U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Editors note -- This week's excerpt from The Contrails is seen exactly as shown on page 30 and 31 in the 2015 edition of this cadet guidebook
When the first class entered the Academy in the Summer of 1955, they were divided into four squadrons. In the years following, the number of squadrons gradually increased at an average of four to eight per year. By 1970, the size in the cadet wing reached its peak of 40 squadrons. The number of squadrons dipped from 40 to 36 in 1999 but returned to its current strength of 40 squadrons in 2006.
The current nicknames for each squadron are listed below.
1. Mighty Mach One
2. Deuce
3. Dogs of War
4. Fightin’ Fourth
5. Wolfpack
6. Bull Six
7. Shadow Seven
8. Eagle Eight
9. Viking Nine
10. Tiger Ten
11. Rebeleven
12. Dirty Dozen
13. Bulldawgs
14. Cobras
15. War Eagles
16. Chicken Hawks
17. Stalag 17
18. Nightriders
19. Wolverines
20. Trolls
21. Blackjacks
22. Raptors
23. Barnstormers
24. Phantoms
25. Redeye
26. Barons
27. Thunderbirds
28. Blackbirds
29. Black Panthers
30. Knights of Thirty
31. Grim Reapers
32. Road Runners
33. King Ratz
34. Loose Hawgs
35. Wild Weasels
36. Pink Panthers
37. Animalistic Skyraiders
38. All-Stars
39. Campus Rads
40. Warhawks