Description

469th Tactical Fighter Squadron Patch

Aviators and Collectors! Enjoy this beautifully embroidered 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron Patch.  You’ll love the quality of this patch and will be able to display it proudly.

• • 4 inch
  • Embroidered/ Sew On
  • US Naval Aviator Owned Business
  • Reproduction

Activated again in 1962 as a Tactical Air Command fighter squadron at George AFB, California. Equipped with F-105 Thunderchiefs, but remained unmanned from July 1962 through June 1963. Operational in February 1964, temporarily deployed overseas from November 1964 to March 1965, first to Yokota AB, Japan, to augment the 41st Air Division, and then to Kadena AB, Okinawa, in support of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing.[citation needed]

Reassigned in November 1965 permanently to Thailand, where it prepared for combat fighter operations at Korat RTAFB. Engaged in combat operations over Indochina from November 1965 until inactivated in October 1972, flying F-105s and, after 1968, it flew F-4s.[1]

By January 1969, proliferating antiaircraft defenses in the Barrel Roll area in the Kingdom of Laos were making operations ever riskier for Slow FACs such as the Raven FACs. The concept of stationing FACs at the same base with their strike aircraft was bruited. Volunteers from the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron were approved for Fast FAC duty under the call sign “Tiger” in February. The inertial guidance systems in their fresh F-4E Phantom IIs would prove consequential for piloting and target location in an environment largely lacking in aerial navigation aids, especially after the 1 March loss of the only TACAN site in northern Laos. On 17 March, the volunteer FACs began supplying the necessary tactical air power for General Vang Pao’s Hmong guerrillas to sweep through Operation Raindance. In April, the “Tigers” were considered for night FAC duties, but rejected. By July, the “Tiger” FACs were so immersed in directing close air support, they were allotted four sorties per day. Between July and September 1969, the “Tigers” were credited with 34 enemy killed by air, 12 antiaircraft sites destroyed, 246 interdictory road cuts of enemy supply lines, 15 enemy supply trucks destroyed, 403 structures destroyed, 360 fires caused by explosions, and 681 secondary explosions of munitions and fuel. They accomplished this during 182 FAC missions, during which they directed 2,004 air strikes. In turn, the “Tigers” suffered five F-4E’s severely damaged by enemy fire.[2][3]

21st century
The 469th Flying Training Squadron was reactivated in April 2009 as part of the 80th Flying Training Wing to conduct undergraduate flying training for EURO-NATO pilot candidates.[1] The 469 Flying Training Squadron is composed of approximately 60 multinational personnel representing 13 signatory NATO nations supporting Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training. The squadron employs 46 T-38 aircraft flying over 11,500 training sorties and 13,000 hours while providing undergraduate, pilot instructor and continuation training for over 200 student pilots and instructor trainees annually.[4]

Lineage
469th Bombardment Squadron
Constituted as the 469th Bombardment Squadron on 1 July 1942
Activated 15 July 1942
Inactivated 1 April 1944
Consolidated with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron as the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1985
469th Flying Training Squadron
Constituted as the 469th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952
Activated on 1 December 1952
Inactivated 8 January 1958
Redesignated 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 13 April 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 8 July 1962
Inactivated 31 October 1972