Historic formation symbolizes 70 years of combat aviation

  • Published
  • By Capt Candice Allen
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  An unusual historic formation took to the skies here Friday, Oct. 3.
A P-51 Mustang and F-16 Fighting Falcon flew side-by-side symbolizing 70 years of history for the 457th Fighter Squadron. 

On Oct. 5, the fighter squadron turned 70 years-old. The unit started with the well-known P-51s at Lakeland Army Airfield in Florida in 1944 as part of the 506th Fighter Group.

"That's the significance of today's event," said Lt. Col. Lane Beene, 457 FS director of operations. "Today, we got the opportunity to put these two aircraft back together after 70 decades of combat aviation."

Although the unit started in Florida, it swiftly moved to the Far East in Iwo Jima soon after. Outfitted with new gun sight, more .50-cal machine guns and tails painted green, the squadron flew the P-51D models in raids against Japan and attacked ground targets, to include enemy airfields.

Invited to the event was Lt. Col. (ret) Jack Rice who flew P-51s with the 506th over Iwo Jima escorting B-29s over Japan.

"We flew very long-range missions, sometimes 7-8 hours," said Rice.

During his career, Rice flew 27 different kinds of aircraft.

"I flew the four different models of the P-47 Thunderbolt," Rice said. "So, I guess when you add it up, I flew 27 different kinds."

Rice, who joined the Army Air Corps in April 1942, said the best aircraft he flew during his 32-year career was the P-51 by far. He has 500-600 flying hours in that aircraft alone.

"Anything you wanted to do in an airframe, you could do it in a P-51," Rice said.

The historic formation took place two days before both the squadron and, parent organization, 301st Fighter Wing turned 70.

"Our lives converged in Fort Worth," wrote Col. John Breazeale, 301 FW commander.

On July 1, 1972, the squadron and wing were reactivated at then Carswell Air Force Base, Texas as part of the Air Force Reserve.

Engaged in combat during the last few days of the war, the wing received honors from the Ryukyus Campaign in May 1945. Established on Oct. 5 at Seymour Johnson Field, N.C., it too escorted B-29 and B-24 bombers with their P-47s in the Far East. The 301 FW provided air defense for Okinawa during the post-war period.

Both organizations have World War II campaign streamers proudly displayed at every event.

"Since that time, we have been a keystone in many major campaign operations from World War II to the more recent ones in Iraq and Afghanistan," Breazeale said.

Although decades before these two units fought bravely and separately in the Far East, they stand ready and prepared to answer today's call.

In September, the Air Force celebrated its 67th birthday as a separate service.

However, the history of air superiority reigned supreme long before, which the 301 FW and 457 FS have the campaign streamers, memories, and aircraft to prove it.