44th Fighter Squadron

The 44 FS operated the F-15C Eagle aircraft conducting air superiority missions.

The 44th Flew patrols over the Pacific from Hawaii from 7 December 1941 – October 1942. It went on to fly combat missions in the South and Southwest Pacific from 21 December 1942 – 15 August 1945.

It again flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 18 December 1964 – 25 February 1965, 21 April – 22 June 1965, 19 – 29 October 1965, and 25 April 1967 – 6 October 1970.

The squadron was unmanned from 31 December 1966 – 24 April 1967 and November 1970–15 May 1971.

It has flown air defense over Okinawa and Japan since 1971.

On 17 January 2006 an F-15C of the squadron crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Okinawa. The pilot ejected and was rescued by an HH-60 of the 33d Rescue Squadron.{{cite news |last=Slavin |first=Eric |date=19 January 2006 |title=F-15 crashes during training off Okinawa |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/f-15-crashes-during-training-off-okinawa-1.43740 |access-date=15 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.japanupdate.com/archive/?id=6716 |title=Governor demands F-15's stop flying after Tuesday crash |author= |date=24 January 2006 |access-date=15 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url= http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2006/F-15C_17Jan06.pdf |title= F-15C 17 Jan 06 |website= usaf.aib.law.af.mil |access-date= 16 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064009/http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2006/F-15C_17Jan06.pdf |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}

The 44th Fighter Squadron was named as the winner of the Raytheon Trophy for 2012.{{cite web|last1=Doyle|first1=Brooke P|title=44th FS named Air Force's top air superiority squadron|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109579/44th-fs-named-air-forces-top-air-superiority-squadron/|website=U.S. Air Force|access-date=14 March 2018}}

From 3–30 September 1955, 44th Fighter-Bomber Squadron Deployed to Taoyuan Air Base, Taiwan with F-86 Sabre, returning again in 1962-1963 in support of “BLUE SKY” military exercise in Kung Kuan Air Base, Taiwan, equipped F-100 Super Sabre.

The 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron was deployed to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung from 6 November 1972 to 10 April 1975, using F-4 Phantom II to assist Taiwan’s air defense.

Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/archives/2013/04/08/reduced-flying-hours-forces-grounding-of-17-usaf-combat-air/78539120/|title=Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons|last1=Everstein|first1=Brian|date=8 April 2013|access-date=4 October 2016|work=Military Times |last2=Weisgerber|first2=Marcus}}

Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. This affected the 44th Fighter Squadron with a reduction of its flying hours, placing it into a basic mission capable status from 5 April-30 September 2013.

On 28 May 2013 an F-15C of the squadron crashed into the ocean off Okinawa. The pilot ejected and was rescued by the Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.{{cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/2013/05/28/okinawa-f-15-crashes-pilot-safe |title=Okinawa F-15 Crashes, Pilot Safe |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=28 May 2018 |website=news.usni.org |access-date=15 June 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Roth |first=Betty |date=28 May 2013 |title=US Air Force Pilot Survives F-15 Crash Off Okinaw |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/may/28/us-air-force-pilot-survives-f-15-crash-okinawa/ |access-date=15 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/473148/officials-release-report-on-f-15-accident-near-kadena-ab/ |title=Officials release report on F-15 accident near Kadena AB |author= |date=22 January 2014 |website=af.mil |access-date=15 June 2018 }}

On 11 June 2018 the pilot of another F-15C from the squadron ejected over the sea off Okinawa. This pilot was also rescued by the Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.{{cite news |last=Tan |first=Michelle |date=11 June 2018 |title=Kadena Air Base F-15 crashes off Okinawa |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/06/11/kadena-air-base-f-15-crashes-off-okinawa/ |access-date=11 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21439/a-usaf-f-15c-eagle-crashed-off-okinawa-pilot-rescued-alive-after-ejection |title=A USAF F-15C Eagle Crashed Off Okinawa, Pilot Rescued Alive After Ejection |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |date=10 June 2018 |website=The War Zone |access-date=11 June 2018 }}

• Constituted as the 44th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 November 1940

: Activated on 1 January 1941

: Redesignated 44th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942

: Redesignated 44th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 26 January 1944

: Redesignated 44th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 6 May 1946

: Redesignated 44th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 23 December 1949

: Redesignated 44th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 January 1950

: Redesignated 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958

: Redesignated 44th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1991

• 18th Pursuit Group (later 18th Fighter Group), 1 January 1941
• 318th Fighter Group, 20 October 1942
• South Pacific Area, 1 December 1942
• Thirteenth Air Force, 4 January 1943
• 18th Fighter Group (later 18th Fighter-Bomber Group), 30 March 1943

: Attached to 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing 25 July – 30 November 1950, 6200th Air Base Wing until 30 January 1953, Thirteenth Air Force until 10 November 1954

: Attached to Thirteenth Air Force 11 December 1954 – 4 January 1955, 6200th Air Base Wing until January 1955, Air Task Group Fifth, Provisional until 16 February 1955, 6200th Air Base Wing until 14 July 1955

: Attached to Air Task Force 13, Provisional 3–30 September 1955

: Attached to 314th Air Division 15–18 April 1956

: Attached to 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing after 1 February 1957

• 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 18 Tactical Fighter Wing), 1 October 1957

: Attached to 2d Air Division 18 December 1964 – 25 February 1965, 21 April–23 June 1965, and 19–29 October 1965

• 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 April 1967 (attached to 355th Tactical Fighter Wing after 10 October 1969)
• 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 October 1969
• Thirteenth Air Force, 10 December 1970
• 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 March 1971

: Attached to 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 2 April – 2 June 1972 and 28 July – 8 September 1972

: Attached to 327th Air Division, 6 November 1972 – 5 August 1973, 26 August – 16 September 1973, 7–28 October 1973, 18 November – 9 December 1973, 30 December 1973 – 20 January 1974, 10 February – 2 March 1974, 23 March – 13 April 1974, 4–25 May 1974, 15 June – 6 July 1974, 27 July – 16 August 1974, 5 September – 17 October 1974, 30 November 1974 – 9 January 1975, and 20 February – 10 April 1975

• 18th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 May 1978
• 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 11 February 1981
• 18th Operations Group, 1 October 1991–2023

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• Wheeler Field, Hawaii, 1 January 1941
• Bellows Field, Hawaii, 7 November 1941
• Wheeler Field, Hawaii, 12 December 1941
• Kaneohe Field, Hawaii, 27 December 1941
• Wheeler Field], Hawaii, 25 January 1942
• Bellows Field, Hawaii, 23 June – 23 October 1942
• Efate Airfield, New Hebrides 7 November 1942

: Air echelon operated from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 20 December 1942 – 20 March 1944

• Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 25 October 1943

: Air echelon operated from Mono Airfield, Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 20 March – 25 April 1944

: Air echelon operated from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 11 May – 16 July 1944

• Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 17 July 1944
• Cape Opmarai Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, 23 August 1944

: Air echelon operated from Wama Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, 7 November 1944 – 16 January 1945

• Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 13 January 1945
• McGuire Field, San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, 26 February 1945

: Air echelon operated from Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan, Philippines, 26 April – 13 May 1945

• San Roque Airfield (Moret Field), Mindanao, Philippines, 4 May–November 1945
• Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan, Philippines, 10 November 1945

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• Floridablanca Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 17 July 1946
• Clark Field (later Clark Air Force Base), Luzon, Philippines, 3 October 1947

: Deployed to Yontan Auxiliary Air Base, Okinawa 11 November – 11 December 1954, Taoyuan Air Base Formosa, 27 January – 17 February 1955)

• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 15 July 1955

: Deployed to Taoyuan Air Base, Formosa, 3–30 September 1955

: Deployed to Pyongtaek Air Base, South Korea, 15–18 April 1956

: Deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 18 December 1964 – 25 February 1965, 21 April – 22 June 1965, 10–29 October 1965 28 January 1966–8 April 1966

• Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 25 April 1967

: Deployed to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 1–27 February 1969

• Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 10 October 1969 – 15 March 1971
• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa (later Japan), 15 March 1971–present

: Deployed to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, 2 April – 2 June 1972 and 28 July – 8 September 1972

: Deployed to: Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, 6 November 1972 – 5 August 1973, 26 August – 16 September 1973, 7–28 October 1973, 18 November – 9 December 1973, 30 December 1973 – 20 January 1974, 10 February – 2 March 1974, 23 March – 13 April 1974, 4–25 May 1974, 15 June – 6 July 1974, 27 July – 16 August 1974, 5 September – 17 October 1974, 30 November 1974 – 9 January 1975, and 20 February – 10 April 1975

: Deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, May 1998{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, March 2000{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey, June 2001{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, September 2002, Operation Southern Watch {{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to: SW Asia , October 2011 – April 2012{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to: Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, July 2012 – January 2013{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

: Deployed to: Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 2020 - October 2020

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• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1940–1942, 1943)
• Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1943–1946)
• North American P-51 Mustang (1946–1947, 1948–1950)
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1946–1948)
• Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1946–1947, 1949–1954)

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• North American F-86 Sabre (1954–1957)
• North American F-100 Super Sabre (1957–1964)
• Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1963–1970)
• McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1971–1980)
• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (1979–2023)
• Boeing F-15EX Eagle II (2026, planned)

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; Notes

{{reflist}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= 17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= 17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
• {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|access-date=17 December 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}

• {{cite web |url= http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 |title=Library: Fact Sheet, 18th Operations Group|date=11 September 2007|publisher=18th Wing Public Affairs|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181331/http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=26 December 2016}}

{{Commons category}}

{{USAF Pacific Air Forces}}

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