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437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

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437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Emblem of the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Active1943–1969
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeFighter-Interceptor
Convair F-106A-90-CO Delta Dart 57-2486 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. This aircraft, seen refueling from a SAC KC-135 in September 1968, was lost on 14 December 1972. Because of its short lived life there seems to be no documentation that shows the 437th ever had its own distinctive tail flash markings. The tail colors seen on the 437 FIS sixes were carried over from the 456th FIS, which also became the first markings of the 460th FIS.
3 F-101Bs of the 437th FIS, Oxnard AFB, California 1964
437th FIS F-89D 53-2629 at Oxnard AFB, about 1955

The 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 414th Fighter Group, stationed at Oxnard AFB, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1969.

History

Established in late 1944 as a very long range P-47N Thunderbolt fighter squadron; trained under III Fighter Command. Deployed to Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), assigned to XXI Bomber Command as a long-range escort squadron for B-29 Superfortress bombers engaged in the strategic bombardment of Japan, based on Iwo Jima. After the Japanese Capitulation, moved to Luzon where the squadron was demobilized, the P-47Ns being returned to storage depots in the United States. Inactivated as a paper unit in 1946.

Reactivated in 1952 as an Air Defense Command interceptor squadron at Otis AFB, Massachusetts with F-94C Starfires. It was the first operational F-94C unit. In August 1955 the unit designation was transferred to Oxnard AFB, California and in March 1956 it transitioned into F-89Ds. The squadron received F-89Hs in July 1956 and F-89Js in March 1958.

In January 1960 the squadron was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer. 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 April 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.

On 1 July 1968 the 456th FIS moved from Castle AFB to Oxnard AFB with F-106As and was redesignated the 437th FIS, only to be deactivated on 30 September 1968 and be re-designated the 460th FIS. The 437th FIS operated the F-106 for only 2 months, making it the "shortest-lived" F-106 unit.

Lineage

  • Constituted 437th Fighter Squadron on 5 October 1944
Activated on 15 October 1944
Inactivated on 30 September 1946
  • Redesignated 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 14 November 1952
Activated on 27 November 1952
Inactivated 29 April 1968
Inactivated on 30 September 1968, personnel and equipment redesignated the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from 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).
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