On March 20, 1979, President Chiang Ching-kuo gave instructions to use a portion of the patriotic funds to purchase 18 F-5E jet fighters to form a self-reliance air force squadron.
六十八年三月廿日，蔣總統在財經會談中，指示撥出部分愛國基金捐款，購買 F ﹘五 E 戰鬥機十八架，編成空軍自強中隊。