HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- One of the most historic units at Hill Air Force Base bade farewell on Friday afternoon, but it might be making history again in the near future.
Hill's 34th Fighter Squadron, known as the "Rude Rams," was officially deactivated in a ceremony in a hangar along the base flightline. The closing comes after a service-wide Combat Air Force Restructure Plan announced in 2009 that calls for the retirement of 259 aircraft including 112 F-15s, 138 F-16s, 9 A-10s and five F-16s.
In addition, Hill will lose 24 F-16s as part of the plan that officials say will save the Air Force $355 million in Fiscal Year 2010 and $3.5 billion over the next five fiscal years.
As one of three F-16 fighter squadrons in the 388th Fighter Wing, the 34th's roots go back to Seymour Johnson Field, N.C., where it was activated for the first time on Oct. 15, 1944.
Since then, the unit has had 56 commanders and flown various aircraft, including the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre Jet, F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief and F-4E Phantom II.
The squadron arrived at Hill on Dec. 8, 1975, and became the first operational F-16 fighter squadron in the Air Force when it received its first F-16 from General Dynamics on Sept. 27, 1979.
Hill officials said Friday that with Hill in the running to host up to three F-35 Joint Strike Fighter wings, the 34th may reactivate again as an F-35 squadron.
"The Air Force obviously hasn't made any decisions on the F-35 yet," said Col. Scott Zobrist, commander of the 388th. "But the Rude Rams could be back. This squadron could very well be the first operational F-35 squadron in the Air Force."
Lt. Col Brad Lyons, commander of the 34th, also spoke of the F-35 possibility for the presently dormant squadron.
"Today is a bittersweet day, but we're all looking to the future," he said. "And we all hope that involves flying the F-35."
The Rams finished their last deployment in May with a four-month stay at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, where it provided support to coalition forces on the ground. The deployment marked only the third time an F-16 unit had deployed to the airfield.
"Serving as the 34th Fighter Squadron commander has been the highlight of my career," Lyons said. "Regardless of anything else I do, leading these men and women to war will remain my most significant accomplishment."
In December 1991, the Rams became the first squadron at Hill to deploy in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone in Iraq after the Gulf War.
The 34th also was the first active-duty Air Force squadron to deploy to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, flying missions into Latin America to intercept, shadow, and identify suspected narcotics-carrying aircraft.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Rams have played a significant role in operations such as Operation Noble Eagle, providing homeland defense flights including security for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
"From World War II to the present conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Rams have been there," Lyons said. "And I couldn't be more proud to have been a part of it."
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