USAF
Captain Adam Tolfa

Captain Adam Tolfa

9th Pursuit Squadron

The 9th Pursuit Squadron was activated on 15 January 1941 as part of the 49th Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Initially equipped with a few obsolete Seversky P-35A, the unit moved to Morrison Field, Florida on 25 May 1941. By 2 February 1942, the 9th along with the rest of the 49th Pursuit Group moved to Melbourne, Australia where it was initially equipped with Curtiss P-40E "Warhawks." On 15 May 1942, the 9th Pursuit Squadron was redesignated as the 9th Fighter Squadron. The 9th Fighter Squadron along with its sister squadrons, the 7th and 8th, compiled a distinguished and unrivaled combat record over the course of WWII. The 9th contributed 258 of the 49th Fighter Groups record total of 668 aerial victories. Aces of the 9th Fighter Squadron in WWII were Major Richard L "Dick" Bong (40), Lt Colonel Gerald R. Johnson (22), Lt Colonel John D. Landers 14.5), Captain James A. Watkins (12), 1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Reynolds (10), 1st Lieutenant Grover E. Fanning (9), 1st Lieutenant John G. O'Neill (8), Major Wallace It. Jordan (6), Captain Ralph H. Wandrey (6), 2nd Lieutenant Ernest J. Ambort (5), 1st Lieutenant Warren D. Curton (5), 2nd Lieutenant I.B. Jack Donaldson (5), 1st Lieutenant Cheatham W. Gupton (5), and Captain Robert H. Vaught (5). The 9th Fighter Squadron flew combat missions in the Southwest Pacific from 18 March 1942 - 5 August 1945; Korea from 27 June 1950 - December 1952; and Southeast Asia from c. 13 May - 2 October 1972. Additionally, portions of the squadron deployed from Holloman AFB and flew combat air patrol for coalition operations over Southwest Asia from 20 June -5 December 1991. The 9th Fighter Squadron conducted training in the F-4E/F "Phantom II" with German Air Force pilots from July 1992 until December 1994 when the 9th converted to the F-117A "Nighthawk." It was in this aircraft that the 9th Fighter Squadron participated in Operation ALLIED FORCE flying combat sorties over Serbia in 1999, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2001, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003. The 9th flew the F-117A until its retirement in 2008. After the retirement of the F-117A the squadron went inactive. The 9th Attack Squadron also known as the "Flying Knights" was reactivated with a new mission and aircraft on 28 September 2012. Assigned to the 49th Operations Group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico the unit trains pilots and sensor operators to effectively employ the MQ-9 "Reaper" in any combat scenario. The 9th Attack Squadron motto, "Strength & Honor" symbolizes the lethal strength of the MQ-9, its ability to deploy against any adversary, and the professional dedication of its operators to support the warfighter throughout the entire spectrum of combat operations. 

20th Attack Squadron 

Stretching over 75 years, the proud heritage of the 20th Attack Squadron is a tale of steadfast service, courage and commitment. The U.S. Army Air Corps first activated the unit on 15 Dec 1940, at France Field, Canal Zone (Panama), as the 20th Transport Squadron to conduct aerial transportation in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Despite many station changes, reassignments and redesignations, the 20th carried out this early mission until late 1948, when it moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, to transport cargo and practice airborne tactics with Army paratroopers within the continental U.S. By the time it inactivated on 20 Oct 1949 as the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, at Smyrna AFB, Tennessee. the unit not only proudly bore the WW II American Theater service streamer, it was able to count itself as one of the earliest Cold War warriors for its role in the Berlin Airlift between July and October 1948. It returned to active service as the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) in the spring of 1965 at Da Nang AB, South Vietnam. Between May 1965 to Jan 1973, the 20 TASS executed combat reconnaissance sorties, and forward air controllers flew interdiction missions in Southeast Asia. The squadron flew unarmed or lightly armed aircraft, low and slow, to provide American and Vietnamese ground troops with the best possible intelligence on enemy movements. Such contributions came at a high cost, with over 70 pilots and many aircraft lost in action. The daring and dedication of the unit's members are exemplified by the deeds and sacrifices of such Airmen as Air Force Cross recipients Majors Jerry Allan Sellers and John Leonard Carroll, and Captain Donald D. Stevens, and Medal of Honor recipient Captain Steven L Bennett. When the 20 TASS inactivated at George AFB, CA, on 1 April 1973, shortly after returning from overseas, its combat decorations and unit awards stood at nearly 30. Months later, on 1 Oct 1973, the 20th stood up again at Wiesbaden AB, Germany, to provide forward tactical air control for U.S. Army units in Europe. Inactive from late 1984 to early 1990, the squadron briefly resumed the tactical air control mission while based at Shaw AFB, SC, until inactivated once more on 31 Dec 1991. Nine years later, on 1 Jan 2011, re designated and activated as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, as a geographically separate unit of the 432d Wing, the unit took on a vital new mission—flying MO-1 B Predator remotely piloted aircraft in the global war against terrorism. An expansion of its operational role, which included adding the MO-9A Reaper to its arsenal, led to the unit's re-designation on 15 May 2016 as the 20th Attack Squadron. The MO-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long-endurance RPA employed as a persistent strike and reconnaissance aircraft against multiple target sets. The MO-9 is powered by the Honeywell TPE-331-10YGD Turboprop engine providing a cruise speed of 230 mph, an endurance of more than 24 hours, and a maximum attitude of over 30.000 feet. The MO-9 carries a combination of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and precision guided bombs.