318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Last updated

318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - F-15 - McChord AFB.jpg
F-15 Eagle of the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Active1942–1945; 1947–1989
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Fighter Interceptor
Nickname(s)Green Dragons
Engagements Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron emblem [note 1] [1] [2] 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Emblem.jpg
318th Fighter Squadron emblem [3] [note 2] [1] 318 Fighter Sq emblem.png

The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was inactivated on 7 December 1989.

Contents

The squadron was first activated as the 318th Fighter Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to North Africa. In combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It was withdrawn from combat from September to December 1943 while it equipped with different aircraft and moved from Africa to Italy. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations before returning to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron was reactivated in 1947, serving in the air defense role in the Northeastern United States, initially equipping with World War II era night fighters. By 1950, it had moved across the continent and began to equip with jet fighters. In 1953, the squadron moved to provide air defense of Greenland, but it was replaced by another squadron the following year. With the implementation of Project Arrow in the summer of 1955, the 318th returned to the Pacific Northwest and its traditional headquarters, the 325th Fighter Group. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron deployed a third of its aircraft to a nearby airfield. When the Soviet Long-Range Aviation began flights over Alaska, the squadron deployed aircraft and crews to augment Alaskan Air Command. In 1968, following the Pueblo Crisis it deployed planes to Korea.

History

World War II

The squadron was first organized at Mitchel Field, New York on 3 August 1942 as one of the three original squadrons of the 325th Fighter Group, but moved the same day to New Bedford Army Air Field, Massachusetts. It equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and trained for combat at New Bedford and Grenier Field, New Hampshire until late January 1943, when it began to deploy overseas. [2] [4]

P-40s at Tafaraoui Airfield World War II in Africa (3494536971).jpg
P-40s at Tafaraoui Airfield

The squadron arrived in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in February and was established at its first combat station, Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria by 28 February 1943. It flew its first combat mission on 17 April. It escorted medium bombers. It flew strafing missions and flew sweeps over the Mediterranean Sea from bases in Algeria and Tunisia. The squadron participated in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia. It participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and in Operation Husky, the invasion and conquest of Sicily. On 30 July, the 325th Group used diversionary tactics to lure a superior number of enemy planes into the air over Sardinia, destroying more than half of them. The squadron was awarded its first Distinguished Unit Citation for this action. In late September 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat to convert to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and prepare to move to the Italian peninsula. [4]

325th Fighter Group P-47 325fightergroup-p-47-1943.jpg
325th Fighter Group P-47

By early December 1943, the squadron began to operate its Thunderbolts from Foggia Airfield, Italy, flying its first mission with the new plane on 14 December. However, it only operated the P-47 for a short period, converting to North American P-51 Mustangs in March 1944, and moving to Lesina Airfield, Italy on the 29th of the month. However, on 30 January it flew its "T-Bolts" more than 300 miles at very low altitude to make a surprise attack on German interceptors defending airdromes near Villorba. The severe losses it inflicted on the defending forces enabled heavy bombers to attack vital targets in the area without encountering serious opposition. This action resulted in the second award of the Distinguished Unit Citation to the squadron. [4]

1/Lt William E. Aron, an ace with the squadron 1Lt. William E. Aron, a pilot of the 318th Fighter Squadron 325th Fighter Group.jpg
1/Lt William E. Aron, an ace with the squadron

It escorted the heavy bombers of Fifteenth Air Force on long range missions against the Daimler Benz factory in Berlin, the Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg and oil refineries near Vienna. It also flew escort for attacks on other targets, such as airfields and marshalling yards and lines of communication in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania. It also protected reconnaissance aircraft and strafed trains, vehicles and airfields. The squadron continued operations until May 1945. The 318th was credited with the destruction of 173 enemy aircraft in air to air combat. [5] After V-E Day, it moved to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, remaining there until October, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 28 October. [2] [4]

Air Defense Command

Early operations

Squadron P-61B Black Widow at Hamilton Field 318th Fighter Squadron P-61B-20-NO Black Widow 43-8293.jpg
Squadron P-61B Black Widow at Hamilton Field
Squadron F-82 Twin Mustang 318th FAWS North American F-82F Twin Mustang 46-426.jpg
Squadron F-82 Twin Mustang

The squadron was reactivated in May 1947 at Mitchell Field, New York as an element of Air Defense Command (ADC). In December 1947 it moved to Hamilton Field, California [2] where it received its first aircraft,[ citation needed ] Northrop P-61 Black Widows which had been pressed into the air defense mission. In the spring[ citation needed ] of 1948 the squadron received new North American F-82 Twin Mustangs and in November 1948, it moved to McChord Air Force Base, Washington. There, it was redesignated the 318th Fighter All Weather Squadron in January 1950 and the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron' in May 1951. [2] In June 1951 the squadron began its transition into jet Lockheed F-94A Starfire interceptors armed with 20 millimeter cannon, completing the upgrade by the end of the year. [6]

In June 1953, the squadron moved to Thule Air Base, Greenland, where it came under the control of the Northeast Air Command. The squadron returned to ADC in August 1954 when it was replaced by the 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved from Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine and took over the 318th's Starfighters. In turn, the 318th moved to Presque Isle and equipped with the 74th's former Northrop F-89D Scorpions, armed with FFAR rockets. [7] In August 1955 ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars. [8] As part of this project, the squadron returned to McChord and once again became part of the 325th Fighter Group, to which it had been assigned during World War II. At McChord, it took over the personnel and North American F-86D Sabres formerly assigned to the 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was inactivated. [2] [6] [9]

F-106 era

Squadron F-102A Delta Dagger 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger 56-1420.jpg
Squadron F-102A Delta Dagger

In March 1957, the squadron began a transition into supersonic Convair F-102A Delta Daggers, armed with GAR-1 Falcons and equipped with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system. [6] In March 1960, the 325th Fighter Group was inactivated and the squadron was assigned directly to the 325th Fighter Wing [2] [10] The following month it upgraded to Convair F-106 Delta Darts. [6]

On 22 October 1962, before President John F. Kennedy told Americans that missiles were in place in Cuba, the squadron dispersed one third of its force, equipped with nuclear tipped missiles to Paine Air Force Base at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. These planes returned to McChord after the crisis was over. [11] [12]

quadron F-106 Delta Dart 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Convair F-106 Delta Dart 59-0009.png
quadron F-106 Delta Dart

On 15 March 1963, two Soviet bombers overflew Alaska and Alaskan Air Command F-102s were unable to intercept them. [13] The response to this intrusion was to deploy ten F-106s from the squadron and its sister unit, the 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to Alaska in what was called Operation White Shoes. [14] 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-Interceptor Wing, which relieved it from March to June 1964. Operation White Shoes terminated in 1965 and the unit's planes returned home. [15]

On 11 February 1968, the 318th deployed to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea from McChord to provide air defense following the 26 January 1968 North Korea seizure of the USS Pueblo in Operation Red Fox. This marked the first time in history that F-106s had flown across the Pacific using in-flight refueling. In June 1968, the squadron was relieved by the 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, but its aircraft remained in Korea. As its personnel returned to the United States, they re-equipped with F-106s from the 48th. [16] The 325th Wing inactivated on 1 July 1968 as Military Airlift Command assumed responsibility for McChord, and the squadron was reassigned directly to the 25th Air Division. [17]

In 1970 and in 1984, the squadron won the Hughes Trophy as the best interceptor squadron in the Air Force. [18] On 24 November 1971, D. B. Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight, demanding ransom and threatening the passengers. Two F-106s from the squadron scrambled to trail the hijacked airliner. [19]

Final operations at McChord

The 318th converted to McDonnell F-15 Eagles in 1983. During its time flying the F-106, the squadron had maintained alert detachments at various times at Kingsley Field, Oregon; Walla Walla Regional Airport, Washington; and at Castle Air Force Base, California. The detachment at Castle was active when the squadron converted to Eagles, but it continued to operate the Delta Dart. Although administratively part of the 318th, it drew its pilots and technicians from the 194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the California Air National Guard. The squadron remained at McChord until inactivating on 7 December 1989. [19]

Lineage

Activated on 3 August 1942
Inactivated on 28 October 1945
Redesignated 318th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 10 May 1948
Redesignated 318th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 May 1951 [20]
Inactivated 7 December 1989 [19]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation 30 July 1943Sardinia, 318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation30 January 1944Italy, 318th Fighter Squadron [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 1968-1 March 1968318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron [21]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 April 1972–30 June 1973318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron [22]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1974–30 June 1976318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1983–1 June 1984318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron [23]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1984–30 June 1986318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron [23]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Offensive, Europe28 February 1943–5 June 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Combat, EAME Theater28 February 1943–11 May 1945318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Tunisia28 February 1943–13 May 1943318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Sicily14 May 1943–17 August 1943318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Naples-Foggia18 August 1943–21 January 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Anzio22 January 1944–24 May 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Rome-Arno22 January 1944–9 September 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Normandy6 June 1944–24 July 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Northern France25 July 1944–14 September 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Southern France15 August 1944–14 September 1944318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG North Apennines10 September 1944–4 April 1945318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Rhineland15 September 1944–21 March 1945318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Central Europe22 March 1944–21 May 1945318th Fighter Squadron [2]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Po Valley3 April 1945–8 May 1945318th Fighter Squadron [2]

See also


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Field (Hamilton AFB)</span> Closed U.S. Army/Air Force base in Marin County, California

Hamilton Field was a United States Air Force base, which was inactivated in 1973, decommissioned in 1974, and put into a caretaker status with the Air Force Reserve until 1976. It was transferred to the United States Army in 1983 and was designated an Army Airfield until its BRAC closure in 1988. It is located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay in the southern portion of Novato, in Marin County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4704th Defense Wing</span> Military unit

The 4704th Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was discontinued in 1954. It was established in 1952 at McChord in a general reorganization of ADC, which replaced wings responsible for a base with wings responsible for a geographical area. It commanded three fighter interceptor squadrons initially, and added three more squadrons before the end of the year. In early 1953 it added several radar squadrons in the Pacific Northwest, one of which was an Air National Guard squadron mobilized for the Korean War. When it was discontinued in the fall of 1954 its units transferred to the 25th Air Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">325th Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 325th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based in Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing</span> Military unit

The 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force last based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It was last assigned to Air Force Materiel Command's Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron</span> Military unit

The 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, operating General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">414th Fighter Group</span> Military unit

The 414th Fighter Group is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 944th Fighter Wing of Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Fighter Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 2nd Fighter Training Squadron, sometimes written as 2d Fighter Training Squadron, is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 325th Operations Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">95th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 95th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Boneheads, is an active squadron of the United States Air Force. Last activated on 15 June 2023 as a Lockheed Martin F-35 squadron stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Previously the 95 FS was an F-22 equipped squadron, but in 2019 the squadron's aircraft and personnel were distributed across other bases in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018 and its destruction of large parts of Tyndall Air Force Base. It was subsequently disbanded in 2019. In August 2023, the unit received its first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">465th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 465th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 507th Operations Group, 507th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The squadron operates the KC-135R aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Flying Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the United States Air Force's Air Force Reserve Command serving as a reserve associate squadron operating with the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk, Northrop T-38C Talon, and Beechcraft T-6A Texan II aircraft conducting flight training in support of the 71st Operations Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th Fighter Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 49th Fighter Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to Aerospace Defense Command, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, where it was inactivated on 31 December 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division at Thule Air Base, Greenland, where it was inactivated on 25 March 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command San Francisco Air Defense Sector stationed at Oxnard Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 18 July 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to Air Defense Command at Truax Field, Wisconsin, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron</span> Military unit

The 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 35th Air Division at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1968. The squadron was first activated as the 438th Fighter Squadron during World War II. It served as an Replacement Training Unit until the spring of 1944, when it was disbanded in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces training units. It was reactivated in 1953 as an air defense unit and served in that role until inactivated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">567th Cyberspace Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 567th Cyberspace Operations Group is a United States Air Force organization at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, assigned to the 67th Cyberspace Wing. It was activated in June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">325th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 325th Operations Group is the flying component of the 325th Fighter Wing, assigned to Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force. The group is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts training on the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and commands one operational Raptor squadron. It directs the flying and support operations of two F-22 squadrons, a fighter training squadron, an operations support squadron and a training support squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123d Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 9 November 1955. Description: On a light blue disc, a Chinese Green Dragon with a fierce expression, body scales shadowed dark green, under the part of the body in rolled scales air force yellow and vermillion orange, his back barbed white, his eyeballs white with blood lines, claws, teeth, and fangs white outlined in his left hand emitting electronic rays, his right claw grasping a red tipped white rocket with black fins fire exhaust proper. According to Medieval History, the only way to slay the formable Green Dragon was to equip the bravest available man with a lance and stout armor plate. In modern times, this deadliest of all killers is equipped with rockets which again returns the "Green Dragon" to the position of the most dangerous opponent to man.
  2. Approved 11 June 1943. Description: On a light blue disc, a Chinese Green Dragon, fangs and claws black, armored gold, mouth and tongue red, grasping a gray machine gun, emitting smoke from the barrel proper. Significance: According to Medieval History, the only way to slay the formable Green Dragon was to equip the bravest available man with a lance and stout armor plate. In modern times, this deadliest of all killers is equipped with a machine gun which again returns the "Green Dragon" to the position of the most dangerous opponent to man.
  3. Aircraft is Northrop P-61B-20-NO Black Widow, serial 43-8293. Taken in 1947.
  4. Aircraft is North American F-82F Twin Mustang, serial 46-426.
  5. Aircraft is Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger 56-1420.
  6. Aircraft is Convair F-106 Delta Dart 59-9.
Citations
  1. 1 2 "318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: Emblem Description". 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Green Dragons. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 388–389
  3. Watkins, p. 45
  4. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 206-208
  5. Newton & Senning, pp. 597-598
  6. 1 2 3 4 Cornet & Johnson, p. 124
  7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 271-272, 388-389
  8. Buss, et al., p. 6
  9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 571-572
  10. Mueller, p. 395
  11. McMullen, pp. 10–12
  12. NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, p. 16
  13. McMullen, p. 27
  14. McMullen, pp. 28–29
  15. McMullen, pp. 32–34
  16. "F-106 Delta Dart: Korea". F-106 Delta Dart: Ultimate Interceptor. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Factsheet 25 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  18. "318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: Hughes Achievement Award". 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Green Dragons. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: Green Dragons". F-106 Delta Dart: Ultimate Interceptor. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Lineage through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 388–389
  21. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol, 1, p. 314
  22. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol, 2, p. 59
  23. 1 2 3 "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 8 December 2022. (search)

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading