432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron explained

Unit Name:	432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Dates:	1943–1949; 1952–1958
Country:	United States
Role:	Fighter-Interceptor
Nickname:	Clover (World War II)^[1]
Notable Commanders:	Captain (later Colonel) John S. Loisel
Decorations:	Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation^[2]
Identification Symbol Label:	Patch with 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 9 March 1955)
Identification Symbol 2 Label:	432d Fighter Squadron emblem

The 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 475th Fighter Group at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota, where it was inactivated on 2 January 1958.

History

World War II and Army of Occupation

Combat in Southwest Pacific and Western Pacific, 12 August 1943 – 21 July 1945. Occupation duty (Korea and Japan), 1945–1949.^[2]

Air defense operations

Air Defense of Upper Midwest, 1952–1958.^[2]

Lineage

• Activated on 14 May 1943 by special authority prior to constitution as 432d Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1943

Inactivated on 1 April 1949

• Redesignated 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952

Activated on 1 December 1952

Inactivated on 2 January 1958^[2]

Assignments

• 475th Fighter Group, 14 May 1943 – 1 April 1949
• 31st Air Division, 1 December 1952
• 520th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953
• 475th Fighter Group, 18 August 1955 – 2 January 1958^[2]

Stations

• Charters Towers, Australia, 14 May 1943
• RAAF Base Amberley, Australia, 11 June 1943
• Dobodura Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 14 August 1943

Operated from Port Moresby Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 12 August – 1 September 1943

• Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 25 March 1944
• Hollandia Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 15 May 1944
• Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 12 July 1944
• Dulag Airfield, Leyte, 2 November 1944

Detachment operated from San Jose, Mindoro, Netherlands East Indies, 5 February – 2 March 1945

• Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 27 February 1945
• Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 19 April 1945
• Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, 8 August 1945
• Kimpo Air Base, Korea, 28 September 1945
• Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 28 August 1948
• Ashiya Air Base, Japan, 25 March – 1 April 1949
• Truax Field, Wisconsin, 10 October 1952
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota, 18 August 1955 – 2 January 1958^[2]

Aircraft

• Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1943–1946
• North American P-51 Mustang, 1946–1949
• North American F-86D Sabre, 1952–1955
• Northrop F-89D Scorpion, 1955–1956
• Northrop F-89H Scorpion, 1956–1957^[2]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Cornett, Lloyd H. Johnson, Mildred W. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980. 23 March 2012. 1980. Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Peterson AFB, CO. 13 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160213173347/http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf. dead.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. 17 December 2016. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. 17 December 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.
• Book: Watkins, Robert A.. Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. V, Pacific Theater of Operations. 2013. Shiffer Publishing, Ltd.. Atglen,PA. 978-0-7643-4346-9.
• ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons. The Interceptor . January 1979. Aerospace Defense Command . 21. 1 . 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59.

Notes and References

1. Watkins, p. 40
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 534–535