The 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) was constituted as the 10th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) at Selfridge Field, MI, on November 20, 1940. It was activated on 1 January 1941. The unit first flew the Vultee BT-13 and quickly converted to the Seversky P-35. The unit moved to Key Field, MS on 3 October 1941, and then to Orlando AB, FL on 28 March 1942, where it was redesignated the 10th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group, on 15 May 1942. The squadron moved to Zephyrhills, FL on 4 January 1943. While in Florida the 10th trained cadre pilots in Curtis P-40 and North American P-51 aircraft. The unit returned to Orlando AB on January 29, 1944 and departed for England on March 23, 1944. The 10th arrived at Lymington, England, on 5 April 1944. The 50th Fighter Group was assigned to the 84th Fighter Wing, 9th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force, and received training in Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. The unit flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep near Caen, France on March 1, 1944.

From then until 6 June 1944, the squadron flew fighter sweeps over northwestern France; conducted divebombing attacks against such targets such as marshalling yards, a railroad bridge over the Seine River, factories, and a NOBALL (missile launching) site near Pas-de-Calais; and escorted medium bombers and dive bombers. On D-Day the squadron flew area cover over the Normandy beaches and moved to Carentan, France (A-10) on 25 June 1944.

By the time the 10th had flown its last combat mission (7 May 1945) it had been located at eight different fields in France and Germany and had been awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations. The squadron left Europe on 22 June 1945 and arrived at La Junta AAF, CO on August 6, 1945, where it remained until inactivation on 7 November 1945. The 10th was activated on 28 January 1950, at Langley AFB, VA as a corollary unit of the Air Force Reserve, and attached to various tactical organizations for training. It was redesignated the 10th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 16 March 1950 and redesignated the 10th Fighter Bomber Squadron on 23 January 1951.

It was ordered into active service on 14 April 1951, brought its personnel into the regular Air Force, and was inactivated on 27 April 1951. The 10th was activated on 1 January 1953 at Clovis AFB, NM once more as part of the 50th Fighter Bomber Group. The unit flew F-51 Mustangs initially but soon transitioned to the North American F-86F in preparation for a move to Hahn AB, Germany. The unit arrived in Europe on 11 August 1953 and remained at Hahn until 10 July 1956 when it moved to Toul-Rosieres AB; France. While in France the unit transitioned to the North American F-100 "Super Sabre" and was redesignated the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 July 1958. On 10 December 1959 the 10th TFS returned to Hahn AB, where it was to remain for the next 32 years. The squadron traded in their "Huns" for the McDonnell Douglas F-4 (October 1966), and later the General Dynamics F-16 "Fighting Falcon" (May 1982. It was in the F-16 that the 10th once again flew into combat. On 29 December 1990 the 10th deployed 24 aircraft to Southwest Asia in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD.

Sixteen days later DESERT SHIELD became DESERT STORM as coalition Air Forces attacked targets in Iraq and Kuwait. During 43 days of war the squadron flew 1378 combat sorties. Missions included interdiction against both strategic and tactical targets, armed reconnaissance along major highways, reconnaissance along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers striking major crossing points, and close-air support during the 100 hour ground war. On 27 February 1991, on his 35th combat mission, squadron member Capt. Bill "Psycho" Andrews was shot down over Iraq by a surface to air missile. He was captured and remained a POW until his release on 6 March 1991. The squadron returned to Hahn on May 9, 1991. Along with the rest of the 50th TFW it deactivated on 30 September 1991. Today, the 10th Flight Test Squadron has taken over the "Sabre" -flag and is operational at Tinker AFB, OK flying Test missions for B-1, B-52 aircraft.