444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Emblem of the 444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Active 1943-1968
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Fighter-Interceptor
Engagements World War II
444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo 57-354 Charleston AFB, South Carolina September 1962
444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86L-60-NA Sabre 53-4047 35th Air Division, Charleston AFB, South Carolina, July 1957

The 444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command Washington Air Defense Sector stationed at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968.

History

Activated in the summer of 1942 as part of IV Fighter Command Became a P-39 Airacobra replacement training unit (RTU) at Tonopah Army Air Field, Nevada. Moved to Concord Army Airfield, California and received Bell P-63 Kingcobra aircraft for training replacement pilots (RTU) for Fifth Air Force units in the South Pacific. Moved again to Santa Rosa Army Airfield, continuing mission until inactivated on 1 May 1944 as part of a reorganization of training units.

Reactivated in 1954 as part of Air Defense Command as an air defense squadron, was equipped with the F-86D Sabre Interceptor and assigned to Charleston AFB, South Carolina with a mission for the air defense of Charleston and the military facilities in the region. Was upgraded to the North American F-86L Sabre in 1957, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment, or SAGE computer-controlled direction system for intercepts.

The 444th was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. Operated the Voodoos until September 1968, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard and the squadron inactivated as part of the general drawdown of the ADC active-duty interceptor force.

Lineage

Activated on 1 March 1943
Disbanded on 31 March 1944
Activated on 16 February 1954
Inactivated 30 September 1968

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

    • A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
    • Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.
    • USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).

    External links

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