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Welcome to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,
Where we are the 4th but 1st, and for good reason
Spanning more than five decades and five wars, the 4th Fighter Wing is one of the most distinguished fighter units in the world.
During the second World War, many American pilots volunteered to fly with the Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons to help defeat the Nazi regime and defend freedom. After the US joined the war in 1942, the 4th Fighter Group was formed.
The first to use belly tanks, they also were the first to penetrate into Germany, accompany bombers to Berlin, the first to accomplish the England to Russia shuttle, and the first to down Germanys new jet fighter aircraft
After a short time with the F-80 Shooting Star, the 4th transitioned to the F-86 Sabre.
During the Korean War, a Sabre shot down a MiG-15 on its first mission. Four days later, the first major all-jet battle took place where 6 enemy aircraft were downed, and all the 4th’s jets made it home safely. They destroyed 502 enemy aircraft, accounting for over 50% of the total aircraft shot down.
On December 8th, 1957, the wing made Seymour Johnson Air Force Base its new home
The 334th, 335th, 336th, and soon after the 333rd Fighter Squadrons took the F-100 Super Sabre to their new home in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
They soon transitioned to the F-105 Thunderchief. The 4th deployed to Vietnam and flew over 8,700 combat missions. During the war, the Wing started to fly the F-4D Phantom 2.
During the Cuban missile crisis, the Wing stayed on high alert.
Then came the F-15E Strike Eagle.
The first to react to Kuwait, the 4th Fighter Wing spearheaded nighttime strikes against Iraq and was instrumental in bringing an end to the Gulf War.
After September 11th, the 4th began flying OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE sorties providing coastal protection for Homeland Defense, the first of its kind for the Wing.
Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom took off, and the 4th sent its jets into Iraq and Afghanistan.
During support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the 4th flew over 5,800 missions and dropped over 3 million pounds of ordnance.
Today the Airmen support operations around the globe. From the time of the Spitfires to todays Strike Eagles, the 4th has always been the tip of the spear when fighting Americas enemies.
And has continued to live by its motto, 4th but 1st.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.02.2020 13:48 |
| Category: | Video Productions |
| Video ID: | 733155 |
| VIRIN: | 191220-F-HV022-003 |
| Filename: | DOD_107569086 |
| Length: | 00:03:09 |
| Location: | GOLDSBORO, NC, US |
| Downloads: | 184 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 184 |
This work, 4FW History, by SSgt Kenneth Boyton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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