Active 1943–1944: 1953-1968 Role Fighter Interceptor | ||
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The 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 507th Fighter Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1968.
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World War II
It was established in early 1943 as a III Fighter Command Operational training unit, and operated P-39s and P-47s. It was inactivated in 1944 with the end of Operational Training of units.
Air Defense Command
It was reactivated as an Air Defense Command fighter-interceptor squadron, and stationed at Kinross (later named Kincheloe Air Force Base), Michigan in April 1953 with F-94B Starfires. In the spring of 1954 it transitioned into F-89D Scorpions and in the summer of 1957 into F-102A Delta Daggers. In May 1960 it received F-106 Delta Darts.
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 Phelps Collins Air National Guard Base at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. These planes returned to Kinchloe after the crisis.
The squadron moved to Griffiss Air Force Base, New York in August 1968. On 30 September 1968 it was inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Griffiss.