The 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (5th FIS), known as the”Spittin’ Kittens,” was one of the Air Defense Command’s premier interceptor units during the Cold War. It was stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where it defended the northern approaches to North America against potential Soviet bomber incursions.
The first F-15 arrived at Minot in December 1984, beginning the squadron’s conversion from the F-106 to the F-15.
The squadron operated F-15A and F-15B Eagles, assuming the air defense mission previously carried out by the F-106. The Eagle’s superior radar, speed, maneuverability, and missile capability made it one of the most effective air superiority fighters in the world.
However, the 5th FIS’s time with the F-15 was relatively brief. The squadron flew the Eagle for only about three years before being inactivated as part of Air Force restructuring efforts. In 1988, the unit left Minot and was redesignated as the 5th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
The “Spittin’ Kittens” nickname came from a pair of Canadian lynx mascots, Spittin and Kitten, acquired by the squadron in the early 1960s. Their descendants became a well-known part of the squadron’s identity throughout its years at Minot.
F-15 Timeline of the 5th FIS
4 Dec 1984: First F-15 Eagle arrives, beginning conversion from the F-106.
1985-1988: Squadron operates F-15A/B Eagles in the Air Defense mission.
1988: Squadron inactivated at Minot; aircraft transferred and the unit redesignated as the 5th Flying Training Squadron.
The 5th FIS occupies a special place in F-15 history because it was among the last Air Defense Command interceptor squadrons to transition from the F-106 to the Eagle, marking the end of a major chapter in Cold War continental air defense
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Squadron photos
