This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(August 2017)
Activated in Hawaii in 1941 as the 58th Bombardment Squadron (Light), a Bombardment/Reconnaissance squadron, being equipped with a mixture of B-18 Bolos, second-line P-26s, and A-20 Havocs. Was part of the air defense forces of Hawaii, many aircraft being destroyed during the Pearl Harbor Attack at Hickam Field. Re-equipped with A-24 Dauntless dive bombers in 1942, remained in Hawaii as an air defense squadron until 1943.
Re-designated as a fighter-bomber squadron in mid-1943, deploying to the Central Pacific in 1944 as part of the 21st Fighter Group. Returned to Hawaii and re-equipped with long-range P-38 Lightnings and returned to combat operations in the Central Pacific, operating from Iwo Jima beginning in early 1945 until the end of the war in August. Remained as part of Twentieth Air Force in the Marianas until inactivated in October 1946.
Reactivated in 1953 at George AFB, California as an F-86 Sabre Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Spent about a year under Tactical Air Command training, deploying to France in 1954 as part of the NATO buildup of the United States Air Forces in Europe during the early years of the Cold War. Operated from several bases in France during the 1950s, inactivated in 1958 as part of a USAFE reorganization.
^ abcdLineage information through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 638–639
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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.
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. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-5273-7.
January 01, 1970
531st, tactical, fighter, squadron, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article August 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message The 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit last assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base South Vietnam The squadron was inactivated on 31 July 1970 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron531st Tactical Fighter Squadron F 100 Super Sabre note 1 Active1941 1946 1953 1958 1958 1970Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleFighterMotto s Strike and ReturnEngagementsPacific Ocean Theater 1 Vietnam WarInsignia531 Tactical Fighter Sq emblem note 2 531st Fighter Squadron emblem note 3 2 58th Bombardment Squadron emblem Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Cold War 1 3 Viet Nam War 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory editWorld War II edit nbsp Squadron A 24B on Makin Island Activated in Hawaii in 1941 as the 58th Bombardment Squadron Light a Bombardment Reconnaissance squadron being equipped with a mixture of B 18 Bolos second line P 26s and A 20 Havocs Was part of the air defense forces of Hawaii many aircraft being destroyed during the Pearl Harbor Attack at Hickam Field Re equipped with A 24 Dauntless dive bombers in 1942 remained in Hawaii as an air defense squadron until 1943 Re designated as a fighter bomber squadron in mid 1943 deploying to the Central Pacific in 1944 as part of the 21st Fighter Group Returned to Hawaii and re equipped with long range P 38 Lightnings and returned to combat operations in the Central Pacific operating from Iwo Jima beginning in early 1945 until the end of the war in August Remained as part of Twentieth Air Force in the Marianas until inactivated in October 1946 Cold War edit nbsp 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron F 86F Sabre note 4 Reactivated in 1953 at George AFB California as an F 86 Sabre Fighter Bomber Squadron Spent about a year under Tactical Air Command training deploying to France in 1954 as part of the NATO buildup of the United States Air Forces in Europe during the early years of the Cold War Operated from several bases in France during the 1950s inactivated in 1958 as part of a USAFE reorganization Became part of PACAF in 1958 operated F 100 Super Sabres from Misawa AB Japan as an air defense squadron Viet Nam War edit Deployed to South Vietnam 1965 and carried out combat operations until inactivated in 1970 Lineage editConstituted as the 58th Bombardment Squadron Light on 22 November 1940 Activated on 1 January 1941 Redesignated 58th Bombardment Squadron Dive on 19 October 1942 Redesignated 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron on 14 August 1943 Redesignated 531st Fighter Squadron on 18 February 1944 Inactivated on 10 October 1946 Redesignated 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron on 15 November 1952 Activated on 1 January 1953 Inactivated on 8 February 1958 Redesignated 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 May 1958 Activated on 1 July 1958 3 Inactivated on 31 June 1970 Assignments edit Hawaiian Air Force later Seventh Air Force 1 January 1941 21st Fighter Group 15 June 1944 10 October 1946 21st Fighter Bomber Group 1 January 1953 8 February 1958 21st Tactical Fighter Wing 1 Ju1y 1958 39th Air Division 18 June 1960 3 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing 16 December 1965 31 July 1970 Stations edit Hickam Field Hawaii 1 January 1941 Bellows Field Hawaii 18 March 1941 Hickam Field Hawaii 29 April 1941 Bellows Field Hawaii 11 December 1941 Wheeler Field Hawaii 19 December 1941 18 June 1943 Canton Island Phoenix Islands 24 June 1943 Makin Island Gilbert Islands 18 December 1943 Bellows Field Hawaii 1 March 1944 Kualoa Field Hawaii 21 April 1944 Mokuleia Field Hawaii 8 October 1944 Central Field Iwo Jima 26 March 1945 South Field Iwo Jima 15 July 1945 Isely Field Saipan 5 December 1945 Northwest Field Guam 17 April 10 October 1946 George Air Force Base California 1 January 1953 Toul Rosieres Air Base France 28 November 1954 Chambley Bussieres Air Base France March 1955 Misawa Air Force Base Japan 1 July 1958 3 deployed to Da Nang Air Base South Vietnam 1 February 13 July 1965 Bien Hoa Air Base South Vietnam 16 December 1965 31 July 1970 Aircraft edit Boeing P 26 Peashooter 1941 Douglas B 18 Bolo 1941 Douglas A 20 Havoc 1941 1942 Douglas A 24 Dauntless 1942 1944 Lockheed P 38 Lightning 1944 1946 North American F 86 Sabre 1953 1958 North American F 100 Super Sabre 1958 1970 3 References editNotes edit Explanatory notes Aircraft is North American F 100D 30 NA Super Sabre serial 55 3809 Approved 10 November 1958 Approved 7 Jul 1944 Aircraft is North American F 86F Sabre serial 52 5193 Taken over France in 1955 Citations Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 638 639 Watkins pp 22 23 a b c d Lineage information through May 1963 in Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 638 639 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency 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 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 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Watkins Robert A 2017 Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U S Army Air Force In World War II Vol VI China Burma India amp The Western Pacific Atglen PA Shiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 5273 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron amp oldid 1205375359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
