458th Tactical Fighter Squadron

458th Tactical Fighter Squadron
506th Strategic Fighter Wing F-84 Thunderjets in 1954
Active	1944–1945; 1953–1959
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Engagements	Pacific Ocean Theater [1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation [1]
Insignia
458th Strategic Fighter Squadron emblem [note 1] [1]

The 458th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 506th Tactical Fighter Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where it was inactivated on 1 April 1959.

History

World War II

Squadron P-51Ds at Iwo Jima

Trained in the continental United States, Oct 1944 – Feb 1945. Moved to western Pacific Ocean in spring of 1945. Escorted Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers in raids against Japan, and attacked targets such as enemy airfields, May-Aug 1945.

Cold War

Between 1953 and 1959 the unit trained for a variety of tactical air missions. Frequently deployed for training exercises, some of them overseas.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 458th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 October 1944

Activated on 21 October 1944

Inactivated on 16 December 1945

• Redesignated 458th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 November 1952

Activated on 20 January 1953

Redesignated 458th Fighter-Day Squadron on 1 July 1957

Redesignated 458th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 January 1958

Redesignated 458th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958

Inactivated on 1 April 1959 ^[1]

Assignments

• 506th Fighter Group, 21 October 1944 – 16 December 1945
• 506th Strategic Fighter Wing (later 506th Fighter-Day Wing, 506th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 506th Tactical Fighter Wing), 20 January 1953 – 1 April 1959 ^[1]

Stations

• Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida, 21 October 1944 – 16 February 1945
• North Field, Iwo Jima, 24 April – 3 December 1945
• Camp Anza, California, 15–16 December 1945
• Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 20 January 1953
• Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 20 March 1955 – 1 April 1959 ^[1]

Aircraft

• North American P-51 Mustang, 1944-1945
• Republic F-84 Thunderjet, 1953-1957
• North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957-1958 ^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 14 April 1954. Based on World War II emblem. Watkins, p.46

Citations

1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp.564-565

Bibliography

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

• 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. LCCN   61060979. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• 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. LCCN   70605402. OCLC   72556. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN   978-0-7643-5273-7.