54th Fighter Squadron - History

History

Activated on 15 Jan 1941 at Hamilton Field, California as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit group as part of the defense buildup of the United States prior to World War II.

Deployed to Alaska in mid-1942 and engaged the Japanese during the Aleutian Campaign during World War II. Engaged in combat in the Aleutians, 1942-1943 with long-range P-38 Lightnings. Remained in Alaska after the removal of Japanese forces, flying long range escorts for B-24 Liberator bombing attacks of northern Japanese Kurile Islands, inactivated in 1946.

Reactivated by redesignation of North Dakota Air National Guard 175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1952 which was reverted to state control. Assigned to Air Defense Command. Mission was to provide air defense for upper Midwest. Assumed ANG F-51D Mustangs, upgraded to F-84D Thunderjet jet aircraft being returned from combat in Korea in July 1953. Upgraded to F-84Gs in December 1953; upgraded to F-86D Sabre in April 1954; upgraded to F-89J Scorpion interceptors in 1957. Inactivated on 25 Dec 1960.

Reactivated as an F-15 Eagle air superiority squadron in Alaska in 1987, it provided air defense until being inactivated in 2000.

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