437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
	Convair F-106A Delta Dart 57-2486 of the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Active	1944-1946; 1952-1968; 1968
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter-Interceptor
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command
Insignia
Patch showing the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Emblem

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

History

World War II

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.

Cold War Air Defense

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 Fighter Interceptor Squadron moved from Castle Air Force Base, California to Oxnard AFB with F-106As and was immediately inactivated. Its personnel and equipment were redesignated to the 437th, which was activated the same day, only to be inactivated on 30 September 1968 and have it personnel and airplanes transferred to the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was activated at Oxnard the same day. The 437th FIS operated the F-106 for only 2 months, making it the shortest-lived F-106 unit.

Lineage

Constituted as the 437th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine 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

Activated on 1 July 1968

Inactivated on 30 September 1968

Assignments

414th Fighter Group, 15 October 1944 – 30 September 1946
4707th Air Defense Wing, 27 November 1952
564th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953
414th Fighter Group, 18 August 1955 – 29 April 1968
414th Fighter Group, 1 June 1968-30 September 1968

Stations

Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, 15 October 1944
Selfridge Field, Michigan, 21 November 1944
Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina, 19 March – 5 June 1945
North Field (Iwo Jima), 7 July 1945
Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 23 December 1945
Floridablanca Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, unkn-30 September 1946
Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 27 November 1952
Oxnard Air Force Base, California, 18 August 1955 – 29 April 1968
Oxnard AFB, California, 1 June 1968-30 September 1968

Aircraft

P-47N Thunderbolt, 1944–1946
F-94C Starfire, 1952–1955
F-89D Scorpion, 1955
F-94C Starfire, 1955-1956

F-89D Scorpion, 1956-1958
F-89J Scorpion, 1958-1960
F-101B Voodoo, 1960–1968
F-106 Delta Dart, 1968

References

Notes

^ This aircraft, seen refueling from a SAC KC-135 in September 1968, was lost on 14 December 1972. There seems to be no documentation that shows the 437th had its own distinctive F-106 tail flash markings. Its tail colors were carried over from the 456th FIS, and became the first markings of the 460th FIS.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
Cornett, Lloyd H (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.

Further reading

Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missille Defense (PDF). Vol. , Vol II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1.
Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missille Defense (PDF). Vol. Vol I. 1945-1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).