498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base
, California
. It was inactivated on September 30, 1968.
Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipped with a mixture of second-line single engine training aircraft. Upgraded in 1943 with P-47 Thunderbolt
s for Replacement Crew Training (RTU). Inactivated in April 1944.
Reactivated in August 1955 as a United States Air Force
Air Defense Command interceptor squadron, assigned to Geiger Field, Washington. Mission was to provide air defense for the Pacific Northwest. Initially equipped with F-86D Sabres. Upgraded to F-102s in 1957 and then to F-106s in 1959, the first operational squadron to receive the Delta Dart. Moved to McChord AFB, 1963, Paine Field 1966.
Moved to Hamilton AFB, California in 1968 and inactivated the same day, aircraft reassigned to the 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.
* Squadron inactivated on September 30, 1968 and assets immediately reassigned to 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.
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 Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, California
California
California 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...
. It was inactivated on September 30, 1968.
Operations history
Established in early 1942 as a III Fighter CommandIII Fighter Command
The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipped with a mixture of second-line single engine training aircraft. Upgraded in 1943 with P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
s for Replacement Crew Training (RTU). Inactivated in April 1944.
Reactivated in August 1955 as a United States Air Force
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...
Air Defense Command interceptor squadron, assigned to Geiger Field, Washington. Mission was to provide air defense for the Pacific Northwest. Initially equipped with F-86D Sabres. Upgraded to F-102s in 1957 and then to F-106s in 1959, the first operational squadron to receive the Delta Dart. Moved to McChord AFB, 1963, Paine Field 1966.
Moved to Hamilton AFB, California in 1968 and inactivated the same day, aircraft reassigned to the 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.
Lineage
- Constituted 303d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on January 13, 1942.
- Activated on February 10, 1942
- Redesignated: 303d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on July 27, 1942
- Redesignated: 498th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on August 10, 1943.
- Disbanded on April 1, 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on June 20, 1955.
- Activated on August 18, 1955.
- Inactivated on September 30, 1968.
Assignments
- 84th Bombardment (later Fighter-Bomber) Group84th Fighter GroupThe 84th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force organization. It is assigned to the 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, California. It was last active as a Fighter Group on 15 July 1963.-History:...
, February 10, 1942 – April 1, 1944 - 84th Fighter Group84th Fighter GroupThe 84th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force organization. It is assigned to the 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, California. It was last active as a Fighter Group on 15 July 1963.-History:...
(Air Defense), 18 August 1955 - 325th Fighter Wing325th Fighter WingThe 325th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.-Mission:The 325th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air...
(Air Defense), 1 July 1963 - 57th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 25 January 1966
- 78th Fighter Group78th Fighter GroupThe 78th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 78th Fighter Wing, being assigned to Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 February 1961....
, September 30, 1968*
* Squadron inactivated on September 30, 1968 and assets immediately reassigned to 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.
Stations
- Savannah AAB, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, February 10, 1942 - Drew FieldTampa International AirportTampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, February 8, 1943 - Harding AAFBaton Rouge Metropolitan AirportBaton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , also known as Ryan Field, is a public use airport located four nautical miles north of the central business district of Baton Rouge, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States....
, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, October 4, 1943 - Hammond AAF, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, c. October 11, 1943 - Abilene AAFAbilene Regional AirportAbilene Regional Airport is a public airport located three statute miles southeast of the central business district of Abilene, a city in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is within the Abilene city limits and owned and operated by the City of Abilene.The majority of aircraft operations at...
, 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...
, February 11 – April 1, 1944 - Geiger FieldSpokane International AirportSpokane International Airport is a commercial airport located about west of downtown Spokane in Spokane County, Washington. It is the primary airport for Spokane, eastern Washington, Coeur d'Alene, and northern Idaho...
, Washington, August 18, 1955 - McChord AFB, Washington, July 1, 1963
- Paine FieldPaine FieldPaine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport is a public airport located in unincorporated Snohomish County, between Mukilteo and Everett, Washington...
, Washington, June 14, 1966 - Hamilton AFB 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 30, 1968*
Aircraft
- V-72 Vengeance, 1942
- A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943
- P-39 Airacobra, 1943
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1943–1944 - F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1955–1957
- F-102A Delta Dagger, 1957–1959
- F-106A Delta Dart, 1959–1968