"Drago, the Green Dragons" T-shirt

The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (318th FIS) was created in June 1942 and activated in August of the same year. It first fought during the Second World War in the Mediterranean theater, operating in North Africa and Italy with aircraft such as the P-40 Warhawk, the P-47 Thunderbolt, and the P-51 Mustang. After the war, the squadron was disbanded and later reactivated as part of the air defense of the United States. It was notably stationed at McChord Air Force Base in the state of Washington starting in 1955, until its deactivation on December 7, 1989. During this period, it was successively equipped with the F-86D Sabre, the F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-106 Delta Dart, and finally the F-15 Eagle. The squadron bore the nickname “Green Dragons.”

The unit’s official emblem depicted a green Chinese dragon on a light blue background. In the 1943 version, the dragon held a gray machine gun; in the 1955 version, it brandished a white rocket with a red tip, symbolizing firepower and the squadron’s interception mission. This dragon personified the strength, vigilance, and speed of fighter pilots. An official description stated: “the deadliest of all killers… returns the Green Dragon to the position of the most dangerous opponent to man.” The dragon therefore symbolized the defensive power of the squadron, embodying both threat and protection.

The unit mascot was named “Drago,” sometimes spelled “Draco,” in direct reference to the green dragon on the emblem. It was a figure about 90 cm (3 ft) high representing the mythical creature. According to squadron archives, it was created in the 1950s by “Flight C” as a collective project. The mascot resided in the unit’s operations building and accompanied the group during deployments and training, notably in Yuma, Arizona, during the F-102 Delta Dagger era. Drago was thus regarded as the symbolic guardian of the squadron, a true honorary member tasked with embodying its esprit de corps.

According to medieval lore, the only way to kill the mighty green dragon was to equip the bravest man with a spear and strong armor. In 1943, the deadliest of all killers was armed with a machine gun, restoring the “Green Dragon” to its place as man’s most dangerous adversary.