52d Fighter Interceptor Squadron

World War II

Activated on 1 January 1941 as one of the three squadrons assigned to the 32d Pursuit Group as part of the United States buildup of forces after the eruption of World War II. The squadron was equipped with Curtiss P-36A Hawks and Boeing P-26A Peashooters drawn from the 16th and 37th Pursuit Groups. After being formed at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, the squadron was moved to Río Hato Army Air Base, Panama.

Following its stay at Rio Hato, the unit was ordered to France Field on 1 January 1942, and the squadron was equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. In early 1942, the Squadron was actively engaged in anti-submarine patrols, for which duty the aircraft were each armed with a 350 pound depth charge. Either 75 foot or 150 foot hydrostatic fuses were used, but, in every case, these were always dropped prior to returning to base.

On 12 May 1942, "C" Flight of the Squadron was sent to Seymour Island Airfield in the Galapagos Islands (just before the unit was redesignated as the 52d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942), becoming one of the very first fighter detachmentst he stationed there, although the main squadron remained at France Field. The Galapagos Detachment was redesignated as "E" Flight on 31 October. The detachment's stay on the Galapagos lasted until 1 December 1942.

By 18 January 1943, the 52d was at France Field. However, by 16 June, Detachments were located at Rio Hato Army Air Base, Corozal (Canal Zone) and David Field, Panama, with Squadron Headquarters at France Field.

The unit ended its assignment to France Field on 23 March 1944 and, with the gradual wind-down of Sixth Air Force, was one of the units slated to be disbanded. The unit was subsequently disbanded on 25 May 1944.

The 52d Fighter Squadron was never authorized an official squadron emblem.

Air Force Reserve

Activated in the reserve in June 1949 to train as an interceptor corollary squadron of the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Hamilton AFB. Was brought to active duty in June 1951 as a result of the Korean War, inactivated a week later after its personnel were reassigned to become "fillers" in other USAF units.

Lineage

Constituted 52d Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 22 November 1940

Activated on 1 January 1941 Redesignated 52d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942 Disbanded on 25 May 1944

Reconstituted on 16 May 1949

Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 Redesignated 52d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 8 March 1950 Ordered to active service on 1 June 1951 Inactivated on 8 June 1951.

Assignments

32d Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 1 January 1941

Second Air Force, 8 April-25 May 1944

Fourth Air Force, 27 June 1949

Western Air Defense Force, 1 August 1950 – 8 June 1951.

Stations

Rio Hato AAB, Panama, 1 January 1941

Albrook Field, Canal Zone, 1 January 1941

Rio Hato AAB, Panama, 21 August 1941

France Field, Canal Zone, 13 December 1941 – 23 March 1944

Detachment at Seymour Island Army Airfield, Baltra, Galápagos Islands, 5 June-1 December 1942

Lincoln AAF, Nebraska, 8 April-25 May 1944

Hamilton AFB, California, 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951.

Aircraft

P-26 Peashooter, 1941

P-36 Hawk, 1941–1942

P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1944

P-39 Airacobra, 1943–1944.

Operational history

Air defense for the Panama Canal during World War II.