The squadron was redesignated the 563d Tactical Fighter Squadron, organized at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas in October 1962 and assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.
 The 563d was equipped with the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, although it initially flew F-100s as well until becoming an all Thunderchief unit.
 In February 1964, the 388th was replaced at McConnell by the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing.
 The squadron conducted tactical operations and training in preparation for global deployment.
 In April 1965, the 563d deployed to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it participated in combat operations in the Vietnam War under the control of the 6235th Tactical Fighter Wing    On 27 July 1965, the unit participated in the first destruction of a surface-to-air missile site in North Vietnam in Operation Iron Hand.
 It participated in the first increment of Operation Rolling Thunder, and in several attempts to destroy the Thanh Hoa and Paul Doumer Bridges.

The squadron returned to McConnell after earning two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device during its combat tour in Thailand.
 It had flown more than 1500 sorties over North Vietnam and Laos and lost ten of the F-105Ds it originally deployed with.
 Two squadron pilots were killed in action and three became Prisoners of War.
 In 1966, the squadron focused on training replacement F-105 pilots for units in Southeast Asia.
 It continued this mission until August 1970, when the need for "Thud Drivers" diminished with the withdrawal of the United States from Southeast Asia.
 The squadron continued to fly the F-105 until inactivated in July 1972.
The squadron was redesignated the 563d Tactical Fighter Squadron, organized at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas in October 1962 and assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.  The 563d was equipped with the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, although it initially flew F-100s as well until becoming an all Thunderchief unit.  In February 1964, the 388th was replaced at McConnell by the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing.  The squadron conducted tactical operations and training in preparation for global deployment.  In April 1965, the 563d deployed to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it participated in combat operations in the Vietnam War under the control of the 6235th Tactical Fighter Wing    On 27 July 1965, the unit participated in the first destruction of a surface-to-air missile site in North Vietnam in Operation Iron Hand.  It participated in the first increment of Operation Rolling Thunder, and in several attempts to destroy the Thanh Hoa and Paul Doumer Bridges.
The squadron returned to McConnell after earning two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device during its combat tour in Thailand.  It had flown more than 1500 sorties over North Vietnam and Laos and lost ten of the F-105Ds it originally deployed with.  Two squadron pilots were killed in action and three became Prisoners of War.  In 1966, the squadron focused on training replacement F-105 pilots for units in Southeast Asia.  It continued this mission until August 1970, when the need for "Thud Drivers" diminished with the withdrawal of the United States from Southeast Asia.  The squadron continued to fly the F-105 until inactivated in July 1972.
563rd Flying Training Squadron