498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2012) |
498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–1968 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Nickname(s) | Geiger Tigers (1955–1963) Megas Gatas [sic] Latin Big Cats |
Insignia | |
Patch with 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 7 March 1956)[1] |
The 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive
History
World War II
it was established in early 1942 as a
Air Defense of the Pacific Northwest
The squadron was reactivated in August 1955 as a
On 22 October 1962, before President
These planes returned to McChord after the crisis.On 15 March 1963 two Soviet bombers overflew Alaska and Alaskan Air Command F-102s were unable to intercept them.[4] The response to this intrusion was to deploy ten F-106s from the squadron and its sister unit, the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to Alaska in what was called Operation White Shoes.[5] However, maintaining these aircraft for an extended period of time put a strain on the 325th wing's combat readiness back at McChord, and eventually a detachment of maintenance personnel was established to maintain the planes in Alaska. The unit got relief from this commitment while it was upgrading its F-106s from the 1st Fighter Wing, which relieved it from March to June 1964. Operation White Shoes terminated in 1965 and the unit's planes returned home.[6]
It moved to McChord AFB in 1963, and to Paine Field in 1966.
It moved to
Lineage
- Constituted 303d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942.
- Activated on 10 February 1942
- Redesignated: 303d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 July 1942
- Redesignated: 498th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943.
- Disbanded on 1 April 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on 20 June 1955.
- Activated on 18 August 1955.
- Inactivated on 30 September 1968.
Assignments
- 84th Bombardment (later Fighter-Bomber) Group, 10 February 1942 – 1 April 1944
- 84th Fighter Group(Air Defense), 18 August 1955
- 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 1 July 1963
- 57th Fighter Group(Air Defense), 25 January 1966
- 78th Fighter Group, 30 September 1968
Stations
- Hunter Field, Georgia, 10 February 1942
- Drew Field, Florida, 8 February 1943
- Harding Field, Louisiana, 4 October 1943
- Hammond Army Air Field, Louisiana, c. 11 October 1943
- Abilene Army Air Field, Texas, 11 February – April 1944
- Geiger Field, Washington, 18 August 1955
- McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 1 July 1963
- Paine Field, Washington, 14 June 1966
- Hamilton Air Force BaseCalifornia, 30 September 1968
Aircraft
- V-72 Vengeance, 1942
- A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943
- P-39 Airacobra, 1943
- P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
- F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1955–1957
- F-102A Delta Dagger, 1957–1959
- F-106A Delta Dart, 1959–1968
References
- OCLC 72556.
- ^ McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000), pp. 10–12
- ^ NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO , 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996). P. 16
- ^ McMullen, p. 27
- ^ McMullen, pp. 28–29
- ^ McMullen, pp. 32–34
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cornett, Lloyd H.; Johnson, Mildred W. (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000)
- NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO , 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996)
- "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor (January 1979) Aerospace Defense Command, (Volume 21, Number 1)