#697 F-15C Eagle
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 697 - F-15C Eagle, 87-0522 \'67 FS\', 67th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
The 67th Pursuit Squadron was activated on 15 January 1941 at Selfridge Field, Michigan, on the P–36 Hawk. Shortly after activation, the squadron was redesignated the 67th Fighter Squadron and relocated to the South Pacific. During WWII, the 67th operated the P–39 Airacobra and P–38 Lightning as charter members of the Cactus Air Force, fighting alongside Navy and Marine counterparts in defense of Guadacanal and other locations, including Australia, New Guinea and Luzon. After WWII, the 67th remained in the Philippines, flying the P–47 Thunderbolt, P–51 Mustang and the P–80 Shooting Star. At the outbreak of the Korean War, the 67th converted back to the F–51D, staging out of Pusan, Taegu and Pyonyang. The 67th\'s Major Louis J. Sebille became the first Air Force officer to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously recognised in August 1950 for heroic action. The 67th concluded the Korean War flying the F–86 Sabre and relocated to Kadena AB, Japan. From 1957 to 1962, the 67th flew F–100 Super Sabres. In 1962, the 67th was the first squadron in the Pacific to receive the F–105 Thunderchief, which it flew out of Korat, Thailand during the Vietnam War. In 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson Risner, 67 FS Commander was downed over North Vietnam and endured seven heroic years as a POW of the North Vietnamese. From 1967 to 1971, the squadron transferred to Misawa AB, Japan, where it converted to the F–4C Phantom II, and was tasked with air defense of Japan and South Korea. In 1971, the 67th returned to Kadena AB, but staged out of Korat, Thailand, where it introduced the F–4 to the combat Wild Weasel mission. In 1979, the 67th was the first squadron in the Pacific to transition to the F–15C Eagle, tasked with the mission of air superiority throughout the Pacific region. The 67th “Fighting Cocks” have sustained the unit’s proud tradition of excellence, earning the Hughes Award for Achievement in Intercept Operations in 1983, 1986 and 1989. In 2002, the 67th deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. During this time, they played a critical leadership role in preparing the battlespace for the impending conflict with Iraq. In March 2003, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM began in earnest and the “Fighting Cocks” flew flawless counter-air tactics which prevented enemy aircraft from even taking off. Complete air supremacy over Iraq was achieved in record-breaking time.