page_title: 90th Fighter Squadron
section_title: Post-Cold War
hierarchical_section_title: 90th Fighter Squadron / History / Post-Cold War
caption_attribution_description: English: Operation DESERT STORM. 90 TFS Wild Weasel crews participated in combat operations while attached to the 81 TFS. This group was affectionately known as the "Philippine Expeditionary Force".
context_page_description: The 90th Fighter Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 3d Operations Group, 3d Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Pacific Air Forces. The squadron is equipped with the F-22 Raptor fighter.
  The 90 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 90th Aero Squadron on 20 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a Corps observation squadron.
  During World War II, the unit earned the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Presidential Unit Citation for its services in the Pacific Theater of Operations as part of Fifth Air Force. During the Cold War the squadron fought in the Korean War and Vietnam War.
context_section_description: In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines and the Air Force quickly decided to evacuate its personnel and equipment from Clark AB.  The 3d Tactical Fighter Wing remained in the Philippines during Desert Shield and Desert Storm due to instability in the Philippines.  However, it was not going to remain in the islands for very long.  It became a 'paper' unit briefly while the Chief of Staff, General Merrill McPeak, decided where to send the wing.  He selected Elmendorf.  The 21st Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated and the 3d Wing replaced it as the lead wing at Elmendorf on 19 December 1991.  With the establishment of the 3d Wing on Elmendorf, the 90th Fighter Squadron was once again reunited with its old wing.
  While these changes occurred with the 3d Wing, the 90th Fighter Squadron deployed six F-4G crews to join other Wild Weasel squadrons and coalition forces in Sheikh Isa, Bahrain for the Gulf War.  The six crews were attached to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron and were known as the Philippine Expeditionary Force (PEF).  During combat operations, PEF crews destroyed multiple Iraqi SAM sites.  This was the last combat deployment for the 90th while operating F-4Gs.  Upon relocating to Elmendorf, the unit gained a new aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle.  This two-seat dual role updated version of the F-15C Eagle had more survivability enhancements than any other fighter aircraft at the time.  It carried a wide array of armament as it performed both air-to-air and air-to-surface attack missions.
  Since arriving in Alaska, the 90th Fighter Squadron participated in numerous training exercises in the lower 48 states and other areas of the world.  These training exercises included Polar Thrust, Cope Thunder, Tandem Thrust, Cope Thaw, and Red Flag in locations such as Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Osan Air Base, Korea, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.  The squadron also developed a reputation for safety in its training.  On 20 February 1996, the squadron received the Alaska Governor's Safety Award conferred through the Alaska Department of Labor.  This was the first time a military organization won the state award since its inception in 1980.
  In addition to exercises, the 90th Fighter Squadron also undertook real-world deployments during the 1990s and early 2000s (decade). From October 1995 until January 1996, the squadron deployed 8 F-15Es and 193 personnel to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation Deny Flight and Operation Joint Endeavor.  In February 1998, the squadron deployed 18 F-15Es and over 200 personnel to Kwangju Air Base and Taegu Air Base, both in Korea.  While there, the unit flew 1200 joint combat training sorties.  Personnel and aircraft redeployed in June 1998.
  In 2001 the 90th began a series of deployments which took members of the squadron to the Middle East and Southwest Asia.  In March of that year, the 90th participated in a 90-day deployment in support of Operation Northern Watch, patrolling the northern No-fly zone in Iraq.  The squadron sent 154 personnel and 10 F-15Es to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey and returned to Elmendorf on 9 June 2001.  Later that year, in October, 18 F-15Es were deployed to Kwangju Air Base, Korea, in support of Afghanistan operations.  While deployed pilots flew practice strike missions and provided long-range interdiction strike capability in the region during the absence of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), they also flew missions over South Korea and repaired base infrastructure while there.  The squadron redeployed from 20–23 December.
  The 90th Fighter Squadron participated in an historic event on 4 September 2002.  Two Royal Australian Air Force exchange officers, Flight Lieutenant Paul Simmons and Flight Lieutenant Tony Southwood, paired up to fly one of the 90th's F-15Es.  This was the first time Australian pilots flew an American aircraft in the Pacific Theatre.
  In 2003 the squadron undertook another deployment in the Pacific in support of Operation Enduring Freedo
caption: "Philippine Expeditionary Force" back home at Clark AB, RP before Mount Pinatubo eruption.
exif: {}