474th Tactical Fighter Squadron

History

World War II training operations

The 474th Bombardment Squadron was activated on 17 July 1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana as one of the original components of the 335th Bombardment Group, and was equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders. It became part of Third Air Force, which was responsible for the majority of medium bomber training for the Army Air Forces (AAF). The squadron drew its cadre from elements of the 17th Bombardment Group, which was in the process of converting to the B-26 from the North American B-25 Mitchell.

The 474th acted as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for the B-26. The RTU was an oversized unit which trained individual pilots and aircrews, after which they would be assigned to operational units. As this reorganization was implemented in the spring of 1944, he 335th Group, its components and supporting units at Barksdale, were disbanded on 1 May and replaced by the 331st AAF Base Unit (Medium, Bombardment). The squadron became Section O of the new base unit.

Fighter operations

The 474th Fighter-Day Squadron was activated at George Air Force Base, California as the fourth squadron of the 413th Fighter-Day Wing in October 1957, when the 413th expanded from a group to a wing. As a North American F-100 Super Sabre day fighter squadron its mission was visual interception of enemy aircraft under the control of ground control intercept sites and providing fighter cover for friendly aircraft. When required, it located and destroyed surface targets.

On 1 July 1958, the squadron was redesignated the 474th Tactical Fighter Squadron. This reflected a change in mission to attacking and destroying enemy military forces with nuclear or conventional weapons. From November 1958 until just before inactivating, the squadron augmented Sixteenth Air Force by deploying to Torrejon Air Base, Spain.

It was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which moved to George from Turner Air Force Base, Georgia on 15 March 1959.

The squadrons were consolidated in inactive status as the 474th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 19 September 1985.

Lineage

; 474th Bombardment Squadron

• Constituted as the 474th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 July 1942 : Activated on 17 July 1942 : Disbanded on 1 May 1944 : Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 474th Tactical Fighter Squadron as the 474th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

; 474th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

• Constituted as the 474th Fighter-Day Squadron on 26 September 1957 : Activated on 8 October 1957 : Redesignated 474th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958 : Inactivated on 15 March 1959 : Consolidated with the 474th Bombardment Squadron as the 474th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 19 September 1985

Assignments

• 335th Bombardment Group, 17 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
• 413th Fighter-Day Wing (later 413th Tactical Fighter Wing), 8 October 1957 – 15 March 1959 (attached to 65th Air Division 11 November 1958 – 14 March 1959)

Stations

• Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 17 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
• George Air Force Base, California, 8 October 1957 – 15 March 1959 (operated from Torrejon Air Base, Spain, 15 November 1958 – 14 March 1959)

Aircraft

• Martin B-26 Marauder, 1942-1944
• North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957-1959

Campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

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References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 576-577
2. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 214-215.
3. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
4. (2 December 1961). "Abstract, History 335 Bombardment Group [and 331 AAF Base Unit], July 1942 – October 1944". Air Force History Index.
5. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 61
6. However, the AAF found that standard military units, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible [[tables of organization]] were not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit, manned according to the base's specific needs.Goss, p. 75
7. ''See'' Mueller, p. 19 (showing simultaneous activation and inactivation of units at Barksdale).
8. ''See'', Ravenstein, pp. 222-223 (start of assignment to 413th Wing), Mueller, p.191 (start of assignment at George AFB).
9. No byline. "Abstract, History 831st Air Division Jul [sic]-Dec 1957". Air Force History Index.
10. ''See'' Ravenstein, pp. 222-223 (redesignation of 413th Wing).
11. No byline. "Abstract, History 413 Tactical Fighter Wing Jul sic-Dec 1958". Air Force History Index.

12. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 374-375

13. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
14. Ravenstein, pp. 222-223
15. Mueller, p. 191