538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is provisional unt of United States Air Force
. It is assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
, and is currently located at Camp Bastion
, Afghanistan
.
. Its mission is the training and qualification of Afghanistan Air Force C-27 flight engineers and loadmasters. Since November 2009, Airmen have been training Afghan C-27 pilots and loadmasters to conduct strategic and tactical airlift, airdrops and presidential support. Advisers have a clear goal to pass on to the Afghan airmen the skills to transport cargo, people and assets vital to their security.
The squadron is also part of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan.
P-47 Thunderbolt
replacement training unit during World War II
, 1943–1944
During the early years of the Cold War
, activated in 1955 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron for the defense of the Grand Coolie Dam and the Hanford Atomic Energy Reservation, Washington State. Initially equipped with F-86D Sabre Interceptors; in the Spring of 1957, the 56th FIS began re-equipping with the North American F-86L Sabre, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment, or SAGE.
The transition into the F-86L was short-lived however, as the squadron began transition into the "missile-witha-man-in-it", the Lockheed F-104A in May 1958, becoming the 4th ADC sqadron equipped with the Starfighter. 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.
However, the F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low range was a problem for North American air defense, and its lack of all-weather capability made it incapable of operating in conjunction with the SAGE system. Service with the ADC was consequently quite brief, and the F-104As of the 538th FIS were transferred to the Air National Guard. With the transfer of the Starfighters, the 56th FIS was deactivated at Larson AFB on 1 July 1960
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...
. It is assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
438th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 438th Air Expeditionary Wing is an active United States Air Force unit operating in Afghanistan and assigned to United States Air Forces Central...
, and is currently located at Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. Accommodating 21,000 people it is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, and exists to be the logistics hub for operations in Helmand....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Overview
The squadron was activated by Air Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
. Its mission is the training and qualification of Afghanistan Air Force C-27 flight engineers and loadmasters. Since November 2009, Airmen have been training Afghan C-27 pilots and loadmasters to conduct strategic and tactical airlift, airdrops and presidential support. Advisers have a clear goal to pass on to the Afghan airmen the skills to transport cargo, people and assets vital to their security.
The squadron is also part of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan.
History
Activated 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:...
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...
replacement training unit during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 1943–1944
During the early years of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, activated in 1955 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron for the defense of the Grand Coolie Dam and the Hanford Atomic Energy Reservation, Washington State. Initially equipped with F-86D Sabre Interceptors; in the Spring of 1957, the 56th FIS began re-equipping with the North American F-86L Sabre, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment, or SAGE.
The transition into the F-86L was short-lived however, as the squadron began transition into the "missile-witha-man-in-it", the Lockheed F-104A in May 1958, becoming the 4th ADC sqadron equipped with the Starfighter. 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.
However, the F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low range was a problem for North American air defense, and its lack of all-weather capability made it incapable of operating in conjunction with the SAGE system. Service with the ADC was consequently quite brief, and the F-104As of the 538th FIS were transferred to the Air National Guard. With the transfer of the Starfighters, the 56th FIS was deactivated at Larson AFB on 1 July 1960
Lineage
- Constituted 538th Fighter Squadron on September 24, 1943
- Activated on October 1, 1943
- Disbanded on April 10, 1944.
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on June 20, 1955
- Activated on August 18, 1955
- Discontinued on July 1, 1960
- Re-constituted as 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron in provisional status, by Air Education and Training Command, TBD
- Activated on TBD
Assignments
- 402d Fighter Group402d Maintenance WingThe 402d Maintenance Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:Provide depot maintenance, engineering support, and software development to major weapon systems .-Subordinate Organizations:402d Aircraft...
, October 1, 1943 - 326th Fighter Group326th Aeronautical Systems WingThe 326th Aeronautical Systems Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.-Overview:...
, November 25, 1943 – April 10, 1944 - 9th Air Division9th Air DivisionSeveral air forces and space forces have included a 9th Air Division:*9th Air Division, of the Luftwaffe*9th Anti-Missile Defence Division of the Russian Space Forces*9th Assault Ropshinskaya red banner, Order of Ushakov Air Division of Soviet Naval Aviation...
, August 18, 1955 - 4721st Air Defense Group4721st Air Defense GroupThe 4721st Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4700th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Larson Air Force Base, Washington...
, December 1, 1956 - 4700th Air Defense Wing4700th Air Defense WingThe 4700th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Spokane Air Defense Sector, being stationed at Geiger Field, Washington. It was discontinued on 30 June 1960-History:...
, May 1, 1959 - Spokane Air Defense SectorSpokane Air Defense SectorThe Spokane Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 25th Air Division, being stationed at Larson Air Force Base, Washington.-History:...
, May 15 – July 1, 1960 - 438th Air Expeditionary Wing438th Air Expeditionary WingThe 438th Air Expeditionary Wing is an active United States Air Force unit operating in Afghanistan and assigned to United States Air Forces Central...
- TBD
Stations
- Westover Field, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, October 1, 1943 - Seymour Johnson Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, October 13, 1943 - Bluethenthal FieldWilmington International Airport-Other operations:As of August 2011, Wilmington International Airport has 134 aircraft that are based at the Airport. There are 100 single engine aircraft, 27 multi-engine aircraft, 7 jet engine aircraft, and 3 helicopters...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, December 8, 1943 – April 10, 1944 - Larson AFB, Washington, August 18, 1955 – July 1, 1960.
- Camp BastionCamp BastionCamp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. Accommodating 21,000 people it is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, and exists to be the logistics hub for operations in Helmand....
, AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, ???-Present
Aircraft
- 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...
, 1944 - F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1955–1957
- F-86L Sabre Interceptor (SAGE) 1957-1958
- F-104A/B Starfighter, 1958–1960
- C-27J Spartan, ???-Present