523rd FS inactivated after flag ceremony

f-16.net ^ | May 24, 2007 | Airman Elliott Sprehe

[Jet Jaguar]

More than 60 years of flying and fighting history closed May 23 as the 523rd Fighter Squadron, also known as the Crusaders, inactivated during ceremonies at The Landing.

The ceremony, begun precisely at 5:23 p.m., also honored and remembered the service and dedication of all Crusader Airmen who served with the unit.

"This is another watershed day in the history of the 523rd FS," said Colonel Jeff McDaniels, 27th Operations Group commander. "There's a sense of saying goodbye to an old friend."

The 523rd FS's guidon passed from Lt. Col. Brad Kearney, 523rd FS commander, to Colonel McDaniels one final time.

The colors were then furled and cased as a final symbol of closure to the squadron's long and storied history.

"The greatest thing about the 523 is all the great people in it," said Colonel McDaniels. "There's a sense of family and togetherness."

"Every Crusader knew how important their job was," said Colonel Kearney. "In a blink of an eye, today's followers are tomorrow's leaders."

Originally activated in February 1940 as the 17th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Field, La, the unit was redesignated the 523rd FS on May 30, 1944.

The squadron received its first jet aircraft, the F-84, in 1950, and nine years later was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base.

During the course of its history, the squadron has been at 40 different airfields and has had 14 different aircraft.

During the course of its history, the 523rd Fighter Squadron maintained a continuous ability to rapidly deploy and support unified commanders worldwide with day or night F-16C combat operations.

The Crusader Airmen committed themselves to decisively employing the F-16C throughout the entire spectrum of offensive and defensive missions, including interdiction, close air support, forward air control, strategic attack and counter-air, with a wide variety of conventional, precision guided and nuclear weapons.

"When tough times came to America the 523 was there," said Colonel McDaniels.

The inactivation of the squadron, rather than deactivation, means the 523rd FS can still be reactivated at any later time.

"We stand ready to be reactivated someday down the road," said Colonel Kearney.

But in the meantime, "mission accomplished, job well done," said Colonel McDaniels.

Courtesy 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

[Logophile]

More than 60 years of flying and fighting history closed May 23 as the 523rd Fighter Squadron, also known as the Crusaders, inactivated during ceremonies at The Landing.

That name would not be considered Politically Correct today.

[operation clinton cleanup]

The inactivation of the squadron, rather than deactivation, means the 523rd FS can still be reactivated at any later time.

Hope they are reactivated in the near future, can't let a squadron name like "The Crusaders" go unused!

[Jet Jaguar]

[Jet Jaguar]

see 4

[Logophile]

Oh! Is that a cross?

My first thought was that the squadron was "inactivated" out of concern that some Middle Easterners might be offended by the name. But seeing that cross, I am sure that a bigger worry was that the ACLU might be offended by the cross.

[Gideon Reader]

Well I am very sorry to hear that.
I was a three stripe Crew Chief in the 523rd Strategic Fighter Squadron, 27th Strat Fighter Wing, while they were assigned to Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas circa 1955-57.
We had Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks, and were transitioning to McDonnell-Douglas F-101’s VooDoos. Nice people and good “Birds”. I went to Korea from there. Lost touch with everyone except fellows who went to Kimche land with me from the 523rd.
Good Squadron record. History passes, as it must.

[Jet Jaguar]

They will be back.

[Gideon Reader]

Locally we had a different I suppose unauthorized Squadron Patch that flight and crew personnel wore on our flight jackets and uniforms.
It was a 6 inch diameter circular patch with a medium blue background bordered in white.
A full bodied Green Mythical Griffon with fanged maw open facing inward holding a spiked mace in one claw while poised on a bright orange nuclear/atom symbol with the other. Rocker below had 523rd STRATFRON (Strategic Fighter Squadron)lettered in Orange.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I was a three stripe Crew Chief in the 523rd Strategic Fighter Squadron

Cool! Its amazing how much history FReepers are connected to in one way or another.

[Little_shoe]

Trust me I know what you mean. However the Marines will carry the torch. This is from VMFA 122 which i got to visit when I was a Midshipman.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Sweet!

[operation clinton cleanup]

Nickname

Crusaders (present)

Candystripers (WWII)

Someone made a good call on that name change!

[Jet Jaguar]

[sageb1]

Nice emblem.

[Gideon Reader]

524th Stratfron The POODLES! They were in the next barracks to us.
The 522nd were two barracks over.
Flaming Assholes they were known as.(actually it was fireballs or some such)
Wore a BIG Red and White patch with a Fireball on it. BIG!! All of us made up the 27th Strategic Fighter Wing as part of the Strategic Air Command. Only fighter wing in the command.br /> All of us lived in mortal fear that one morning Four Star General Curtis LeMay would show up and find us without the proper photo ID Pass.
Pleasant times fighting a Cold War. All of us took it VERY seriously. Now the hottest war is looked as an annoyance or a means of playing political payback, and screw the troops.