433d Weapons Squadron The 433d Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit , assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB , Nevada . The unit was first activated in May 1943 and flew the P - 38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater of Operations . The 433d distinguished themselves in air combat against Japan over New Guinea , Rabaul , and the Philippines , achieving over 200 aerial victories . Reactivated in 1964 for the war in Southeast Asia , the 433d was assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing at Ubon , Thailand , where it flew the F - 4 . The 433d again distinguished itself by becoming the number two leading MiG killing squadron in the vietnam war , scoring 12 kills over North Vietnam . History . World War II . Established by Fifth Air Force in Australia in May 1943 specifically to accommodate very long range Lockheed P - 38J Lightning s at Amberley Airfield in Queensland , Australia . The 431st was specifically trained to provide long - range escort for bombers during daylight raids on Japanese airfields and strongholds in the Netherlands East Indies and the Bismarck Archipelago . On 14 August 1943 , the 431st transferred from Amberley airfield to Port Moresby . New Guinea . Engaged in combat operations , providing escort for B - 25 Mitchell medium bombers that were engaged in strafing attacks on airdromes at Wewak but also destroyed a number of the enemy fighter planes that attacked the formation . Also intercepted and destroyed many Japanese aircraft which were sent against American shipping in Oro Bay on 15 and 17 October 1943 . Covered landings in New Guinea , New Britain , and the Schouten Islands . After moving to Biak in July 1944 , the squadron flew escort missions and fighter sweeps to the southern Philippines , Celebes , Halmahera , and Borneo . Moved to the Philippines in October 1944 and attacked enemy airfields and installations , escorting bombers , and engaging in aerial combat during the first stages of the Allied campaign to recover the Philippines , October – December 1944 . The squadron flew many missions to support ground forces on Luzon during the first part of 1945 . Also flew escort missions to Southeast China and attacked railways on Formosa . Began moving to Ie Shima near Okinawa in August 1945 but the war ended before the movement was completed . After active combat ended , on 22 September 1945 , the squadron moved to Seoul Airfield , Korea for occupation duty as part of the 308th Bomb Wing , assigned to the 315th Air Division of Far East Air Forces . The unit moved to Kimpo Airfield , on 7 January 1946 where the it converted to the very long - range P - 51H Mustang . The squadron was reassigned to Nagoya Airfield , Japan in March 1947 and later moved to Itazuke Airfield , Japan in August 1948 . It became a subordinate unit of 475th Fighter Wing on 10 August . The squadron was inactivated on 1 April 1949 at Itazuke Airfield , Japan Cold War . Reactivated by Air Defense Command in 1952 as a Fighter - Interceptor Squadron , stationed at Truax Field , Wisconsin and equipped with F - 89 Scorpion s . Deployed to Eleventh Air Force at Ladd AFB , Alaska , 1954 performing air defense of central and Northern Alaska , responding to GCI directed intercepts of intruding Soviet aircraft . Returned to the Continental United States , being assigned to Minot AFB , North Dakota in 1957 . However , no aircraft were assigned to the unit , and January 1958 the 433d FIS was inactivated due to budget restraints . Was reassigned to Tactical Air Command , being stationed at George AFB , California , assigned to 8th Tactical Fighter Wing . Equipped with F - 4C Phantom II tactical fighter - bomber , engaged in training , participated in numerous exercises , operational readiness inspections , deployments . Vietnam War . Was deployed to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in December 1965 , becoming part of Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force . Assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing , engaged in combat operations over Southeast Asia , the squadron ' s mission included bombardment , ground support , air defense , interdiction , and armed reconnaissance . Beginning in May 1967 , was re - equipped with new F - 4D aircraft . This gave the unit the distinction of being the first in Southeast Asia to be operationally equipped with improved Phantom II . In May 1968 , employed laser - guided bombs ( LGBs ) in combat for the first time . During its final years of combat , used F - 4Ds for fast - forward air control , interdiction , escort , armed reconnaissance , and other special missions . Continued combat in Vietnam until mid - January 1973 , in Laos until 22 February 1973 , and in Cambodia until 15 August 1973 . Remained in Thailand until July 1974 when the squadron was inactivated . Fighter Weapons Squadron . Reactivated as part of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB , Nevada on 1 October 1976 . Mission of the squadron was test and evaluate systems modifications to the McDonnell Douglas F - 15A Eagle prior to those changes being released to operational units of Tactical Air Command and USAFE . Mission assumed by USAF Fighter Weapons School F - 15 Division at the end of 1981 , inactivated on 30 December . Flying Training . Reactivated in 1983 at Holloman AFB , New Mexico as a T - 38 Talon training squadron to provide Lead - In Fighter Training ( LIFT ) training for pilots assigned to fly the F - 15 Eagle . Performed training on the T - 38 until the LIFT program was sharply cut back in 1991 , as part of the end of the Cold War . Inactivated 8 July 1992 . USAF Weapons School . Reactivated at Nellis AFB in 2003 , replacing the USAF Fighter Weapons School F - 15C Division . Mission was conduct Weapons Instructors Course at the USAF Weapons School and provide the world ' s most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment . Upon completing the course , graduates return to their home stations , taking the latest tactics , techniques and procedures for air - to - air and air - to - ground combat to their respective units . During the course , students receive an average of 400 hours of graduate - level academics and participate in demanding combat training missions . The climax of the course is the mission employment phase , a two - week staged battle over the Nevada Test and Training Range . Began teaching F - 15 course in Feb 2003 . Began instruction with F - 22 Raptor , providing a Weapons Instructor Course in 2009 .