A-10 Thunderbolt II of the 355th Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB

Description: The 355th Fighter Squadron flies the Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. It was activated on 20 August 1993, replacing the deactivating 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron. The unit's primary missions included air strike control, close air support, interdiction, joint air attack team, escort, and combat search and rescue.

In October 1998, the 355 FS deployed to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Only two months later, the Warthogs saw their second tour of combat duty over Iraq while participating in the Dec. 16-19, 1998, Operation DESERT FOX strike missions. In 2.5 months, the 355 FS flew 597 combat and combat support sorties leading up to, then conducting, National Command Authority directed strikes on Iraqi military facilities and suspected weapons of mass destruction storage areas. They achieved 100 percent target hit rate.

The unit deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, January - March 2001. The 355 FS also exercised at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to train with Special Forces units, October 2003.

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