Active 1942–1945 Role Fighter | Country United States | |
 | ||
Branch United States Army Air Forces Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm | ||
The 486th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 352d Fighter Group of IX Fighter Command at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where it was inactivated on 9 November 1945.
History
Activated in September 1942. Trained with P-47 Thunderbolts under First Air Force in northeast United States. Deployed to European Theater of Operations, July 1943 as heavy bomber fighter escort squadron. Replaced Thunderbolts with long-range P-51D Mustangs, July 1944, P-47s reassigned to IX Fighter Command for tactical fighter-bomber missions supporting ground forces in France. Deployed to Belgium in December 1944 to supplement IX Fighter Command tactical air forces during Battle of the Bulge, Returned to England, engaging in long-range escort missions until April 1945.
Squadron demobilized in England during the summer of 1945, personnel returning to the United States. Inactivated as a paper unit, November 1945.