page_title: 23rd Fighter Squadron
section_title: United States Air Forces in Europe
hierarchical_section_title: 23rd Fighter Squadron / History / United States Air Forces in Europe
caption_attribution_description: English: 23d Fighter Squadron-- Lockheed P-80B-1-LO Shooting Star - 45-8554 at Furstenfeldbruck AB, Germany. Aircraft markings appear to be those of Caribbean Air Command, no "Buzz Number" on fuselage nose.
context_page_description: The 23d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52d Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 13 August 2010.
context_section_description: After being inactivated in March 1946, the squadron was reactivated in October 1946 at Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone, flying the P-47 and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.  In July 1948, the squadron returned to Germany at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base.  Here, the 23d helped form the Skyblazers, an aerial demonstration team and forerunner to today's Thunderbirds.
  In November 1952, the squadron moved to Bitburg Air Base, Germany, as part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.  In September 1954, the squadron converted to the F-84 Thunderjet and was redesignated the 23d Fighter-Day Squadron.  It was the first squadron in Europe to fly the North American F-86 Sabre (1956), the North American F-100 Super Sabre (1956), the Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1961), and the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1966).  During this period, the squadron received two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
  The 23d Tactical Fighter Squadron moved to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and in January 1972 became part of the 52d Tactical Fighter Wing.  The 23d converted to F-4E and F-4G Wild Weasels in 1982 and began flying defense suppression missions.  In July 1987, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon replaced the F-4E.
  In January 1991, at the outbreak of the Gulf War, the 23d deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.  During Operation Proven Force, squadron F-16Cs and F-4Gs flew nearly 1,000 defense suppression, combat air patrol and interdiction missions over Iraq without a single loss.  The squadron earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor for its part in driving the Iraqi army from Kuwait.
  On January 17, 1993 "Trigger" Stevenson shot down a MiG-23 with an AMRAAM that was challenging the no fly zone over Iraq flying F-16C 86-0262. This kill was the second kill using the AMRAAM missile and the second shoot down by USAF F-16.
  In September 1991, the squadron's remaining F-4Gs were replaced by F-16Cs.  In July 1993, the 23d was the first U.S. unit to enforce the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina for Operation Deny Flight.  In January 1994, the squadron received the first F-16CJ Block 50 aircraft.
  The squadron completed conversion to the latest version of the F-16CJ in January 1995 and became United States Air Forces Europe's only defense suppression squadron.  In September of that same year, members of the 23d took part in Operation Deliberate Forge — the largest air assault in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) history.  The unit flew 224 sorties during the air campaign against Bosnian Serb forces.
  Pilots from the 23d were the first to employ AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles in combat.  The squadron's efforts contributed to the peace process and the resulting Dayton Agreement, which ended more than four years of bloody conflict in the Balkans.
  For their outstanding contributions to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's mission, the 23d was selected in May 1996 to receive the Commander's Trophy as the "Best Fighter Squadron in the Command," their third time to win this distinction.
  From February to June 1999 the squadron deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, where it was assigned to the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing for Operation Allied Force.  The squadron supported the NATO mission to degrade and damage the military and security structure that the President of Yugoslavia used to destroy the Albanian majority in Kosovo.  During Allied Force the 23d flew over 1000 combat sorties and fired 191 HARM shots to silence over 100 surface-to-air missile sites in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.  The squadron was repeatedly noted for bravery in the face of danger while flying these combat operations in Allied Force.
  From November 2000 to March 2001 the 23d deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch to patrol the southern no-fly zone over Iraq.  During the deployment the squadron provided suppression of enemy air defenses in both air-to-ground and air-to-air roles.  In March 2001, the 23d provided SEAD for the largest strike in Iraq since Operation Desert Fox.  During the strike to take out command and control facilities in Iraq, the 23d ensured the saf
caption: 23d Fighter Squadron F-80[note 2]
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