331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Webb Air Force Base
, Texas
. It was inactivated on March 1, 1967
P-38 Lightning
Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Trained P-38 pilots in California and Washington State until phaseout of Lightning training in March 1944. Reactivated in 1953 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron. Performed air defense mission over New York City
and northeast United States, 1953-1958 with F-86Ds and F-102s.
Was moved to Webb AFB, Texas for air defense of South Central United States with F-104A Starfighters. In addition, the squadron received the two-seat, dual-control, combat trainer F-104B. The performance of the F-104B was almost identical to that of the F-104A, but the lower internal fuel capacity reduced its effective range considerably.
It was found that the F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low interception range and its incompatibility with the ADC SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system and the 4752d ADW was a non-SAGE manual NORAD Sector Combat Center. Flew F-104s until inactivated in 1967 and re-designated as 4760th Combat Crew Training Squadron and became F-104 training organization for Royal Jordanian Air Force F-104 pilots. 4760th FIS inactivated 1 October 1967 when the Jordanian pilots were recalled because of the war with Israel in the summer of 1967.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Webb Air Force Base
Webb Air Force Base
Webb Air Force Base , previously named Big Spring Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force facility of the Air Training Command that operated from 1951 to 1977 in west Texas within the current city limits of Big Spring. It was a major training facility, and by 1969 almost 9,000 pilots had...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was inactivated on March 1, 1967
History
Activated in 1942 as a IV Fighter CommandIV Fighter Command
The IV Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at Oakland Airport, California...
P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Trained P-38 pilots in California and Washington State until phaseout of Lightning training in March 1944. Reactivated in 1953 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron. Performed air defense mission over New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and northeast United States, 1953-1958 with F-86Ds and F-102s.
Was moved to Webb AFB, Texas for air defense of South Central United States with F-104A Starfighters. In addition, the squadron received the two-seat, dual-control, combat trainer F-104B. The performance of the F-104B was almost identical to that of the F-104A, but the lower internal fuel capacity reduced its effective range considerably.
It was found that the F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low interception range and its incompatibility with the ADC SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system and the 4752d ADW was a non-SAGE manual NORAD Sector Combat Center. Flew F-104s until inactivated in 1967 and re-designated as 4760th Combat Crew Training Squadron and became F-104 training organization for Royal Jordanian Air Force F-104 pilots. 4760th FIS inactivated 1 October 1967 when the Jordanian pilots were recalled because of the war with Israel in the summer of 1967.
Lineage
- Constituted 331st Fighter Squadron on June 24, 1942
- Activated on July 10, 1942
- Disbanded on March 31, 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on February 3, 1953
- Activated on February 24, 1953
- Inactivated March 1, 1967 and redesignated 4760th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- 4760th FIS Inactivated 1 October 1967.
Assignments
- 329th Fighter Group, July 10, 1942 – March 31, 1944
- Air Defense Command
- 519th Air Defense Group519th Air Defense GroupThe 519th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4709th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York...
, February 24, 1953 - 329th Fighter Group, August 18, 1955
- 33d Air Division, August 15, 1958
- Albuquerque Air Defense SectorAlbuquerque Air Defense SectorThe Albuquerque Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 33d Air Division, being stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 1 November 1960.-History:...
, January 1, 1960 - Oklahoma City Air Defense SectorOklahoma City Air Defense SectorThe Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station , Oklahoma...
, September 15, 1960 - 4752d Air Defense Wing, September 1, 1961 – March 1, 1967
Stations
- Hamilton FieldHamilton FieldHamilton Field may refer to:* Hamilton Air Force Base, a former U.S. Air Force Base located on San Francisco Bay, California, United States.* Hamilton Field , an airport located in Derby, Kansas, United States....
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, July 10, 1942 - Paine Army Airfield, Washington, July 14, 1942
- Inglewood AAF (Mines Field)Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, September 10, 1942 - Van Nuys AirportVan Nuys AirportVan Nuys Airport is a public airport located in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley section of the city limits of Los Angeles, California, United States. No major commercial airlines fly into this airport; it is used by private, chartered, and small commercial aircraft...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, November 4, 1942 - Olympia AAFOlympia AirportOlympia Regional Airport is a public use airport located four nautical miles south of the central business district of Olympia, a city in Thurston County and the capital of the U.S. state of Washington. Formerly known as Olympia Airport, it is owned by the Port of Olympia...
, Washington, August 13, 1943; - Ellensburg Army Airfield, Washington, November 1, 1943
- Ontario AAF, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, December 27, 1943 – March 31, 1944 - Suffolk County AFB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, February 24, 1953 - Stewart AFB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, August 18, 1955 - Webb AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, August 15, 1958 – March 1, 1967
Aircraft
- P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, 1942–1944 - F-51 Mustang, 1953
- F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1953–1960
- F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
, 1960–1963 - F-104A/B Starfighter, 1963-1967