Summary
The 450th Fighter Squadron was established during World War II as a Replacement Training Unit for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots until it was disbanded in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944 designed to streamline training organizations.
450th Fighter Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 P-47 Thunderbolt as used by the 450th Fighter Squadron for training | |
| Active | 1943–1944 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Fighter Training |
History edit
The squadron was established as the 450th Fighter Squadron and was activated in November 1943 at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia.[1] as one of the four original squadrons of the 87th Fighter Group.[2] The squadron began operations with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in January 1944 as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters and assignment to an operational group.[3] In January 1944, group headquarters and the squadron moved to Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland,[1][2] and two of the group's other squadrons transferred to Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey.[4]
However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[5] while the groups and squadrons acting as RTUs were disbanded or inactivated.[6] This resulted in the squadron being disbanded in the spring of 1944[1] and being replaced by the 112th AAF Base Unit (Fighter), which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment.[7]
Lineage edit
- Constituted as the 450th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 24 September 1943
- Activated on 1 November 1943
- Disbanded on 10 April 1944[1]
Assignments edit
- 87th Fighter Group: 1 November 1943 – 10 April 1944[1]
Stations edit
- Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 1 November 1943
- Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland, 21 January 1944 – 10 April 1944[1]
Aircraft edit
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1944)[1]
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 556–557. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- ^ a b Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 153–154. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- ^ Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). "Introduction". The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. xxxvi. LCCN 48-3657.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 643–644
- ^ Craven & Cate, The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2: The AAF p. 75
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 7
- ^ See Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 8. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
Bibliography edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48-3657.
- 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. pp. 642–643. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.