9th Attack Squadron The 9th Attack Squadron ( 9 ATKS ) in a United States Air Force squadron , assigned to the 49th Operations Group , stationed at Holloman Air Force Base , New Mexico . The squadron is a training unit for new pilots and sensor operators for the MQ - 9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft ( RPA ) . Overview . The 9th ATKS is the second RPA training squadron at Holloman AFB . The squadron was activated to meet Air Force training requirements . By having a second squadron , it enables Holloman to train more students to meet those requirements . The 9th trains half of the Reaper operators who receive their instruction at Holloman . The base ' s 29th AS will train the others . History . World War II . The 9th Fighter Squadron traces its origins to the formation of the 49th Pursuit Group ( Interceptor ) at Selfridge Field , Michigan on 20 November 1940 . The 9th Pursuit Squadron was equipped with Seversky P - 35 s that were transferred from the 1st Pursuit Group that departed to Rockwell Field , California . In May 1941 , the squadron proceeded to Morrison Field , West Palm Beach , Florida , to train in the the Curtiss P - 40 fighter . With the advent of World War II , the squadron moved to Australia and became part of Fifth Air Force in January 1942 . It was re - designated as the 9th Fighter Squadron in May 1942 . The unit received Curtiss P - 40 Warhawks in Australia and , after training for a short time , provided air defense for the Northern Territory . The squadron moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby . Engaged primarily in air defense of Port Moresby ; also escorted bombers and transports , and attacked enemy installations , supply lines , and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces . The 9th participated in the Allied offensive that pushed the Japanese back along the Kokoda Track , took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943 , fought for control of the approaches to Huon Gulf , and supported ground forces during the campaign in which the Allies eventually recovered New Guinea . It covered the landings on Noemfoor and had a part in . the conquest of Biak . After having used Lockheed P - 38 Lightnings , Curtiss P - 40 Warhawks and Republic P - 47 Thunderbolts , the 9th was equipped completely in September 1944 with P - 38 ' s , which were used to fly long - range escort and attack missions to Mindanao , Halmahera , Seram , and Borneo . The unit arrived in the Philippines in October 1944 , shortly after the assault landings on Leyte and engaged enemy fighters , attacked shipping in Ormoc Bay , supported ground forces , and covered the Allied invasion of Luzon . Other missions from the Philippines included strikes against industry and transportation on Formosa and against shipping along the China coast . The 9th Fighter Squadron and its sister squadrons ( 7th Fighter Squadron and 9th Fighter Squadron ) attained a record of 668 aerial victories not matched in the Pacific Theater during World War II . Notable Aces of the 9th FS are Dick Bong ( 40 ) , Tommy McGuire ( 38 ) , Gerald Johnson ( 22 ) , James Watkins ( 12 ) , Andrew Reynolds ( 9 . 33 ) , Grover Fanning ( 9 ) , John O ' Neil ( 8 ) , Wallace Jordan ( 6 ) , John Landers ( 6 ) , Ralph Wandrey ( 6 ) , Ernest Ambort ( 5 ) , Warren Curten ( 5 ) , Jack Donaldson ( 5 ) , Cheatam Gupton ( 5 ) , and Robert Vaught ( 5 ) After the Japanese Capitulation , the squadron moved to the Japanese Home Islands , initially being stationed at the former Imperial Japanese Navy Atsugi Airfield , near Tokyo on 15 September 1945 . It ' s war - weary P - 38 Lightnings were sent back to the United States and the squadron was re - equipped with P - 51D Mustang s with a mission of both occupation duty and show - of - force flights . In February 1946 , the squadron was moved to Chitose AB , on northern Honshu and assumed an air defense mission over Honshu and also Hokkaido Island . The pilots of the squadron were briefed not to allow any Soviet Air Force aircraft over Japanese airspace , as there was tension between the United States and the Soviet Union about Soviet occupation forces landing on Hokkaido . In April 1948 , the squadron moved to the newly - rebuilt Misawa AB when the host 49th Fighter Group took up home station responsibilities . At Misawa , the squadron moved into the jet age when it was re - equipped with the F - 80C Shooting Star . Korean War . With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 , the 9th was one of the first USAF squadrons dispatched to Korea from Japan , initially operating propeller - driven F - 51Ds to cover the evacuation of civilians from Kimpo and Suwon . Next , it flew close air support missions to help slow the advancing North Korean armies . Later , it turned to the interdiction of enemy troops , supplies and communications from Misawa . However its short - range F - 80Cs meant that the 49th had to move to South Korea in order for them to be effective . The squadron moved to Taegu AB ( K - 2 ) on 1 October 1950 , becoming the first jet fighter outfit to operate from bases in South Korea . During the autumn of 1950 and spring of 1951 , the squadron flew combat missions on a daily basis from Taegu , flying escort missions for B - 29 Superfortress es over North Korea and engaging Communist MiG - 15 fighters in air - to - air combat . When the Chinese Communist Forces ( CCF ) Intervention Campaign gained momentum in 1950 – 1951 , the squadron again concentrated on the ground support mission , attacking Communist Chinese ground units in North Korea , moving south until the line was stabilized and held just south of Seoul . The 49th changed equipment to the F - 84G Thunderjet in mid - 1951 , It engaged Communist forces on the ground in support of the 1st UN Counteroffensive Campaign ( 1951 ) . Afterwards , it engaged primarily in air interdiction operations against the main enemy channel of transportation , the roads and railroads between Pyongyang and Sinuiju . Also , it flew close air support missions for the ground forces and attacked high value targets , including the Sui - ho hydroelectric plants in June 1952 and the Kumgang Political School in October 1952 . On 27 July 1953 , the squadron joined with the 58th FBG to bomb Sunan Airfield for the final action of F - 84 fighter - bombers during the Korean War . The wing remained in Korea for a time after the armistice . It was reassigned to Japan in November 1953 and returned to its air defense mission . The squadron upgraded to the F - 86F Sabre in 1956 . By late 1957 , however , Worldwide DOD Budget restrictions during FY 1958 meant that the 49th FBW would be inactivated as part of a reduction of the USAF units based in Japan . United States Air Forces in Europe . Due to seniority , after the 49th ' s inactivation in Japan , the designation replaced the 388th Fighter - Bomber Wing at Etain - Rouvres Air Base , France on 10 December 1957 in a same - day , name - only transfer . The 9th FBS assumed the aircraft , personnel and equipment of the 563d Fighter - Bomber Squadron which was inactivated . As the 49th had been a part of American forces in the Pacific since it was sent to Australia in January 1942 , the assignment to Europe after fifteen years in the Pacific was a major change for the organization . Taking over the seven F - 100D Super Sabre s and three dual - seat F - 100F trainers of the 561st , the squadron continued its normal peacetime training . The squadron began keeping four of its planes on 15 - minute alert ( Victor Alert ) on 1 February 1958 so a portion of the squadron could react quickly in an emergency . During the fall of 1958 , most of the squadron operated from Chalon - Vatry Air Base while the runway at Etan was being repaired and resurfaced . However , the nuclear - capable F - 100 was troublesome to the host French Government , the French decreed that all United States nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958 . As a result , the F - 100 ' s of the 49th FBW had to be removed from France . After negotiations with the French , the 49th ' s Wing commander was informed that the wing would be departing from France on 1 July 1959 and be moved to Spangdahlem AB , West Germany . During the relocation to West Germany , the squadron deployed to Wheelus Air Base , Libya , for gunnery training . However , not all squadron personnel moved to Spangdahlem , as many of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing personnel there were almost at the end of their tours and did not want to move to RAF Alconbury , where the 10th was being relocated to in order to accommodate the 49th . As a result , some squadron ground support personnel instead moved to RAF Lakenheath , England to backfill vacancies there , while the 10th TRW personnel at Spandahlem were allowed to finish out their assignments . At Spangdahlem , the squadron flew F - 100s until 1961 when it converted to the Republic F - 105D / F Thunderchief , commonly known as the " Thud " . The 49th TFW was only the third USAF unit to operate the F - 105 . As part of USAFE , the 9th participated in many NATO exercises . In February 1967 , the 9th opened the 49th Weapons Training Detachment at Wheelus Air Base , Libya , to begin transition to the McDonnell Douglas F - 4D Phantom II , and received it ' s first F - 4D on 9 March 1967 . In the late 1960s , the Defense Budget began to be squeezed by the costs of the ongoing Vietnam War . Secretary of Defense Robert MacNamara decided to reduce costs in Europe by " Dual Basing " United States military units in Europe by returning them permanently to the United States , and conducting annual deployment exercises in Europe , giving the units a NATO commitment for deployment to bases in Europe if tensions with the Soviet Union warranted an immediate military buildup . The 49th Tactical Fighter Wing was returned to the United States under this policy , being reassigned on 1 July 1968 to Holloman Air Force Base , New Mexico , to serve as the US Air Force ’ s first dual - based , NATO - committed wing . Holloman Air Force Base . At Holloman , the squadron participated in Tactical Air Command tactical exercises and firepower demonstrations to maintain combat readiness . Also , the first " Tail Codes " to identify squadron aircraft were applied , rather than the traditional red colors of the 9th which had been used since the Korean War . Initially " HE " was the tail code identifier for the 9th , however , in 1972 , the Air Force issued AFM 66 - 1 which specified wing tail codes and the squadron ' s planes were standardized on the 49th ' s " HO " tail code . However , a red tail stripe was applied to identify squadron aircraft . The 9th also retained its NATO commitment to return once a year to its " dual base " home in West Germany . These deployments were known as " Crested Cap " , and were as follows : With the end of the Cold War and subsequent force drawdowns by USAFE , these annual exercises ended in 1991 . Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base . On 4 May 1972 , after North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam , the entire wing , except for a rear echelon that remained to run Holloman , deployed at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand . Operation Constant Guard III , ordered in response to the North Vietnamese invasion , was the largest movement that the Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) had ever performed . In nine days , the squadron deployed its F - 4D Phantom IIs from Holloman to Takhli . Airmen arriving reported that Takhli was a mess , with missing or broken plumbing fixtures , no hot water , and no drinking water - that had to be trucked in from Korat every day . Bed frames had been thrown out of the hootches into the high snake - infested grass , and mattresses or bedding consisted of sleeping bags at best . The 9th TFS flew combat sorties in South Vietnam , Cambodia , and Laos from 1 July – 24 September 1972 during Operation Linebacker , the bombardment campaign in North Vietnam . During this deployment , Operation Constant Guard , the squadron flew over just about every battle zone from An Loc to vital installations in the Hanoi vicinity . During five months of combat , the squadron did not lose any aircraft or personnel . The unit officially closed out its Southwest Asia duty 6 October 1972 . F - 15A Eagle era . In October 1977 , the 49th TFW ended its " dual - base " commitment to NATO and changed to an air superiority mission with the wing beginning a conversion from the F - 4D Phantom II to the F - 15A Eagle ; the 49th being the second USAF operational wing to receive the F - 15A . The transition was completed 4 June 1978 . Due to the change in equipment , the annual NATO deployments were taken over by the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing , Seymour Johnson AFB , in 1978 , however they resumed ( although not on an annual basis ) in 1981 . In the United States , training missions was refocused on dissimilar air combat tactics for mulch - theater operations , participating in numerous Red Flags , Joint Training exercises , and deployments in the Air Defense / Superiority Mission . Frequent deployments were made to Nellis AFB , Nevada to exercise with the F - 5E Tiger II " Aggressor " aircraft of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing , and other aircraft types ( including clandestine exercises with Soviet aircraft flown by the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Tonopah Test Range Airport , Nevada ) . Also , after TAC absorbed the interceptor mission of Aerospace Defense Command ( ADTAC ) in 1979 , the Squadron maintained the TAC NORAD Air Defense Alert commitment in the Eagle , with the best scramble times in NORAD . With the introduction of the F - 15C Eagle in the mid - 1980s , the upgraded Eagle began replacing the F - 15A / Bs in service with all of the USAF units that had previously been operating the Eagle with the exception of the 49th TFW . By the time of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 , the F - 15A Eagles at Holloman had been relegated to a training role ; combat deployments of the Eagle were the purview of F - 15C units . However , F - 15As of the squadron deployed to Southwest Asia to fly combat air patrol for coalition operations from , 20 June – 5 December 1991 . German Air Force Flying Training Center . With the closure of George AFB , California , the German Air Force F - 4F Phantom II training which was held in the western United States was transferred to Holloman AFB effective 5 June 1992 , and the 9th made an equipment change from the F - 15A to the F - 4F Phantom II . The F - 4F was a specialized variant of the USAF F - 4E Phantom II , with specialized equipment manufactured in Germany for Luftwaffe use . The aircraft used to train Luftwaffe crews in the United States , and were operated with US national markings and given USAF tailcodes ( HO ) . This assignment lasted one year for the 9th , when the Luftwaffe training mission was re - assigned to the reactivated 20th Fighter Squadron . F - 117 Nighthawk era . As a result of the end of the Cold War , reduced defense budgets were the order of the day . As a result , in July 1993 , the 9th received the F - 117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighters of the 37th Fighter Wing 417th Fighter Squadron , which was subsequently inactivated . When the squadron received its F - 117s from Tonopah , initially it was the training squadron , as the aircraft were the first ore - production aircraft that were manufactured in 1979 and 1980 . The 9th also received several T - 38 trainers from the 417th FS . The early - model F - 117s however , were upgraded to production standards and each of the three squadrons ( 7th and 8th ) were transferred some T - 38s and formed their own training flights . The 9th deployed F - 117s fighters deployed to the Gulf in 1998 during Operation Desert Fox to upgrade the strike force ' s capability to attack high - value targets . But the 18 hour flight from Holloman AFB to Kuwait meant that the operation was over before the F - 117 aircraft arrived in the Gulf . The F - 117s successfully penetrated the heavily defended areas , which conventional aircraft could not reach . Also , the 9th deployed to Kunsan AB , South Korea and flew deterrence missions along the Demilitarized Zone to deter North Korean aggression in the late 1990s . Operation Allied Force . In early 1999 , the 9th deployed F - 117 and their crews to Spangdahlem Air Base , Germany as the 9th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron under the 49th Expeditionary Operations Group . The 9th EFS launched its first combat sortie only 33 hours after departing Holloman in support of Operation Allied Force , the NATO attempt to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in the former nation of Yugoslavia . In the opening phase of the operation , aimed primarily at Yugoslavia ' s integrated air defense system , NATO air forces conducted more than 400 sorties . During the first two night attacks , allied air forces struck 90 targets throughout Yugoslavia and in Kosovo . F - 117 Nighthawks from the 8th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron participated in air strikes against targets in the Balkans during NATO operations bravely trusting in their aircraft ' s low observable technology struck some of the most valuable and highly guarded targets in Serbia . One F - 117 fighter was lost over Yugoslavia on 27 March 1999 , apparently struck by a salvo of SA - 3 Goa surface - to - air missiles . Unknown to NATO , Yugoslav air defenses operators had found they could detect F - 117s with their " obsolete " Soviet radars after some modifications that could detect the aircraft when their wheels were down or bomb bay doors were open . A US search and rescue team picked up the pilot several hours after the F - 117 went down outside Belgrade . This was the only F - 117 to have been lost in action . On 1 April 1999 , Defense Secretary William Cohen directed 12 more F - 117 stealth fighters to join NATO Operation Allied Force , to join the total of 24 F - 117s that were participating in NATO Operation Allied Force . In June 1999 the 7th Fighter Squadron took over the pilot transition training mission ( LIFT ) to the F - 117A and the T - 38 Talon trainers were transferred to the re - designed 7th Combat Training Squadron . F - 117A Retirement . The 9th continued training with the F - 117 into the 2000s , however the squadron did not deploy to the middle east after the 9 - 11 Terrorist attacks and the removal from power of Saddam Hussein during Operation Iraqui Freedom in March 2003 . In 2006 the Air Force announced that although it had planned to operate the Nighthawk until at least 2011 , with the introduction of the F - 22A Raptor , a fighter that features the latest stealth technology , the Pentagon decided to retire the F - 117s and use the funds that would have been used to maintain the Nighthawk on additional Raptors . Beginning in the spring of 2008 , the 9th ' s planes began to depart for Tonopah Airport , and by May the last of the 9th ' s aircraft had returned to their original base , for long term storage in the hangars there , as the stealth technology of the planes was still considered classified , even in retirement . The 9th Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 16 May 2008 .