Commander
Lt. Col. Jonathan Hassell
Mission
Forge Future Combat Airpower
Personnel and Resources
The 57th Fighter Squadron mission is accomplished by over 30 assigned U.S. military, government civilian and contract personnel. Annual student training yields on average over 60 combat-ready F-35 pilots trained in all aspects of F-35A employment. The F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing, low-observable, multi-role fighter aircraft equipped with 5th-generation sensors that provide it unparalleled situational awareness making this weapons system optimized to sustain air superiority and execute air interdiction and close air support as part of the DoD and foreign fleet.
History
The 57th Fighter Squadron’s lineage began 1 January 1941 when it was activated as the 57th Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field California. Equipped with the P-39 Airacobras as well as the P-40 Warhawk, the unit trained and provided west coast air defense until being called upon for war. Deploying to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in June 1942, forward deployed from there to Adak Island, 57th pilots confronted enemy aircraft during the Aleutian Campaign of World War II. Ultimately, the pilots of the unit were accredited with three confirmed and two probable aerial scores and the unit received the Distinguished Unit Citation, equivalent to the modern-day Presidential Unit Citation, for their heroic actions during the campaign.
With the campaign at an end, November 1942, designated a Fighter Squadron, the 57th relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for aircraft refit. There the unit were equipped and began training on the P-51 Mustang. The 57th being the first unit in the Army Air Forces to receive the new aircraft. The unit relocated once again to Bartow Army Airfield, Florida in May 1943 to train replacement pilots for the war in the P-51. There the 57th operated as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) through April 1944 when it was deactivated.
In March 1947 the 57th reactivated a short time as a reserve unit until becoming an active squadron once again in Presque Isle, Maine in March 1953. Designated a Fighter Interceptor Squadron, equipped with the F-89 Scorpion, the 57th provided 24-hour air defense at the beginning of the Cold War. By November 1954 the unit relocated once again where it would remain for quite some time, Keflavik, Iceland. In Iceland, the 57th began providing air defense for NATO, intercepting Soviet aircraft encroaching on Icelandic and North American airspace.
Throughout the Cold War the 57th provided crucial air defense relying on F-89, F-102, F-4, and F-15 aircraft. By the time the unit was deactivated in March 1995, the 57th had successfully conducted over 1,000 air intercepts of Soviet aircraft.
This historic unit, played crucial roles during World War II, participating in defense of the U.S. and preparing pilots for combat, and afterwards played a crucial role during the Cold War.
The unit not only earned a Distinguished Unit Citation, but also boasts the Air Combat Asiatic- Pacific Campaign streamer, the American Theater streamer, a total of ten Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, as well as bragging rights as the overall winner of the William Tell competition in 1982.