498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1968.

Operations history
Established in early 1942 as a III Fighter Command Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipped with a mixture of second-line single engine training aircraft. Upgraded in 1943 with P-47 Thunderbolts for Replacement Crew Training (RTU). Inactivated in April 1944.

Reactivated in August 1955 as a United States Air Force Air Defense Command interceptor squadron, assigned to Geiger Field, Washington. Mission was to provide air defense for the Pacific Northwest. Initially equipped with F-86D Sabres. Upgraded to F-102s in 1957 and then to F-106s in 1959, the first operational squadron to receive the Delta Dart. Moved to McChord AFB, 1963, Paine Field 1966.

Moved to Hamilton AFB, California in 1968 and inactivated the same day, aircraft reassigned to the 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.

Lineage

 * Constituted 303d Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942.
 * Activated on 10 February 1942
 * Redesignated: 303d Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 July 1942
 * Redesignated: 498th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943.
 * Disbanded on 1 April 1944


 * Reconstituted, and redesignated 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, on 20 June 1955.
 * Activated on 18 August 1955.
 * Inactivated on 30 September 1968.

Assignments

 * 84th Bombardment (later Fighter-Bomber) Group, 10 February 1942 – 1 April 1944
 * 84th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 August 1955
 * 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 1 July 1963
 * 57th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 25 January 1966
 * 78th Fighter Group, 30 September 1968*

* Squadron inactivated on 30 September 1968 and assets immediately reassigned to 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.

Stations

 * Savannah AAB, Georgia, 10 February 1942
 * Drew Field, Florida, 8 February 1943
 * Harding AAF, Louisiana, 4 October 1943
 * Hammond AAF, Louisiana, c. 11 October 1943
 * Abilene AAF, Texas, February 11 – 1 April 1944
 * Geiger Field, Washington, 18 August 1955
 * McChord AFB, Washington, 1 July 1963
 * Paine Field, Washington, 14 June 1966
 * Hamilton AFB California, 30 September 1968*

Aircraft

 * V-72 Vengeance, 1942
 * A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943
 * P-39 Airacobra, 1943
 * P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
 * F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1955–1957
 * F-102A Delta Dagger, 1957–1959
 * F-106A Delta Dart, 1959–1968