a result of the Global War on Terrorism, in 2003, the 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flew hundreds of combat missions with the A-10 in support of U.S. Army and Marine operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). During March and April 2003, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 131st Fighter Squadron A-10s supported the U.S. Army by flying combat missions that interdicted enemy forces. BRAC 2005 In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended that the 131st send its A-10s to the Maryland Air National Guard 104th Fighter Squadron at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland. In return, the 131st received the F-15C/D Eagles of the 102d Fighter Wing at Otis AFB, which was to convert into a non-flying Intelligence Wing. The realignment marked the end for the 131st's nearly 30-year mission of flying close-air support missions with the A-10. The 131st took over the homeland security mission of the 102d. In 2007, the A-10s began flying to Maryland and the F-15s began arriving from Otis AFB. By the end of 2007, eighteen F-15Cs and a trainer F-15D had arrived at Barnes. In addition to the air defense mission, the men and women of the 131st Fighter Squadron deploy on air expeditionary missions to the Middle East in support of combat operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The last such deployment was completed in July 2012. Lineage Constituted as the 333d Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 18 August 1942 Activated on 23 August 1942 Inactivated on 12 January 1946 Redesignated 131st Fighter Squadron, Single Engine and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946 Activated on 18 December 1946 Extended federal recognition on 24 February 1947 Redesignated 131st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 16 August 1952 Redesignated 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron (Day) on 10 November 1958 Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 October 1961 Released from active duty and returned to Massachusetts control on 31 August 1962 Redesignated 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron c. 15 October 1962 Redesignated 131st Fighter Squadron on 1 June 1992 Deployed as the 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Trapani Birgi Air Base, Italy from 17 May 1999 to 7 June 1999 and to Aviano Air Base, Italy from January 2003 to October 2003. Assignments 18th Fighter Group, 23 August 1942 318th Fighter Group, 11 January 1943 – 12 January 1946 102d Fighter Group (later 102d Fighter-Interceptor Group), 24 February