440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Erding Air Station, Germany, where it was inactivated on 1 January 1960. The squadron served as a NATO air defense unit from February 1953. The squadron was originally established as a Replacement Training Unit during World War II in February 1943, but was disbanded when the Army Air Forces reorganized its training units in 1944.

440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Active1943–1944; 1953–1960
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter-Interceptor
Nickname(s)Mad Dogs
Insignia
Patch with 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem[note 2][1]

History

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World War II

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The squadron was first activated as the 440th Fighter Squadron at Sarasota Army Air Field, Florida in 1943 when the 337th Fighter Group expanded from three to four squadrons.[1][2] It served as a III Fighter Command North American P-51 Mustang Replacement Training Unit. The squadron was disbanded in May 1944[1] and its personnel and equipment transferred to the 341st AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).

European air defense

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Reactivated in 1953 as a North American F-86D Sabre interceptor squadron. Moved to West Germany, attached to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Landstuhl Air Base. The squadron moved to Erding Air Base in Bavaria, operating as a forward-deployed squadron near the Czech border until inactivated in January 1960[1] with the withdrawal of the F-86D from West Germany.

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 440th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine 12 February 1943
Activated on 24 February 1943
Disbanded on 1 May 1944
  • Reconstituted, and redesignated 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 3 February 1953
Activated on 18 February 1953
Inactivated on 1 January 1960[1]

Assignments

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Stations

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  • Sarasota Army Air Field, Florida, 24 February 1943
  • Pinellas Army Air Field, Florida, 15 April 1943 – 1 May 1944
  • Geiger Field, Washington, 18 February 1953
  • Landstuhl Air Base, Germany, 4 July 1954
  • Erding Air Base, Germany, 17 February 1956 – 31 December 1959[1]

Aircraft

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre, serial 52-3900.
  2. ^ Approved 9 July 1954.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 545
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 215–216

Bibliography

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  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 23 March 2012.
  • 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. 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. 21 (1). Aerospace Defense Command: 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.
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