Active 1943–1944; 1954-1967 Role Fighter-Interceptor | Country United States | |
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Branch United States Air Force | ||
The 539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 31 August 1967.
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World War II
The 539th Fighter Squadron was activated in October 1943 at Westover Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts in October 1943. Shortly after activation, the squadron moved to Seymour Johnson Field, Goldsboro, North Carolina to become part of the 402d 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 Bluethenthal Field, Wilmington, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 326th Fighter Group where it remained until disbanded in April 1944.
Air Defense Command
It was 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 Air Force Base 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.
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 Olmsted Air Force Base at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. These planes returned to McGuire after the crisis.
The 539th was inactivated 31 August 1967 as part of the phasedown of the ADC interceptor force.