326th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

History

World War II

It was first activated as the 326th Fighter Squadron and served as an air defense and operational training unit until 1 March 1944, and then a replacement training unit until 31 March 1944.

Air Defense Command

The squadron was redesignated the 326th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and activated in 1953 to provide air defense of the midwest United States from 1953 to 1967. The 326th flew radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86D Sabre aircraft. The 326th Squadron upgraded to Convair F-102 Delta Dagger aircraft, armed with AIM-4 Falcon Air-to-air missiles by June 1957.

From 18 December 1953 – 1 March 1954, the 326th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was assigned to Fairfax Field, Kansas, and an F-84 crashed near the city's business district killing the pilot and three residents.

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 Central Nebraska Regional Airport at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. These planes returned to Richards-Gebaur after the crisis.

However, Starting on 19 December 1962, the squadron established a detachment of fighters at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. This operation ended on 15 February 1963. For one year, a similar detachment was established at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, from 1 August 1965 until 1 July 1966. From 1966 until inactivation, the 326th maintained a detachment at Grand Island Municipal Airport, Nebraska.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 326th Fighter Squadron on 24 June 1942 : Activated on 10 July 1942
• Disbanded on 31 March 1944
• Reconstituted, and redesignated 326th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 23 March 1953 : Activated on 18 December 1953 : Inactivated on 2 January 1967

Assignments

• 328th Fighter Group, 10 July 1942 – 31 March 1944
• 4676th Air Defense Group, 18 December 1953
• 328th Fighter Group, 18 August 1955
• 328th Fighter Wing, 1 February 1961 – 2 January 1967

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California, 10 July 1942
• Santa Rosa Army Air Field, California, 13 December 1943 – 31 March 1944
• Fairfax Field, Kansas, 18 December 1953
• Grandview Air Force Base (later Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base), Missouri, 1 March 1954 – 2 January 1967

Aircraft

• Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1944
• North American F-86D Sabre, 1953–1957
• Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1957–1967

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

• McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000)
• NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Historical Reference Paper No. 8, Directorate of Command History Continental Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1 Feb 63 (Top Secret NOFORN declassified 9 March 1996)
• "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor (January 1979) Aerospace Defense Command, (Volume 21, Number 1)

References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 402
2. Cornett & Johnson, p. 126
3. (8 July 1954). "Brand New Jet Crashes Homes". Record Eagle.
4. McMullen, pp. 10–12
5. ''NORAD/CONAD Participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis''p. 16
6. "Abstract, History 328 Fighter Wing, CY 1962". Air Force History Index.
7. Lineage, assignment, station, and aircfraft information through March 1963 in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 402