield, RI, 8 Jun-5 Jul 1942
- RAF Beit Daras 31°44′12"N 034°41′54"E, British Palestine, 19 Aug 1942
- Egypt, 16 Sep 1942
- RAF GambutRAF GambutRAF Gambut is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, located about 5 km north-northeast of Kambut and 50 km east-southeast of Tobruk....
, Libya, 13 Nov 1942 - El Gazala Airfield, Libya, 15 Nov 1942
- Belandah AirfieldBelandah AirfieldBaheira Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, which is located in the vicinity of Mersa Brega. It's precise location is unknown, and was very likely a compacted earth landing strip constructed along the side of the coastal road....
, Libya, 11 Dec 1942 - Hamraiet Airfield, Libya, 12 Jan 1943
- Darragh Airfield, Libya, 18 Jan 1943
- Zuara Airfield, Libya, 24 Feb 1943
- Nefatia Airfield, Tunisia, 5 Mar 1943
- Ben Gardane AirfieldBen Gardane AirfieldBen Gardane Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Bin Qirdan ; about 420 km south-southeast of Tunis....
, Tunisia, 7 Mar 1943 - Soltane AirfieldSoltane AirfieldSoltane Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located approximately 5 km southeast of Ain Soltane ; about 170 km south-southwest of Tunis....
, Tunisia, 20 Mar 1943 - Medenine AirfieldMedenine AirfieldMedenine Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located just to the west of Medenine, 46 km N of Tataouine; 430 km south-southeast of Tunis. It was a temporary airfield built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, used by the United States...
, Tunisia, 4 Apr 1943 - Chekira AirfieldChekira AirfieldChekira Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Wadi al `Akarit ; about 300 km south of Tunis....
, Tunisia, 11 Apr 1943 - El Djem AirfieldEl Djem AirfieldEl Djem Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 4 km west-northwest of El Djem; about 170 km south-southeast of Tunis. It was a pre-1942 military airfield used by the German Luftwaffe which was attacked and seized by Allied forces...
, Tunisia, 14 Apr 1943 - El Hani Airfield, Tunisia, 21 Apr 1943
- Bou Grara AirfieldBou Grara AirfieldBou Grara Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Golfe de Bou Grara ; about 360 km south-southeast of Tunis....
, Tunisia, 20 May 1943 - Takali Airfield, Malta, 27 Jun 1943
- Pachino Airfield, Sicily, 19 Jul 1943
- Scordia AirfieldScordia AirfieldScordia Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which was located approximately 1 km north of Scordia in Sicily....
, Sicily 30 Jul 1943 - Gioia del Colle, Italy, c. 25 Sep 1943
- Foggia Airfield, Italy, c. 1 Oct 1943
- Amendola Airfield, Italy, 27 Oct 1943
- Cercola AirfieldCercola AirfieldCercola Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 2 km north of Cercola in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania....
, Italy, c. 1 Mar 1944 - Alto Airfield, Corsica, 28 Mar 1944
- Ombrone AirfieldOmbrone AirfieldOmbrone Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 5 km east-northeast of Grosseto, and about 150 km northwest of Rome. It was a temporary airfield built by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The airfield was used by tactical aircraft of the...
, Italy, 11 Sep 1944 - Grosseto Airfield, Italy, 25 Sep 1944
- Villafranca di Verona Airfield, Italy, 29 Apr 1945
- Grosseto Airfield, Italy, 8 May 1945
- Bagnoli AirfieldBagnoli AirfieldBagnoli Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in northeast Italy, which is located approximately 4 km south of Conselve in the Province of Padua in the Italian region of Veneto....
, Italy, 15 Jul-5 Aug 1945 - Drew Field, FL, 23 Aug-7 Nov 1945
- Shemya Army Airfield, Aleutian Islands, 15 Aug 1946
- Elmendorf Field (later, AFB), Alaska TerritoryAlaska TerritoryThe Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
, c. 30 May 1947-1 Dec 1957 - Oxnard AFB, CA, 1 Dec 1957-8 Jan 1958
- Nellis AFB, NV, 15 Oct 1969-30 Dec 1981; 3 Feb 2003-Present
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Aircraft
- P-40 Warhawk, 1941–1944
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1944–1945 - P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, 1946 - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, 1946–1948 - F-80 Shooting Star, 1948–1951
- F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
, 1951–1953 - F-89 ScorpionF-89 ScorpionThe Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...
, 1953-1957 - F-105 ThunderchiefF-105 ThunderchiefThe Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it has the dubious distinction of being the only US aircraft to have been...
, 1969-1975 - F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, c. 1971-1975 - A-10 Thunderbolt IIA-10 Thunderbolt IIThe Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
, 1977-1981, 2003-Present