440th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

World War II

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. It served as a III Fighter Command North American P-51 Mustang Operational, later Replacement Training Unit. The squadron was disbanded in May 1944 and its personnel and equipment transferred to the 341st AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).

European air defense

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 with the withdrawal of the F-86D from West Germany.

Lineage

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

Assignments

337th Fighter Group, 24 February 1943 – 1 May 1944

530th Air Defense Group, 18 February 1953

Twelfth Air Force (attached to 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing), 1 July 1954

7486th Air Defense Group (later 7486th Air Base Group), 2 December 1954

86th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 3 January 1956

86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 8 March 1958 – 1 January 1960

Stations

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

Aircraft

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1943–1944

North American P-51 Mustang, 1944

North American F-86D Sabre, 1953–1960