324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the 316th Air Division
, stationed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
, Morocco
. It was inactivated on 8 March 1960.
s under I Fighter Command
. Began replacement training in February 1944, inactivated in April when P-47 Thunderbolt training ended.
Reactivated as an Air Defense Command F-86D Sabre interceptor squadron in July 1955 at Westover AFB, Massachusetts flying F-86D Sabre Interceptors, performing an air defense mission over Boston
and the New England
area. In 1957 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 computer-controlled direction system for intercepts. The service of the F-86L destined to be quite brief, since by the time the last F-86L conversion was delivered, the type was already being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors.
Reassigned to the Strategic Air Command
Sixteenth Air Force
in 1958, deployed to Morocco. Performed Air Defense over SAC B-47 Stratojet
REFLEX bases. Inactivated in Morocco with SAC's withdrawal from North African bases in 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...
unit. Its last assignment was with the 316th Air Division
316th Air Division
The 316th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, stationed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base is a military air base in Sidi Slimane, a city in the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region in Morocco. It is also known as the Fifth Royal Air Force Base, operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.-History:...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. It was inactivated on 8 March 1960.
History
Activated in mid-1942 as an operational training unit, primarily for P-47 ThunderboltP-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 under I Fighter Command
I Fighter Command
The I Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York...
. Began replacement training in February 1944, inactivated in April when P-47 Thunderbolt training ended.
Reactivated as an Air Defense Command F-86D Sabre interceptor squadron in July 1955 at Westover AFB, Massachusetts flying F-86D Sabre Interceptors, performing an air defense mission over Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
area. In 1957 began re-equipping with the North American F-86L Sabre, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
, or SAGE computer-controlled direction system for intercepts. The service of the F-86L destined to be quite brief, since by the time the last F-86L conversion was delivered, the type was already being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors.
Reassigned to the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
Sixteenth Air Force
Sixteenth Air Force
The 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe...
in 1958, deployed to Morocco. Performed Air Defense over SAC B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
REFLEX bases. Inactivated in Morocco with SAC's withdrawal from North African bases in 1960.
Lineage
- Constituted 324th Fighter Squadron on 24 June 1942
- Activated on 25 August 1942
- Disbanded on 10 April 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on 8 July 1955
- Activated on 18 October 1955
- Discontinued on 8 March 1960.
Assignments
- 327th Fighter Group327th Fighter GroupThe 327th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
, 25 August 1942-10 April 1944 - 4707th Air Defense Wing4707th Air Defense WingThe 4707th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York...
, 18 October 1955 - 4622d Air Defense Wing (later Boston Air Defense SectorBoston Air Defense SectorThe Boston Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force Air Defense Command organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York.-History:...
), 18 October 1956 - 4729th Air Defense Group4729th Air Defense GroupThe 4729th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Boston Air Defense Sector, being stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
, 8 July 1957 - Boston Air Defense SectorBoston Air Defense SectorThe Boston Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force Air Defense Command organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York.-History:...
, 25 June 1958 - 316th Air Division316th Air DivisionThe 316th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, 1 July 1958-8 March 1960
Stations
- Mitchel Field, 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...
, 25 August 1942 - Bolling Field, D.C., 25 August 1942
- Richmond Army Airbase, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 20 September 1942-10 April 1944 - Westover AFB, 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...
, 18 October 1955-25 June 1958 - Sidi Slimane AB, MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, 1 July 1958-8 March 1960.
Aircraft
- P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943
- 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-86L Sabre Interceptor (SAGE) 1957-1960