The squadron was first activated in 1940, as the United States expanded its military forces prior to World War II, as the 47th Pursuit Squadron. The squadron formed part of the air defenses of the Hawaiian Islands, and suffered heavy losses in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It served in Hawaii and the Pacific for the remainder of the war, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for long-range fighter missions over Japan in 1945. It returned to Hawaii in 1946 and was inactivated.
The squadron was activated again as the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1952, when it replaced an Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War and was being returned to state control. It continued in the air defense role until inactivating in 1960. It was activated again in 1962 as the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron and became one of the first McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fighter units, flying the Phantom until 1971, and deploying elements to Southeast Asia. It was activated again in the Reserve in 1973 and has served as an Air Force Reserve fighter squadron since then.
The 47th Pursuit Squadron participated in numerous campaigns from 1940 to 1945, flying P-10,[dubious – discuss]Boeing P-26 Peashooter, Curtiss P-36 Hawk, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and North American P-51 Mustang aircraft. The squadron was credited with shooting down eight Japanese aircraft on 7 December 1941 and by the end of the war was credited with killing hundreds of enemy aircraft before being inactivated on 15 October 1946, at Wheeler Field.[5][2]
Air Defense Command
47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Republic F-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt, AF Ser. No. 45-49431, Niagara Falls, NY, 1952
In July 1965, the 47th deployed to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, and compiled 1,743 combat missions over Southeast Asia. The squadron returned to MacDill on 27 November 1965, and converted from a training mission to a combat training mission before being inactivated on 2 July 1971.[5][2]
In December 1993, August 1994, and May 1995, the squadron deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, to support Operation Deny Flight, the United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina. In May 1996 the squadron deployed for the fourth time to Aviano, this time under the auspices of Operation Decisive Edge. The end result was a total of 501 sorties flown by the 47th from 1993 to 1996 as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort.[5]
On 7 October 1996, the 47th's mission changed from combat to A-10 pilot training. Since that time they have participated in Operation Century Eagle 1999 & 2001, Saguaro Patriot 2001, Patriot Claw 2001 and Patriot Buccaneer 2002. During the first tactical and conventional gunnery competition open to A-10s, Hawgsmoke 2000, and the 47th took First Place for Top Hawgsmoke Tactical Unit, Top Overall Pilot and Top Overall Tactical Pilot. Then during the next Hawgsmoke competition in 2002, they won top A-10 Squadron in the world.
The school graduated approximately 45 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students per year.[5]
In June 2003, the squadron deployed to Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi for Operation Patriot Pursuit.[2] In April 2004, the 47th hosted Hawgsmoke 2004 at the England Air Park (former England AFB), Louisiana. There were 18 A-10 teams from all over the world deployed to participate in the biennial A-10 bombing and tactical gunnery competition. The 47th deployed to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida for Operation Patriot Gator the end of July through the first of August 2004.[2] In 2005, the 47th deployed to McChord Air Force Base, Washington, for Operation Patriot Lightning, a close air support training exercise in conjunction with the Army National Guard.
In 2006 pursuant to a Base Realignment and Closure decision, the 47th gained eight A-10 aircraft and a number of full-time and part-time positions. In March the 47 FS won third overall out of 17 teams in Hawgsmoke 2006 at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Also in March, they participated in Operation Atlantic Strike III, a joint training exercise held at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida with the squadron operating from nearby MacDill AFB.
As a training unit augmenting the active duty A-10 Formal Training Unit (FTU) squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, the 47th graduated about 45 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students per year.
1 October 2011, the 47th Fighter Squadron converted from a training unit to a combat coded unit. January 2012, the 917 Wing was inactivated. The wing's B-52 squadron, the 93d Bombardment Squadron, was assigned to the 307th Bombardment Wing and the 47th was assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, which became part of the 442d Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, MO.
In September 2013, the squadron relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB.
In September 2024, the 47th Fighter Squadron won the biennial Hawgsmoke bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition.[7]
Lineage
Constituted as the 47th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 22 November 1940
Activated on 1 December 1940
Redesignated: 47th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 12 February 1942
Redesignated: 47th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 47th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1944
Inactivated on 15 October 1946
Redesignated 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952
Activated on 1 December 1952
Discontinued on 1 July 1960
Redesignated 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 17 April 1962
Organized on 1 July 1962
Inactivated on 1 July 1971
Activated in the Reserve on 1 October 1973
Redesignated 47th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992[2]
Assignments
15th Pursuit Group (later 15th Fighter Group), 1 December 1940 – 15 October 1946
