79th Fighter Squadron

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79th Fighter Squadron
79th Fighter Squadron F-16C over the Utah Test and Training Range[note 1]
Active	1918; 1933–1945; 1946–1993; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	20th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Shaw Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Tigers[citation needed]
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Desert Storm[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Commanders
Notable commanders	Frank O'Driscoll Hunter James Ferguson James E. Hill John G. Lorber[1]
Insignia
79th Fighter Squadron emblem (updated 29 March 1996)[1]
79 Fighter-Bomber Sq emblem (approved 31 January 1955)[2]
79th Pursuit Squadron emblem[3]

The 79th Fighter Squadron is part of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 22 February 1918, being organized at Rich Field, Waco, Texas, as a pilot training Squadron during World War I. The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the Cold War.

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