444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command Washington Air Defense Sector
stationed at Charleston AFB, South Carolina
. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968.
Became a P-39 Aircobra replacement training unit (RTU) at Tonopah Army Air Field
, Nevada. Moved to Concord Army Airfield, California and received Bell P-63 Kingcobra
aircraft for training replacement pilots (RTU) for Fifth Air Force
units in the South Pacific. Moved again to Santa Rosa Army Airfield, continuing mission until iactivated on 1 May 1944 as part of a reorganization of training units.
Reactivated in 1954 as part of Air Defense Command as an air defense squadron, was equipped with the F-86D Sabre Interceptor and assigned to Charleston AFB, South Carolina with a mission for the air defense of Charleston and the military facilities in the region. Was upgraded to the North American F-86L Sabre in 1957, an improved version of the F-86D which incorporated the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
, or SAGE computer-controlled direction system for intercepts.
The 444th was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. 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 September 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.
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 Air Defense Command Washington Air Defense Sector
Washington Air Defense Sector
The Washington Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Fort Lee Air Force Station, Virginia...
stationed at Charleston AFB, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968.
History
Activated in the summer of 1942 as part of IV Fighter CommandIV Fighter Command
The IV Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at Oakland Airport, California...
Became a P-39 Aircobra replacement training unit (RTU) at Tonopah Army Air Field
Tonopah Army Air Field
Tonopah Army Air Field was a World War II United States Army Air Force training airfield located seven miles east of the central business district of Tonopah, a city in Nye County, Nevada, USA. It was active between 1942 and 1945.- Origins :...
, Nevada. Moved to Concord Army Airfield, California and received Bell P-63 Kingcobra
P-63 Kingcobra
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies...
aircraft for training replacement pilots (RTU) for Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
units in the South Pacific. Moved again to Santa Rosa Army Airfield, continuing mission until iactivated on 1 May 1944 as part of a reorganization of training units.
Reactivated in 1954 as part of Air Defense Command as an air defense squadron, was equipped with the F-86D Sabre Interceptor and assigned to Charleston AFB, South Carolina with a mission for the air defense of Charleston and the military facilities in the region. Was upgraded to the North American F-86L Sabre in 1957, 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 444th was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. 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 September 1968, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
and the squadron inactivated as part of the general drawdown of the ADC active-duty interceptor force.
Lineage
- Constituted as: 444th Fighter Squadron on 19 February 1943
- Activated on 1 March 1943
- Disbanded on 31 March 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 444th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on 23 March 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1954
- Inactivated 30 September 1968
Assignments
- 328th Fighter Group328th Armament Systems WingThe 328th Armament Systems Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.Currently the wing reports to the Air Armament Center, part of Air Material Command....
, 1 March 1943-31 March 1944 - 35th Air Division, 16 February 1954
- 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958
- Washington Air Defense SectorWashington Air Defense SectorThe Washington Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Fort Lee Air Force Station, Virginia...
, 1 July 1961-30 September 1968.
Stations
- Hamilton FieldHamilton Air Force BaseHamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, 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...
, 1 March 1943 - Tonopah AAFTonopah Army Air FieldTonopah Army Air Field was a World War II United States Army Air Force training airfield located seven miles east of the central business district of Tonopah, a city in Nye County, Nevada, USA. It was active between 1942 and 1945.- Origins :...
, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, 6 June 1943 - Concord AAF, 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...
, 18 September 1943 - Santa Rosa AAF, 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...
, 15 December 1943-31 March 1944 - Charleston AFB, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 16 February 1954-30 September 1968
Aircraft
- P-39 Aircobra, 1943–1944
- P-63 KingcobraP-63 KingcobraThe Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies...
, 1944 - F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1954–1957
- F-86L Sabre Interceptor (SAGE), 1957–1960
- F-101B Voodoo, 1960–1968