539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector, stationed at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
. It was inactivated on August 31, 1967.
Reactivated as part of the United States Air Force
Air Defense Command in January 1955 it received F-86D's and in August 1955 the unit designation was transferred to McGuire AFB as the 539th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where it received F-86L's. In May 1959 the squadron transitioned to F-106A becoming the first squadron in the United States Air Force to be equipped with the F-106's.
The 539th was deactivated 31 Aug 1967 as part of the phasedown of the ADC interceptor force.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector, stationed at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It was inactivated on August 31, 1967.
History
The 539th Fighter Squadron was activated in October 1943 at Westover Field, Chicopee, Mass in October 1943. Shortly after activation, the squadron moved to Seymour Johnson Field, Goldsboro, North Carolina to become part of the 402nd Fighter Group where it operated under the Replacement Training Unit Program of the advanced phase of pilot training. In December 1943, the squadron again moved, this time to Blumenthal Field, Wilmington, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 326th Fighter Group where it remained until disbanded in April 1944.Reactivated as part of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Air Defense Command in January 1955 it received F-86D's and in August 1955 the unit designation was transferred to McGuire AFB as the 539th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where it received F-86L's. In May 1959 the squadron transitioned to F-106A becoming the first squadron in the United States Air Force to be equipped with the F-106's.
The 539th was deactivated 31 Aug 1967 as part of the phasedown of the ADC interceptor force.
Lineage
- Constituted 539th Fighter Squadron on September 24, 1943
- Activated on October 1, 1943
- Disbanded on April 10, 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on March 23, 1953
- Activated on April 18, 1954.
- Inactivated on August 23, 1967.
Assignments
- 402d Fighter Group, October 1943
- 326th Fighter Group326th Fighter GroupThe 57th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 25th Air Division, Air Defense Command. It was last stationed at Paine Air Force Base, Washington. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968....
, November 25, 1943 – April 10, 1944 - 4709th Defense (later Air Defense) Wing, April 18, 1954
- 4700th Air Defense Group, September 20, 1954
- 4709th Air Defense Wing, August 18, 1955
- 4621st Air Defense Wing (later New York Air Defense Sector), October 1, 1956
- 4730th Air Defense Group4730th Air Defense GroupThe 4730th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector, being stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey...
, February 8, 1957 - New York Air Defense Sector, August 1, 1959 – August 23, 1967
Stations
- Westover FieldWestoverWestover may refer to:in the United Kingdom* Westover, Hampshirein the United States*Westover School, in Connecticut*Westover , listed on the NRHP in Georgia*Westover, Maryland...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, October 1, 1943 - Seymour Johnson Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, October 13, 1943 - Bluethenthal FieldWilmington International Airport-Other operations:As of August 2011, Wilmington International Airport has 134 aircraft that are based at the Airport. There are 100 single engine aircraft, 27 multi-engine aircraft, 7 jet engine aircraft, and 3 helicopters...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, December 8, 1943 – April 10, 1944 - Stewart AFB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, April 18, 1954 - McGuire AFB, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, August 18, 1955 – August 23, 1967
Aircraft
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1944 - F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1954–1959
- F-106 Delta DartF-106 Delta DartThe Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
, 1959–1967