344th Fighter Squadron - World War II - B - Emblem

The 344th Fighter Squadron is an inactive

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

unit. Its last assignment was with 343d Fighter Group stationed at

Shemya Army Airfield Eareckson Air Station , formerly Shemya Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force military airport located on the island of Shemya, in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. The airport was closed as an active Air Force Station on 1 July 1994. Howev ...

Alaska Territory The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from August 24, 1912, until Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959. The territory was previously Russian America, 1784–1867; the ...

History

Activated as a P-40 Warhawk fighter squadron in Alaska during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Engaged in combat missions during Aleutian Campaign, 1942–1943. Switched to long-range P-38 Lightning fighters in 1944 and flew long-range attacks against Japanese shipping and airfields in northern Japan from its base at Shemya. Inactivated in 1946.

Lineage

* Constituted 344th Fighter Squadron on 2 Oct 1942 : Activated on 10 Oct 1942 : Inactivated on 15 Aug 1946.

Assignments

* 343d Fighter Group, 10 Oct 1942 – 15 Aug 1946

Stations

Elmendorf Field Elmendorf may refer to: People with the surname *Dave Elmendorf, former NFL player * Douglas Elmendorf, 2009-2015 director of the Congressional Budget Office * Lucas Conrad Elmendorf, a United States Representative from New York * Steven Elmendorf, ...

, Alaska Territory, 10 Oct 1942 : Detachment at

Fort Randall Army Airfield Thornbrough Air Force Base is a former facility of the United States Air Force in Cold Bay, Alaska. Following its closure, it was redeveloped into Cold Bay Airport. History The airport was constructed during World War II as Fort Randall Army Airf ...

, Alaska Territory, 12 Nov 1942 *

, Alaska Territory, c. 25 Dec 1942 *

Fort Glenn Army Airfield Cape Air Force Base also known as Fort Glenn Army Air Base, is a site significant for its role in World War II fighting, operating alongside Naval Air Facility Otter Point. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared ...

, Alaska Territory, 8 Mar-c. 23 May 1943 : Detachment at Amchitka Army Airfield, Alaska Territory, May-Jul 1943 : Detachment at

Alexai Point Army Airfield Alexai Point Army Airfield is an abandoned World War II airfield with two runways laid across Alexai Point on Attu Island, Alaska. The remains of the Seabee built airbase are located about 4 miles east of the closed Casco Cove Coast Guard Statio ...

, Attu, Alaska Territory, c. 12 Jun – Dec 1943 *

, Alaska Territory, 25 Jun 1943 – 15 Aug 1946.

Aircraft

P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

, 1942–1944 *

P-38 Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...

, 1944–1946

References

External links

{{USAAF 11th Air Force World War II Military units and formations established in 1942 Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces