46th Fighter Training Squadron emblem (approved 11 March 1942)[1][note 2]
The squadron was first activated in 1940, as the United States expanded its military forces prior to World War II, as the 46th Pursuit Squadron. The squadron formed part of the air defenses of the Hawaiian Islands, and suffered heavy losses in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It served in Hawaii and the Pacific for the remainder of the wark, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for long-range fighter missions over Japan in 1945. It was inactivated on Guam in 1946.
The squadron was reactivated as the 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1952 and served in the air defense role before inactivating again in 1958. It was activated again in 1962 as the 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron and became one of the first McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fighter units, flying the Phantom until 1971, and deploying elements to Southeast Asia. It was activated again in the reserves in 1973, and served as a reserve fighter unit until inactivated.
The 46th, who was initially assigned to the 15th Fighter/Pursuit Group, its history goes back to World War II, when the 15th Pursuit Group was largely destroyed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at Hickam Field.[4]
Was reactivated in 1962 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, equipped with swept-wing Republic F-84F Thunderstreak tactical fighters. Received new McDonnell F-4C Phantom IIs in 1964, one of the first squadrons in the Air Force to fly the new fighter. Conducted tactical fighter combat crew training for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. The squadron participated in a variety of exercises, operations and readiness tests of Tactical Air Command, becoming a replacement training unit for F-4 aircrews prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia beginning in 1965. During the 1968 Pueblo Crisis, the squadron deployed fighters to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, backfilling fighters deployed to South Korea by the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Transferred to the incoming 1st Tactical Fighter Wing in 1970 when the wing was moved from ADC to TAC. Inactivated in 1971, personnel and aircraft being transferred to the 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron when the former 15th Wing units were inactivated.
Equipped with Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft in 1983 at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, mission was to be an A-10 Replacement Training Unit for Air Force Reserve pilots. Operated the A-10 at Barksdale until inactivated in 1993 as part of the post-Cold War drawdown, aircraft transferred to Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona where A-10 training was consolidating with the active-duty 355th Wing.
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 46th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 22 November 1940
Activated on 1 December 1940
Redesignated 46th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)' on 12 February 1942
Redesignated 46th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Inactivated on 10 October 1946
Redesignated 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952
Activated on 1 November 1952
Inactivated on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated, on 17 April 1962 (not organized)
^ abcdLineage, including assignments, aircraft and stations, through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 204.
^Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Locations Of The United States Army Air Force 7 December 1941
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977(PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
(PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force Index. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
(PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 30 September 1976. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
Further reading
Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978., Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN1-85780-197-0.
External linksedit
15th Fighter Group
Eastern Mandates 22 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Military History)
Arakaki, Leatrice R.; Kuborn, John R. (1991). "Chapter III, Assignment Paradise: Fighter Command". (PDF). p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2009.
January 01, 1970
46th, fighter, training, squadron, inactive, united, states, force, unit, last, assignment, with, 917th, operations, group, barksdale, force, base, louisiana, where, inactivated, october, 1993, thunderbolt, note, active1940, 1946, 1952, 1958, 1962, 1971, 1973,. The 46th Fighter Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit Its last assignment was with the 917th Operations Group at Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana where it was inactivated on 1 October 1993 46th Fighter Training Squadron46th Fighter Training SquadronA 10 Thunderbolt II note 1 Active1940 1946 1952 1958 1962 1971 1973 1978 1983 1993Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRolefighterEngagementsPacific Ocean Theater 1 DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation 1 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 2 3 Insignia46th Fighter Training Squadron emblem approved 11 March 1942 1 note 2 The squadron was first activated in 1940 as the United States expanded its military forces prior to World War II as the 46th Pursuit Squadron The squadron formed part of the air defenses of the Hawaiian Islands and suffered heavy losses in the attack on Pearl Harbor It served in Hawaii and the Pacific for the remainder of the wark earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for long range fighter missions over Japan in 1945 It was inactivated on Guam in 1946 The squadron was reactivated as the 46th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in 1952 and served in the air defense role before inactivating again in 1958 It was activated again in 1962 as the 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron and became one of the first McDonnell F 4 Phantom II fighter units flying the Phantom until 1971 and deploying elements to Southeast Asia It was activated again in the reserves in 1973 and served as a reserve fighter unit until inactivated Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 United States Air Force 1 3 Tactical fighter operations 1 4 Air Force reserve 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editThe 46th who was initially assigned to the 15th Fighter Pursuit Group its history goes back to World War II when the 15th Pursuit Group was largely destroyed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at Hickam Field 4 World War II edit nbsp P 39Qs of the 46th Fighter Squadron at Makin Island in December 1943 After the attack on Pearl Harbor the squadron was assigned to the VII Fighter Command Re equipped initially with Bell P 39 Airacobras and Curtiss P 40 Warhawks ts primary mission was the air defense of the Hawaiian Islands In 1943 the squadron deployed to the Central Pacific Area engaging in combat from Makin Island in December 1943 Returned to Hawaii and was again re equipped with very long range Lockheed P 38 Lightnings and North American P 51D Mustangs In early March 1945 deployed to Iwo Jima being attached to the Twentieth Air Force From Iwo Jima the squadron performed escort missions with Boeing B 29 Superfortress bombers bombing the Japanese Home Islands After the Japanese Surrender in September 1945 the squadron moved to Guam where it operated until inactivating in October 1946 United States Air Force edit nbsp 46th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F 94 Starfire note 3 The squadron was redesignated the 46th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and reactivated in November 1952 at Dover Air Force Base Delaware and assigned to the 4710th Defense Wing 1 of Air Defense Command ADC The squadron assumed the mission personnel and Lockheed F 94 Starfire interceptors of the 148th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which had been called to active service in the expansion of the United States Air Force for the Korean War which was returned to the control of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 5 the squadron s mission was the air defense of southeastern Pennsylvania south New Jersey Delaware and Maryland In 1956 as ADC prepared for the implementation of the Semi Automatic Ground Environment system the 4710th wing moved to Illinois and the squadron was briefly assigned to the 4709th Air Defense Wing before being transferred to what would become the automated New York Air Defense Sector The unit was inactivated in 1958 1 Tactical fighter operations edit Was reactivated in 1962 at MacDill Air Force Base Florida equipped with swept wing Republic F 84F Thunderstreak tactical fighters Received new McDonnell F 4C Phantom IIs in 1964 one of the first squadrons in the Air Force to fly the new fighter Conducted tactical fighter combat crew training for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing The squadron participated in a variety of exercises operations and readiness tests of Tactical Air Command becoming a replacement training unit for F 4 aircrews prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia beginning in 1965 During the 1968 Pueblo Crisis the squadron deployed fighters to Seymour Johnson AFB North Carolina backfilling fighters deployed to South Korea by the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron Transferred to the incoming 1st Tactical Fighter Wing in 1970 when the wing was moved from ADC to TAC Inactivated in 1971 personnel and aircraft being transferred to the 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron when the former 15th Wing units were inactivated Air Force reserve edit Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1975 at Grissom Air Force Base Indiana receiving Cessna A 37B Dragonfly counter insurgency aircraft returned from the Vietnam War Provided combat crew training in close air support tactics for USAF and friendly foreign nations until inactivated in 1978 transferring the A 37s to the 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron Equipped with Fairchild Republic A 10A Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft in 1983 at Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana mission was to be an A 10 Replacement Training Unit for Air Force Reserve pilots Operated the A 10 at Barksdale until inactivated in 1993 as part of the post Cold War drawdown aircraft transferred to Davis Monthan AFB Arizona where A 10 training was consolidating with the active duty 355th Wing Lineage editConstituted as the 46th Pursuit Squadron Fighter on 22 November 1940 Activated on 1 December 1940 Redesignated 46th Pursuit Squadron Interceptor on 12 February 1942 Redesignated 46th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942 Inactivated on 10 October 1946 Redesignated 46th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952 Activated on 1 November 1952 Inactivated on 1 July 1958 Redesignated 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron and activated on 17 April 1962 not organized Organized on 1 July 1962 Inactivated on 1 July 1971 6 Activated on 1 July 1975 Inactivated on 1 July 1978 Redesignated 46th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and activated on 30 September 1983 Redesignated 46th Fighter Training Squadron on 1 February 1992 Inactivated on 1 October 1993 Assignments edit 15th Pursuit Group later 15th Fighter Group 1 December 1940 21st Fighter Group 15 June 1944 10 October 1946 4710th Defense Wing later 4710th Air Defense Wing 1 November 1952 4709th Air Defense Wing 1 March 1956 4621st Air Defense Wing later New York Air Defense Sector 1 October 1956 4728th Air Defense Group 8 February 1957 1 July 1958 Tactical Air Command 17 April 1962 not organized 15th Tactical Fighter Wing 1 July 1962 6 1st Tactical Fighter Wing 1 October 1970 1 July 1971 434th Tactical Fighter Wing 1 July 1975 1 July 1978 917th Tactical Fighter Group 30 September 1983 917th Operations Group 1 August 1992 1 October 1993 Stations edit Wheeler Field Oahu Hawaii 1 December 1940 7 Hickam Field Hawaii 6 February 1942 Mokuleia Army Airfield Hawaii 22 May 1942 Hilo Army Airfield Hawaii 16 December 1942 19 March 1943 Canton Airfield Phoenix Islands 27 March 1943 Makin Island 18 December 1943 Wheeler Field Hawaii 17 February 1944 Mokuleia Army Airfield Hawaii Territory 13 October 1944 Central Field Iwo Jima 26 March 1945 South Field Iwo Jima 15 July 1945 Isely Airfield Saipan Mariana Islands 5 December 1945 Northwest Field Guam Mariana Islands 17 April 10 October 1946 Dover Air Force Base Delaware November 1952 1 July 1958 MacDill Air Force Base Florida 1 July 1962 6 1 July 1971 Deployed to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 11 May 22 August 1965 1 10 November 1965 Grissom Air Force Base Indiana 1 July 1975 1 July 1978 Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana 30 September 1983 1 October 1993 Aircraft edit Grumman OA 9 1940 A 12 Shrike 1940 Curtiss P 36 Hawk 1940 1941 Bell P 39 Airacobra 1941 1944 Curtiss P 40 Warhawk 1941 1943 Lockheed P 38 Lightning 1944 1945 North American P 51 Mustang 1944 1946 P 47 Thunderbolt 1946 Lockheed F 94B Starfire 1952 1953 Lockheed F 94C Starfire 1953 1958 Republic F 84 Thunderflash 1962 1964 6 McDonnell F 4C Phantom II 1964 1971 Cessna A 37B Dragonfly 1975 1978 Fairchild Republic A 10A Thunderbolt II 1983 1993See also editList of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor SquadronsReferences editNotes edit Explanatory notes Aircraft is Fairchild Republic A 10A Thunderbolt II serial 79 136 On a blue disc a black sabre tooth tiger passant in front of a horizontal bank of white clouds Maurer Combat Squadrons p 204 Aircraft is Lockheed F 94C 1 LO Starfire serial 51 13600 at Dover AFB Delaware in 1954 Citations a b c d e Maurer Combat Squadrons p 204 AF Pamphlet 900 2 15 June 1971 p 192 AF Pamphlet 900 2 Vol II 30 September 1976 p 31 Pearl Harbor History Why Did Japan Attack Archived 21 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Cornett amp Johnson p 123 a b c d Lineage including assignments aircraft and stations through May 1963 in Maurer Combat Squadrons p 204 Wheeler Field Schofield Barracks Oahu Locations Of The United States Army Air Force 7 December 1941 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Cornett Lloyd H Johnson Mildred W 1980 A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 PDF Peterson AFB CO Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Archived from the original PDF on 13 February 2016 Retrieved 27 November 2013 Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 PDF Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Retrieved 17 December 2016 AF Pamphlet 900 2 Unit Decorations Awards and Campaign Participation Credits PDF Washington DC Department of the Air Force Index 15 June 1971 Archived from the original PDF on 4 August 2015 Retrieved 11 August 2016 AF Pamphlet 900 2 Unit Decorations Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Vol II PDF Washington DC Department of the Air Force 30 September 1976 Archived from the original PDF on 4 August 2015 Retrieved 11 August 2016 Further reading Rogers Brian 2005 United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978 Hinkley England Midland Publications ISBN 1 85780 197 0 External links edit15th Fighter Group 21st Fighter Group Lineage Eastern Mandates Archived 22 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Military History Arakaki Leatrice R Kuborn John R 1991 Chapter III Assignment Paradise Fighter Command 7 December 1941 The Air Force Story PDF p 48 Archived from the original PDF on 5 August 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 46th Fighter Training Squadron amp oldid 1205386080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
