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"UDORN Royal THAI Air Force Base - UDORN (UDON) THANI, THAILAND"
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UDORN RTAFB
Royal Thai Air Force Base
Udorn Thani, Thailand

5 ***** Home of the "HUNTERS" ***** 5
*** 6 ***
OUR MISSION:
PROTECT THE FORCE - GET THE PICTURES ...
AND KILL MIGS !!!

[555th TACTICAL FIGHTER Squadron Emblem]
"Triple Nickel"

555th Tactical Fighter Squadron

HISTORY


The 555th Fighter Squadron

The 555th Fighter Squadron transferred to Aviano Air Base from Luke AFB, Ariz., April 1, 1994, changed over to the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and immediately took an active role supporting Operation Deny Flight, the United Nations mandate for a no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The squadron is equipped with l8 F-16 C/D, Block 40 aircraft. It is tasked with conducting offensive and defensive operations under NATO, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and national taskings with various weapon systems.
The "TripleNickel" history began when the 555th Bombardment Squadron-Medium was constituted Nov. 25, 1942. U.S. Army Air Forces activated the 555th with B-26 medium bombers Dec.l of that year. The squadron received A-26 aircraft in June l945 and became the 555th Bombardment Squadron Light.
As part of the 386th Bombardment Group, the Triple Nickel saw combat in Europe from bases in England, France and Belgium. The Nickel received the first of its four Presidential Unit Citations for combat in Europe from July 1943 through July 1944.
After temporary inactivation Nov.7, 1945, the Triple Nickel came back to life Jan. 8, 1964, as the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill AFB, Fla. It was the first operational squadron in the Air Force to fly the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II. The TripleNickel then deployed to Okinawa, Japan, and became a permanent unit there in late 1965.
The squadron returned to combat from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, scoring its first two aerial victories April 23, 1966. One week later, the Nickel gained the distinction of being the first "Ace" squadron in Southeast Asia with six kills.
In June 1966, the 555th TFS moved to Ubon RTAFB joining the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. While stationed at Ubon, the Triple Nickel downed an additional 14 aircraft including four MiG-21s Jan.2, 1967. The Nickel was now the only "Quad Ace" fighter squadron in Southeast Asia, with 20 MiGs to its credit.
In 1968, Nickel aircrews participated in the interdiction campaign against the Ho Chi Minh Trail until the Linebacker Campaigns against the North Vietnam heartland in l972. During Linebacker I and II, the Triple Nickel scored another 20 Mig kills. These victories brought the Nickel's total to 40, producing the first and second USAF aces.
For combat operations in Southeast Asia, the 555th TFS was awarded three more Presidential Unit Citations, five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with the combat "V" device, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the 1973 Hughes Achievement Award.
On Nov. 14, 1974, President Gerald Ford was present when the Nickel received the USAF's first operational F-15 Eagle at Luke AFB . Later, the Nickel changed to the F-1 SE Strike Eagle.


This HISTORY is excerpted from the:

31st Fighter Wing - Office of History Aviano AB, Italy.



To read about Udorn RTAFB's USAF Tactical Squadrons'
Histories, Lineages, and Honors
click on pages below.


555 TFS - "LINEAGE & HONORS"

"432 TRW"
"WING HISTORY" &
facts about
"UDORN RTAFB" 		"13 TFS"
UNIT HISTORY
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"UDORN RTAFB" 		"14 TRS"
UNIT HISTORY
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"UDORN RTAFB"
"58 TFS - [TDY]"
"NOMADS"
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"UDORN RTAFB"
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