327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

History

World War II

The squadron was first activated at Hamilton Field, California in July 1942 as the 327th Fighter Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 328th Fighter Group. The squadron initially participated in air defense of the Pacific coast from Hamilton and later from Mills Field. It also served as an Operational Training Unit (OTU). On 1 March 1943, the squadron mission changed to operating a Bell P-39 Airacobra Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Replacement Training Units were also oversized units, but they trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters.

In February 1944, the 327th moved to Marysville Army Air Field, where it continued as a P-39 RTU. This resulted in the 327th, along with other units at Marysville, being disbanded in the spring of 1944

Cold War air defense

The squadron was again activated as the 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at George Air Force Base, California in August 1955. These aircraft had been used at George by the 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved from George to Selfridge Air Force Base as part of Air Defense Command (ADC)'s Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars and unite them with their traditional groups.

In April 1956, the 327th was the first ADC squadron to fly the Convair F-102A Delta Dagger in operational service, and became the first supersonic unit in Air Defense Command. These aircraft were also equipped with data link, which enabled them to interface directly with the Semi Automatic Ground Environment computers in ground direction centers, removing the need for voice communications by air to ground radios.

The squadron moved to Thule Air Base, Greenland in July 1958, assuming the air defense role there from the Northrop F-89 Scorpions of the 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The squadron was inactivated there on 25 March 1960, but the Thule air defense mission was resumed within six weeks by the 332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 327th Fighter Squadron on 24 June 1942 : Activated on 10 July 1942 : Disbanded on 31 March 1944
• Reconstituted and redesignated 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 June 1955 : Activated on 18 August 1955 : Discontinued on 25 March 1960

Assignments

• 328th Fighter Group, 10 July 1942 – 31 March 1944
• 27th Air Division, 18 August 1955
• 4722d Air Defense Group, 1 December 1956
• 27th Air Division, 25 June 1958
• 64th Air Division, 3 July 1958 – 25 March 1960

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California, 10 July 1942
• Mills Field, California, 5 October 1942
• Marysville Army Air Field, California, 1 February – 31 March 1944
• George Air Force Base, California, 18 August 1955
• Thule Air Base, Greenland, 3 July 1958 – 25 March 1960

Aircraft

• Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1944
• North American F-86D Sabre, 1955–1956
• Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1956–1960

Service streamers

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Footnotes

Bibliography

• Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)

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References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 403–404
2. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 209–210
3. Goss, p. 75
4. Buss, Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p. 6