449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Northrup F-89J Scorpions
Active 1943–1960
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Squadron
Engagements

  • World War II Asia-Pacific Theater

  • Korean War
Insignia
Emblem of the 449th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 11th Air Division stationed at Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska. It was inactivated on 25 August 1960.

History

Reactivated as part of Alaskan Air Command in 1947 and equipped with P-61 Black Widow Night Fighters, used as interceptors against Soviet Aircraft intruding into North American airspace. Former Heisman Trophy-winner Tom Harmon was a member of the unit during their stint in the CBI.

F-82H 46-387 in the Alaskan snow, about 1950

Organized in China and fought in the CBI, 1943–1945. Reequipped with F-82 Twin Mustangs in 1948, receiving additional aircraft from Far East Air Forces after model withdrawn from the Korean War. Modified to the F-82H model with the addition of cold weather equipment and additional de-icers. Many of these fighters operated with Strategic Air Command where they served as escorts for the massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber during long flights over the Arctic.

The 449th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was the last USAF unit equipped with the F-82, retiring the model in 1953 when a lack of parts made it impossible to keep the aging airframes flying. The retirement of the F-82 marked the end of front-line use of USAF propeller driven fighter aircraft. Many were ultimately scrapped in Alaska.

Reassigned to Ladd AFB in 1949 and reequipped with jet F-94 Starfires in 1952. Maintained air defense of Alaska until being inactivated in 1960 along with turnover of Ladd AFB to the United States Army as part of Fort Wainwright.

Lineage

Activated on 26 August 1943
Inactivated on 25 December 1945
Re-designated: 449th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 20 July 1948
Re-designated: 449th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950
Re-designated: 449th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 June 1951
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 August 1960

Assignments

  • 1st Fighter Group, 26 August 1943 – 13 December 1945
Attached to 23d Fighter Group, 26 August – October 1943
Personnel and aircraft assigned from 415th Night Fighter Squadron
Attached to 5001st Composite Group, 1 May 1949

Stations

  • Kunming, China, 26 August 1943
  • Lingling, China, 26 August 1943
Detachments operated from Hengyang and Kweilin, China, September 1943
  • Suichwan, China, February 1944
  • Kweilin, China, June 1944
  • Chengkung, China, 16 July 1944
Detachment operated from: Yunnani, China, c. 23 July 1944 – March 1945
Detachment operated from: Mengtsz, China, March 1945
Detachment operated from: Posek, China, 12 April – May 1945
  • Mengtsz, China, c. 13 July 1945
  • India, September–November 1945
  • Ft Lewis, Washington, 19–25 December 1945,
  • Adak Army Airfield
Later: Davis AFB, Alaska Territory, 1 September 1947
  • Ladd AFB, Alaska Territory, 28 March 1949 – 25 August 1960

Aircraft

  • P-38 Lightning, 1943–1945
  • P-61 Black Widow, 1947–1949
  • F-82 Twin Mustang, 1948–1953
  • F-94 Starfire, 1952–1954
  • F-89 Scorpion, 1954–1960

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 449th Fighter-All Weather Squadron.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

    • Northrop P-61 Black Widow—The Complete History and Combat Record, Garry R. Pape, John M. Campbell and Donna Campbell, Motorbooks International, 1991.
    • Davis. Larry (1996). F-82 Twin Mustang (Squadron/Signal Mini In Action Series Number 8). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications inc. ISBN 0-89747-367-1
    • Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.

    External links