Activated in 1957 at
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina as a fourth
North American F-100 Super Sabre squadron with the
4th Fighter-Day Wing, taking over personnel and equipment from the
448th Fighter-Day Squadron. Performed routine training exercises,. The F-100s remained with the 333rd until 1960 when it was upgraded to the
Republic F-105B Thunderchief. During the
Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was deployed to
McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, ready to react at a moments notice for possible combat over
Cuba. In the spring of 1964, the 333rd began the transition from F-105Bs to F-105D/Fs.
Vietnam War The squadron was deployed to Thailand in late 1965 to
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for combat operations over
Southeast Asia. However, the 333d then transferred to
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base to relieve the
335th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On 3 December 1965, the 333d deployment was changed from temporary to a permanent change of station, and the squadron was reassigned to the
355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli. Remained in combat operations over Southeast Asia from Thailand until October 1970 when was withdrawn from Thailand as part of the United States' phasedown of operations in the
Vietnam War. Began to carry tail code "RK" in March 1968, carried red colors on tail.
Ground Support Assigned non-operationally to
McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, then also to
Luke Air Force Base, Arizona as a non-operational squadron. Was Moved to
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in July 1971, becoming an operational
LTV A-7D Corsair II squadron under
Tactical Air Command's
Twelfth Air Force,
355th Tactical Fighter Wing. Aircraft carried tail code "DM", with red tail stripe. Took part in routine deployments and training operations with the A-7D until 1976, being upgraded to the new
Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II, becoming the first tactical unit to fly the A-10A. Initially retained red tail stripe, later replaced by red and white checkered fin caps. Trained and deployed with the 355th Wing until inactivated in February 1991 as part of the drawdown of the Air Force after the
Cold War ended. Was reactivated in November 1991 as the
333rd Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan, replacing the
22nd Tactical Air Support Training Squadron as an OA-10
forward air controller training squadron. Replaced by the
354th Fighter Squadron in October 1994.
F-15E Strike Eagle Returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle training Squadron, 1 October 1994 in conjunction with the transfer of the F-15E formal training unit at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. ==Lineage==