The 44th TFS began to make a name for itself in the air war
over Southeast Asia
shortly after its arrival at Korat RTAFB in December 1964 as
one of the first
F-105 units to deploy on temporary rotation to Thailand. The
unit flew combat
missions during two more deployments to Korat.
On 15 May 1966, the 13th TFS
was activated at Korat, but was actually almost entirely made
up of 44th TFS pilots and aircraft.
The 44th TFS remained at Kadena AB, Okinawa and assignment to
the 18th TFW, but
on 31 December 1966, it became only a paper organization
without aircraft. The high loss rate of Thunderchiefs in the
two combat wings mandated several non-combat units to turn in
their jets, so that Korat and Takhli could keep on dishing out
punishment to the enemy.
The 44th was a "paper organization" until 25 April
1967, when it returned to Korat absorbing the personnel,
equipment and resources of the 421st TFS.
After its reactivation at Korat the 44th proved itself to be
an effective unit of the 388th
TFW, flying daily combat missions against communist targets in
North Vietnam.
The 44th was basically a strike squadron, flying the single
seat F-105D, until October
1967 when it absorbed the mission and makeup of the wing's
13th TFS. The latter was
being transferred to Udorn RTAFB to become an F-4D Phantom II
unit.
The 44th then absorbed the two-seat F-105F aircraft that
formerly belonged to the 13th
TFS, and the unit now possessed both D and F model
Thunderchiefs. The squadron's
primary mission became one of flying escort to the wing's
regular strike force to
suppress anti aircraft artillery (AAA) and surface-to-air
missiles (SAMs).
Another special mission the 44th TFS inherited from the 13th
was the "Ryan's Raiders"
night radar bombing flights in specially equipped F-105Fs.
On 10 October 1969, the Vampires moved to Takhli RTAFB, flying
a full 10 combat sorties that same day. Their Weasel birds
were distributed throughout the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing
and they began flying strike missions again.
The 44th Vampires flew out of Takhli until 10 December 1970.
Today, the 44th FS is an F-15C Eagle squadron, still flying
out of Kadena AB, Okinawa.
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