27th Fighter Squadron The 27th Fighter Squadron ( 27 FS ) is a unit of the United States Air Force 1st Operations Group located at Joint Base Langley – Eustis , Virginia . The 27th is equipped with the F - 22 Raptor . The 27th Fighter Squadron is the oldest active fighter squadron in the United States Air Force , with over 95 years of service to the nation . It was organized as the 21st ( later 27th ) Aero Squadron on 15 June 1917 at Kelly Field , Texas . The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a pursuit squadron . It took part in the Champagne - Marne defensive ; Aisne - Marne offensive ; St . Mihiel offensive , and Meuse - Argonne offensive . During World War II the unit served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations ( MTO ) as part of Twelfth Air Force as a P - 38 Lightning fighter squadron , participating in the North African and Italian campaigns . During the Cold War it was both an Air Defense Command fighter - interceptor squadron as later as part of Tactical Air Command . It was the first USAF operational squadron equipped with the F - 15A Eagle in January 1976 . Overview . Known as the " Fightin ' Eagles " or " Black Falcons " , the squadron is equipped with the F - 22 Raptor , having transitioned from the F - 15 in 2005 to become the world ' s first operational F - 22 squadron . As one of two fighter squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing , the 27th is tasked to provide air superiority for United States or allied forces by engaging and destroying enemy forces , equipment , defenses or installations for global deployment . History . World War I . During World War I , the squadron was based at Toul ( 5 May 1918 ) , Touquin ( 28 June 1918 ) , Saints ( 9 July 1918 ) and Rembercourt ( 1 September 1918 ) . Lieutenant Frank Luke , Jr . , known as the " Arizona Balloon Buster , " for his daring feats against German observation balloon s , was the squadron ' s most colorful ace . His 18 victories cost him his life , and he was awarded the Medal of Honor . Aircraft flown by the 27th during World War I include the Nieuport 28 , Spad XIII and Sopwith F - 1 Camel . Between the wars . In the period between the world wars , the 27th Pursuit Squadron , re - designated 25 January 1923 , was stationed primarily at Selfridge Field , Michigan , with the 1st Fighter Group . 27th Pursuit Squadron pilots participated in air races . In 1922 , Lt . Donald Stace of the 27th AS won the first Mitchell Trophy Race . Under extreme and austere conditions in the 1920s they tested the effects of cold weather on their aircraft . At times it was so cold , the engines of their P - 1 Hawk aircraft would not start until steam was forced into the engines to thaw them . While they were stationed at Selfridge Field , Mich . , pilots from the 27th AS put on aerial demonstrations all over the country throughout the 1920s . One of those was at Langley Field in March , 1925 . A large silhouette of a battleship on the grass landing strip served as a target , which was successfully strafed and bombed for several duly impressed congressmen . The 1930s saw more training , additional cold weather tests and more modern aircraft . They participated in several air shows throughout the country , and even though they were in the military , the 27th Pursuit Squadron delivered the mail for a while . One of the pilots in this failed experiment went onto lead Strategic Air Command , then Lt . Curtis E . LeMay . World War II . At the beginning of the United States ' involvement in World War II , the 27th Fighter Squadron , redesignated 15 May 1942 , briefly served in anti - submarine duty at San Diego Naval Air Station and in air defense duty at Reykjavík , Iceland . From October 1942 until May 1945 , the 27th participated in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operation , flying Lockheed P - 38 Lightnings . The squadron won three Distinguished Unit Citations in Italy 25 August 1943 , and 30 August 1943 ; and at Ploesti , Romania , 18 May 1944 . The 27th Fighter Squadron was the top - scoring unit of the 1st Fighter Group in World War II , with 83 of its pilots credited with 176 . 5 victories . Cold War . Following World War II , the 27th was stationed at March Field , California , flying P - 80 Shooting Star s , the United States ' first operational jet aircraft . Upon the unit ' s redesignation as the 27th Fighter Interceptor Squadron , it moved to Niagara Falls Air Force Station , New York , flying the F - 86 , F - 89 and F - 94C aircraft while stationed at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome N . Y . until receiving the F - 102 Delta Dagger in 1957 . In October 1959 , the 27th was transferred to Loring Air Force Base , Maine , where it assumed an air defense role flying F - 106 Delta Darts in the Bangor Air Defense Sector . The redesignated 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base , Florida , 2 July 1971 , as part of the reorganized 1st Tactical Fighter Wing , later the 1st Fighter Wing . While at MacDill , the 27th trained aircrews in the F - 4E Phantom II . In June 1975 , the 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron was moved to Langley Air Force Base , Virginia , becoming the first operational squadron to fly the F - 15 Eagle air superiority fighter in 1976 . The unit was redesignated the 27th Fighter Squadron Sept . 1 , 1991 . The 27th TFS deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm as part of the first U . S . Air Force contingent in Saudi Arabia . The squadron was integral in establishing allied air superiority during the operation . Modern era . The 27th FS has deployed worldwide to support the 1st FW . The 27th Fighter Squadron deployed to Turkey in support of Operation Northern Watch , and to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch , flying F - 15Cs in both operations enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq until 2003 . In 2003 , the 27th Fighter Squadron was announced as the first operational squadron to fly the Raptor — a continuation of the squadron ' s historical legacy . The first F - 22A arrived in late 2004 the squadron continues to grow as more Raptors arrive each month . The 27th Fighter Squadron today stands as a cohesive combat experienced team ready for any call to support the United States ' security requirements . 2013 Sequestration . Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts . The across - the board spending cuts , called sequestration , took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit - reduction plan . Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called “ basic mission capable ” for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013 . This affected the 27th Fighter Squadron with a reduction of its flying hours , placing it into a basic mission capable status from 5 April - 30 September 2013 .