Lineage. Constituted as 625 Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 4 Feb 1943. Activated on 1 Mar 1943. Redesignated as: 510 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 Aug 1943; 510 Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943; 510 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 30 May 1944. Inactivated on 27 Oct 1945. Redesignated as 510 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1958. Redesignated as 510 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 11 Mar 1959. Activated on 9 Apr 1959. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1969. Activated on 1 Oct 1978. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1994. Redesignated as 510 Fighter Squadron on 23 Mar 1994. Activated on 1 Jul 1994.
Assignments. 405 Bombardment (later, Fighter-Bomber; Fighter) Group, 1 Mar 1943–27 Oct 1945. 405 Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 Dec 1952; 405 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 8 Oct 1957–1 Jul 1958. 405 Fighter Wing, 9 Apr 1959 (attached to Joint Task Force 116, 16 May–8 Jun 1962); 3 Tactical Fighter Wing, 16 Mar 1964–15 Nov 1969 (attached to 405 Fighter Wing, c. 8 May–17 Aug 1965). 81 Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Oct 1978; 52 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1992–1 Feb 1994. 31 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1994–.
Stations. Drew Field, FL, 1 Mar 1943; Walterboro AAFld, SC, 13 Sep 1943–14 Feb 1944; Christchurch, England, 6 Mar–22 Jun 1944; Picauville, France, 30 Jun 1944; St Dizier, France, 11 Sep 1944; Ophoven, Belgium, 6 Feb 1945; Kitzingen, Germany, 23 Apr 1945; Straubing, Germany, 14 May–2 Jul 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 25–27 Oct 1945. Godman AFB, KY, 1 Dec 1952; Langley AFB, VA, 17 Apr 1953–1 Jul 1958. Clark AB, Philippines, 9 Apr 1959–14 Mar 1964 (deployed at Chai–Yi AB, Taiwan, 1–8 Jul and 2–12 Nov 1959; at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 11 May–8 Jun 1962); England AFB, LA, 16 Mar 1964–7 Nov 1965 (deployed at Clark AB, Philippines, 8 May–20 Aug 1965); Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 10 Nov 1965–15 Nov 1969. RAF Bentwaters, England, 1 Oct 1978; Spangdahlem AB, Germany, 4 Jan 1993–1 Feb 1994. Aviano AB, Italy, 1 Jul 1994–.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970. Southwest Asia: Ceasefire. Kosovo: Air Campaign. Afghanistan: Consolidation III. Iraq: Iraqi Governance; Iraqi Surge.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 24 Sep 1944. Presidential Unit Citations (Vietnam): 8 Jun 1966–16 Apr 1967; 6 Mar 1968–31 Jul 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 31 Jan-5 Mar 1968; 1 Aug-16 Nov 1969; 1 Feb-31 May 2000. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Oct 2009-30 Sep 2010. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1960–30 Jun 1961; 1 May 1964–16 Jul 1965; 1 Jul 1979–30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1981–30 Jun 1983; 1 Jun 1989–31 May 1991; 1 Jun 1991–30 Jun 1993; 1 Oct 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Apr 1994-1 Apr 1996; 2 Apr 1996-1 Apr 1998; 2 Apr 1998-1 Apr 2000; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Oct 2000-1 Oct 2002; 2 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2011; 1 Jan 2012-31 Dec 2013; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2014; 1 Jan 2020-31 Dec 2021. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun–30 Sep 1944. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 25 Nov 1965–19 May 1969; 1 Apr 1966–15 Nov 1969.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Aug 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 4 Aug 2016.
Emblem. Approved on 14 Feb 1957; latest rendering, 8 May 2007.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.