15th Fighter Group Homepage

Squadrons active at the close of World War II


45th Fighter Squadron Dec 1941 - Close of War	47th Fighter Squadron Dec 1941 - Close of War	78th Fighter Squadron Mar 1943 - Close of War

Squadrons who were assigned to the 15th at some point during World War II


6th Fighter Squadron Mar 1942 - May 1944	12th Fighter Squadron Aug 1942 - Mar 1943	46th Fighter Squadron Dec 1941 - Apr 1944	72nd Fighter Squadron Dec 1941 - Oct 1942

Lineage
Established as 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter) on 22 Nov 1940. Activated on 1 Dec 1940. Redesignated: 15th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 12 Feb 1942; 15th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1946. Redesignated 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 Jun 1955. Activated on 18 Aug 1955. Discontinued on 1 Jul 1960. Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was established, and activated, on 17 Apr 1962. Organized on 1 Jul 1962. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1970. Redesignated 15th Air Base Wing on 20 Oct 1971. Activated on 1 Nov 1971.
Assignments
14th Pursuit Wing, 1 Dec 1940; 7th Interceptor (later, VII Fighter) Command, 23 Jan 1942; United States Army Strategic Air Forces, 16 Jul 1945; VII Fighter Command, 5 Aug 1945; Pacific Air Command, US Army, 25 Nov 1945 (attached to 7th Fighter Wing, 25 Nov-31 Dec 1945)
Components
Group. 15th Operations: 13 Apr 1992-.
Squadrons. 6th Night Fighter: attached 6-25 Mar 1943, assigned 26 Mar 1943-5 Jun 1944; attached 1-30 Sep 1944. 12th: 23 Aug-1 Dec 1942. 18th Fighter Control: attached 6-17 Mar 1943, assigned 26 Mar 1943-22 Jul 1944. 45th: 1 Dec 1940-15 Oct 1946. 46th: 1 Dec 1940- 24 Apr 1944. 47th: 1 Dec 1940-15 Oct 1946. 78th: attached 6-17 Mar 1943; assigned 26 Mar 1943-15 Oct 1946 (detached 26 Mar-10 Apr 1943). 318th Fighter Control: attached 6- 17 Mar 1943.
Stations
Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii, 1 Dec 1940; Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii, 3 Jun 1944-5 Feb 1945; South Field, Iwo Jima, 6 Mar 1945; Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii, 25 Nov 1945; Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii, 9 Feb-15 Oct 1946.
Commanders
Maj Clyde K. Rich, 1 Dec 1940; Maj Lorry N. Tindal, 6 Dec 1940; Maj Clarence F. Hegy, 17 Mar 1941; Maj Lorry N. Tindal, 25 Apr 1941; Lt Col Paul W. Blanchard, 20 Sep 1941; Lt Col William S. Steele, 12 Feb 1942; Lt Col Sherwood E. Buckland, 5 Mar 1943; Lt Col Kenneth R. Powell, 17 Jun 1943 (temporary); Lt Col Sherwood E. Buckland, 7 Jul 1943; Lt Col William A. Bowen, 23 Aug 1943 (temporary); Lt Col Sherwood E. Buckland, 15 Sep 1943; Col James O. Beckwith, Jr., 27 Sep 1943; Lt Col Dewitt S. Spain, 16 Apr 1945; Lt Col Julian E. Thomas, 17 May 1945; Lt Col Elmer E. Booth, 19 Jul 1945 (temporary); Col John W. Mitchell, 21 Jul 1945; Col William Eades, (by Nov) 1945; Col Oswald W. Lunde, 25 Nov 1945-15 Oct 1946.
Aircraft
A-12, 1940-1942; OA-9, 1940-1942; P-26, 1940-1942; P-36, 1940-1942; B-12, 1941-1942; P-39, 1941-1944; P-40, 1941-1944; P-47, 1943-1945, 1945-1946, 1946; P-70, 1943-1944; A-24, 1944; P-51, 1944-1946; P-61, 1944; A-26 .
Operations
Served as part of the defense force for Hawaiian Islands, using A-12, OA-9, B-12, P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft. Suffered numerous casualties and lost aircraft during Japanese attack on Hawaii, 7 Dec 1941, but was remanned and reorganized, and remained part of the Hawaiian defense system until 1944. Sent squadrons to the Central and South Pacific at various times for operations against the Japanese. Reequipped with P-51 aircraft in 1944 and trained for very-long range escort missions. Moved to Iwo Jima in Feb 1945, and in Mar, supported the invasion force, and began bombing Bonin Islands. In Apr and May 1945 escorted B-29 raids into Japan and struck airfields to curtail enemy attacks on invasion force at Okinawa. Continued fighter sweeps and long-range escort missions to Japan until end of war. In Nov 1945, transferred back to Hawaii without personnel and equipment. Remanned and reequipped but inactivated less than a year later, on 15 Oct 1946.
Honors
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 7 Apr 1945.
Emblem
Or, on a bend Azure two terrestrial lightning flashes issuant from base of the first; overall a gunsight counterchanged, all within a diminished bordure of the first. Approved for 15th Group on 5 Oct 1942 and for 15th Wing on 15 Mar 1963 (K&KE 13821).

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