438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Convair F-106 about 1967 with squadron emblem in tail markings
Active 1943–1944: 1953-1968
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Fighter Interceptor
Insignia
Patch with 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 16 February 1944)[1]

The 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 507th Fighter Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1968.

History

World War II

It was established in early 1943 as a III Fighter Command Operational training unit, and operated P-39s and P-47s.[1] It was inactivated in 1944 with the end of Operational Training of units.

Air Defense Command

438th FIS F-106 59-0082, about 1965 with the first version of the squadron's tail marking

It was reactivated as an Air Defense Command fighter-interceptor squadron, and stationed at Kinross (later named Kincheloe Air Force Base), Michigan in April 1953[1] with F-94B Starfires. In the spring of 1954 it transitioned into F-89D Scorpions and in the summer of 1957 into F-102A Delta Daggers. In May 1960 it received F-106 Delta Darts.

On 22 October 1962, before President John F. Kennedy told Americans that missiles were in place in Cuba, the squadron dispersed one third of its force, equipped with nuclear tipped missiles to Phelps Collins Air National Guard Base at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.[2][3] These planes returned to Kinchloe after the crisis.

The squadron moved to Griffiss Air Force Base, New York in August 1968. On 30 September 1968 it was inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Griffiss.

Lineage

  • Constituted 438th Fighter Squadron on 12 February 1943
Activated on 20 February 1943
Disbanded on 5 May 1944
  • Reconstituted and redesignated 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 February 1953
Activated on 27 April 1953[4]
Inactivated on 30 September 1968

Assignments

Stations

  • Fort Myers Army Air Field (later Page Field), Florida, 20 February 1943 – 1 May 1944
  • Kinross Air Force Base (later Kincheloe Air Force Base), Michigan, 27 April 1953[4]
  • Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 30 August 1968 – 30 September 1968

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 543. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  2. ↑ McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962-1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 Mar 2000), pp. 10-12
  3. ↑ NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO , 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996). P. 16
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft through 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 543

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Cornett, Lloyd H.; Johnson, Mildred W. (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962-1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 Mar 2000)
  • NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996)
  • "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor (January 1979) Aerospace Defense Command, (Volume 21, Number 1)
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