336th Fighter Squadron

The "Rocketeers" fly the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle. It was the first operational F-15E squadron in the Air Force. Its aircraft are identified by the "SJ" tail code and yellow fin flash.

Currently the squadron provides worldwide deployable aircraft and personnel capable of executing combat missions in support of worldwide Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployments to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism. To date, the 336th have destroyed 459 enemy aircraft including the 4th Fighter Wing's sole MiG kill in Vietnam.

The current commander of the 336th Fighter Squadron is LtCol Mitchell "Forge" Fossum.

File:DGentile.jpg's P-51B "Shangri La"]]

File:4fg-p51-vf.jpg

On 23 September 1942 the 4th Fighter Group moved to its initial airfield at RAF Debden; however, the 336th moved to a satellite field at RAF Great Sampford. They conducted operations from there until rejoining the group at Debden on 30 October 1942.

Fighter aircraft escorted first bombing raid over Berlin, March 1944. On 21 June 1944, escorted bombers in the first shuttle bombing mission from England to Russia. Received Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for destroying enemy aircraft and attacking air bases in France, 5 March – 24 April 1944.

In 1946 trained in jet aircraft; participated in air shows around the US; began night flying in late 1947.

File:Robbie Risner F-86 Korea.jpg's F-86 1953 showing the "Rocketeers' logo]]

Combat in Korea, December 1950 – July 1953. Received second and third DUCs for combat in Korean War, 22 April – 8 July 1951 and 9 July – 27 November 1951.

File:F-100s-4thtfw-sj.jpg in 1974, later being sold on the civilian marketplace, being registered as [http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f100-563842.html N417FS] in 1982.]]

Deployed to Florida in October 1962 during Cuban missile crisis.

From January–June 1968, deployed to Korea; tasked with operations associated with USS Pueblo incident. Combat in Southeast Asia, April–September 1972 and March 1973.

File:F-4e-4thtfw-sj.jpg

During the 1980s, trained in combat readiness in order to maintain worldwide commitment and air-to-air mission capability. Deployed to Europe under dual-based mission concept in support of NATO objectives, 1978–1985.

File:Multiple F-15E parked during Operation Desert Shield.jpg

Participated in initial attack on Iraq, 17 January 1991. During 1990–1994, shared quarterly rotation duties to Southwest Asia with 334th and 335th Fighter Squadrons.

Since 1991, trained as combat ready fighter squadron prepared for rapid worldwide deployment of fighter aircraft to accomplish air-to-ground, air-to-air, strategic attack and deep interdiction missions.

File:4th FW Strike Eagles assist shuttle launch.jpg launches in the background]]

Deployed to combat areas in Middle East as part of Global War on Terrorism, 2001–present.

On 18 July 2009, F-15E serial 90-231 from the 336th Fighter Squadron crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing the two-man crew, Captain Mark R. McDowell and Captain Thomas J. Gramith. The US military reported that the jet was not downed by enemy action.{{cite web|url= http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/07/ap_airforce_f15_crash_071909/ |author=No byline|title=Military names 2 who died in F-15 crash|date=19 July 2009|publisher=Military Times (reprinting Associated Press story)|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120222174932/http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/07/ap_airforce_f15_crash_071909/ |archive-date=22 February 2012|access-date=10 February 2019}}

Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/archives/2013/04/08/reduced-flying-hours-forces-grounding-of-17-usaf-combat-air/78539120/|title=Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons|last=Everstein|first=Brian|date=8 April 2013|work=Military Times|last2=Weisgerber|first2=Marcus|access-date=4 October 2016}} Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. This affected the 336th Fighter Squadron with a stand-down grounding from 9 April-30 September 2013.

In October 2021, the Rocketeers deployed to Larissa Air Base, Greece, to participate in Exercise Castle Forge.{{cite web |url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2021/us-air-force-f15e-strike-eagles-ready-for-exercise-castle-forge |title=U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles Ready For Exercise Castle Forge |publisher=North Atlantic Treaty Organization |date=11 October 2021 |access-date=12 October 2021}} While deployed to EUCOM in 2021–2022, the Rocketeers became the first American unit ever to execute the NATO Enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania and Estonia. Tasked with defending NATO's eastern flank during Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, the 336th FS provided continual armed over watch while simultaneously supporting non-combatant evacuations across the Ukrainian-Polish border.

In 2023, the Rocketeers were again called upon, this time to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. During their deployment to Kadena AB, Japan, the 336th FS flew 913 sorties, 22 higher headquarter taskings, eight Joint and Coalition missions, integrated with partner nations during Operations Iron Riptide, Southern Beach, and participated in Cope India 2023 at the direction of the White House. In addition, the Rocketeers sat 882 hours of Distant Sea Operations alert, intercepting Russian and People’s Republic of China bomber patrols, as well as PRC Naval Fighters operating from a forward deployed Naval Carrier Strike Group.

The Cog Wheel symbol has been adopted by the Rocketeers as an official name for its newest air crew members. The history of its origin is shrouded in lore, however the gist of it begins with a disgruntled operations officer. Said operations officer was unsatisfied with the performance of the young aviators who were at home, awaiting final spin-up training, while the rest of the squadron was deployed. The young Rocketeers were berated via email for their lack of discipline, lack of motivation, and lack of pride. Eventually name calling occurred, with the aviators being referred to as 'Cannon-Fodder', 'Snarky', and ultimately a 'Cog in the machine'.

Since then the pilots and WSOs of the 336th who have not received a call sign are simply referred to as 'Cog'. For example, if a more senior member of the squadron needed a person for a task such as cleaning, restocking the squadron bar, hanging up pictures, or any other menial task, that person would simply say "I NEED A COG!" and 6-9 highly motivated Cogs would rush to help. If a specific Cog was required, then they would be summoned by their unique Cog Number e.g. "Cog 69" if you wanted the 69th Cog to report to you.

Although initially intended as a demeaning term to new aircrew, the Cog name now symbolically represents rising up together, against all oppression, foreign and domestic. Whereas one Cog is meaningless and weak, multiple Cogs together are strong and rigid. A Cog receiving his/her call sign is also a symbolic transition to an aviator being strong enough to be on their own and potentially lead a formation of aircraft.

Today it is common for a Cog to get a tattoo of a cog wheel, symbolizing their loyalty to the cause. As of December 2024, there have been 147 Cogs.File:336 F-15E Mach Loop.jpg]]

File:Cogs Monopoly.jpg at an Undisclosed Location, 2023]]

File:F-15E Pulling Closed.jpg

• Constituted as the 336th Fighter Squadron on 22 August 1942

: Activated on 12 September 1942

: Redesignated 336th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943

: Inactivated on 10 November 1945

• Activated on 9 September 1946

: Redesignated 336th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 23 April 1947

: Redesignated 336th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 14 June 1948

: Redesignated 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950

: Redesignated 336th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 8 March 1955

: Redesignated 336th Fighter-Day Squadron on 25 April 1956

: Redesignated 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958

: Redesignated 336th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991When the squadron is the primary force provider to a deployed expeditionary unit, that unit is designated the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, a provisional unit.

• 4th Fighter Group, 12 September 1942 – 10 November 1945
• 4th Fighter Group (later 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 4th Fighter-Bomber Group, 4th Fighter-Day Group), 9 September 1946

: Attached to 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 19 November 1954; 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 7 August 1956; 313th Air Division, after 1 February 1957

• 4th Fighter-Day Wing (later 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, 4th Wing), 8 December 1957

: Attached to 65th Air Division, 12 August 1963 – 7 January 1964; Seventeenth Air Force, 25 May–30 August 1965; 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 12 April–30 September 1972 and 9 March–7 September 1973; 314th Air Division, 22 March–17 April 1977; 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, 11 September–13 October 1978, 31 August–1 October 1979, 26 August–26 September 1980, 5 September–3 October 1983 and 26 August–26 September 1985; 4th Tactical Fighter Wing (Deployed), 9 August–20 December 1990; 4th Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional, 20 December 1990 – c. 13 March 1991

• 4th Operations Group, 22 April 1991 – present

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• RAF Bushey Hall (AAF-341),Station number in Anderson. England, 12 September 1942
• RAF Debden (AAF-356), England, 29 September 1942
• RAF Steeple Morden (AAF-122), England, c. 23 July–4 November 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9–10 November 1945
• Selfridge Field, Michigan, 9 September 1946
• Andrews Field (later Andrews Air Force Base), Maryland, 26 March 1947
• Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 2 May 1949
• Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 13 August–11 November 1950
• Johnson Air Base, Japan, 13 December 1950
• Taegu Air Base (K-2),Station number in Endicott, pp. 177–178. South Korea, 15 March 1951
• Suwon Air Base (K-13), South Korea, c. 6 April 1951
• Johnson Air Base, Japan, 27 June 1951
• Kimpo Air Base (K-14), South Korea, 20 September 1951
• Misawa Air Base, Japan, 19 November 1954
• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 7 August 1956

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• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 8 December 1957 – present

: Deployed to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, 21 October–29 November 1962; Moron Air Base, Spain, 12 August 1963 – 7 January 1964; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, 25 May–30 August 1965; Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 12 April–30 September 1972 and 9 March–7 September 1973; Suwon Air Base, South Korea, 25 March–17 April 1977; Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, 11 September–13 October 1978, 31 August–1 October 1979, 26 August–26 September 1980, 5 September–3 October 1983, and 26 August–26 September 1985; Seeb International Airport, Thumrait Oman, 9 August 1990; Al Karj Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 18 December 1990-c. 13 March 1991Station information in Robertson, except as noted.

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Aircraft operated include:{{cite web |first=Henk |last=Scharringa |url=http://home.tiscali.nl/~hsc/F100LIST.htm |title=F-100 Super Sabre unit list |website=Tiscali's F-100 Wings and Squadrons |date=4 October 2002 |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040212073508/http://home.tiscali.nl/~hsc/F100LIST.htm |archive-date=12 February 2004}}

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• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb (Sept 42–1 Apr 1943)
• Republic P-47C Thunderbolt (10 Mar 1943–Feb 1944)
• Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (June 1943–Feb 1944; 1947)
• North American P-51B Mustang (25 Feb 1944–1945)
• North American P-51D Mustang (June 1944 – 1945)
• North American P-51K Mustang (Dec 1944–1945)

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• Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1947–1949)
• North American F-86 Sabre (1949–1958)
• North American F-100C Super Sabre (Dec 1957–1960)
• Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1959–1967)
• McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II (1967–1970)
• McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II (1970–1988)
• McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle (1988–present)

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• Vermont Garrison
• Don Gentile
• John T. Godfrey
• James Robinson Risner

File:No. 133 Squadron RAF badge.png|133 Eagle Squadron, RAF, 1940

File:336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Emblem.png|336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

File:336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron - Emblem.png|336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron

File:336th_Fighter_Sq._F-15E_MWS_Patch.jpg

; Explanatory notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|40em}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

• {{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|title= Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf |year=1985|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|location=Maxwell AFB, AL|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2016|access-date=28 June 2017}}
• {{cite book|editor=Endicott, Judy G.|title=The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950–1953|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/26/2001330297/-1/-1/0/AFD-100526-045.pdf |access-date=17 December 2016|year=2001|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|location=Maxwell AFB, AL|isbn=0-16-050901-7}}
• Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth War Diary (1990) Motorbooks International

:: The Mighty Eighth: A History of the Units, men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force (1991) Motorbooks International

:: The Mighty Eighth War Manual (1991) Motorbooks International

• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= 17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
• {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|access-date=17 December 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}
• iCasualties.org: Operation Enduring Freedom http://icasualties.org/OEF/ByNationality.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720064811/http://icasualties.org/OEF/ByNationality.aspx |date=20 July 2009 }}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051113235438/http://www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/4fwunits/og/336fs/default.htm 336th Fighter Squadron Official Unit Website] Referenced 29 January 2006
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/336fs.htm 336th Fighter Squadron GlobalSecurity.org] Referenced 29 January 2006
• [http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org 4th Fighter Group WWII Official WWII Association Website] Referenced 4 March 2012

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336

Category:Military units and formations in North Carolina

Category:Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces