page_title: 480th Fighter Squadron
section_title: Spangdahlem Air Base
hierarchical_section_title: 480th Fighter Squadron / History / Modern Era (2010–present) / Spangdahlem Air Base
caption_attribution_description: English: A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 480th Fighter Squadron prepares for take-off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, March 19, 2011, in support of Joint Task Force (JTF) Odyssey Dawn.
context_page_description: The 480th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Warhawks, is an active United States Air Force unit operating the General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. It is assigned to the 52nd Operations Group, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, having been reactivated on 13 August 2010. The 480th FS is the only USAFE unit specialised in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.
  On 29 July 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the 480th Fighter Squadron will be relocating to Italy in the future.
context_section_description: In April 2010, the 52nd Fighter Wing's strength was reduced by one third when 20 F-16CJs were transferred to other units. As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron. In October 2010, the newly reactivated 480th FS deployed for the first time to Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria to carry out training with Mikoyan MiG-29s of the Bulgarian Air Force.
   
  The 480th FS participated in Exercise Red Flag 11-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, between 22 January and 4 February 2011. In March 2011, the Warhawks deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn in order to create a no-fly zone over Libya. They flew their first sortie on 21 March 2011, tasked with SEAD. On 2 May 2011, the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn. Returning in November, the 480th FS were the last F-16 unit to support Operation New Dawn.
  In March 2012, the 480th deployed to Konya Air Base to take part in Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2012 with the Turkish Air Force, practising SEAD. On 9 November 2012, the 52nd OG set up a detachment (52nd OG Det 1) at Łask Air Base in Poland.
  In April 2013, the 480th EFS deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, for six months to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The pilots who did not deploy were effected by the 2013 United States budget sequestration which led to a loss of multiple flying currencies, these weren't regained until August 2013 when flying resumed.
  On 30 May 2014, the 480th FS deployed in support of 52nd OG Det 1 at Łask for two weeks.
  On 11 August 2015, F-16CJ 91-0366 crashed in Bavaria after suffering a structural failure which prohibited fuel flow to the engine. The pilot ejected safely.
   
  On 7 April 2016, the 480th EFS deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, returning to Spangdahlem on 12 October.
  From 2 to 22 February 2019, the Warhawks deployed 18 F-16s to Monte Real Air Base, Portugal, to operate alongside local F-16 squadrons (Esquadra 201 and Esquadra 301) of the Portuguese Air Force. On 8 October 2019, F-16CJ 91-0340 crashed near Zemmer due to it suffering partial power loss while flying during bad weather, the pilot ejected with minor injuries. The 480th EFS deployed to Uvda Air Base in Israel between 3 and 14 November 2019 to participate in Exercise Blue Flag 2019.
caption: F-16CJ Fighting Falcon 91-0366 of the 480th FS preparing to deploy to Aviano Air Base, Italy, in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, 19 March 2011.
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