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514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
514th F-86D Sabre about 1958
Active	1943–1946; 1952–1961
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter Interceptor
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with 514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem
514th Fighter Squadron emblem (World War II)
World War II fuselage code	O7

The 514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 86th Air Division, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 8 January 1961.

The squadron was first activated as the 630th Bombardment Squadron in 1943. While retaining its mission as a ground attack unit, it became the 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron a few months after activating. After training in the United States, it moved to the European Theater of Operations in the spring of 1944. It entered combat soon thereafter, and following D-Day, moved to the European continent, where it gave close air support to American ground forces advancing across Europe. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions during the war. Following V-E Day, the squadron served in the Army of Occupation until 1946, when it was inactivated and its personnel and equipment transferred to another unit.

The squadron was reactivated in 1952, when it replaced an Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War. The following year it assumed an air defense mission and continued with that mission until inactivated.

History

The squadron was first activated as the 630th Bombardment Squadron at Key Field, Mississippi on 1 March 1943. It was one of the four original squadrons of the 406th Bombardment Group and was initially equipped with a variety of attack, pursuit, and trainer aircraft. Although its mission did not substantially change, the squadron became the 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in August. It moved to Congaree Army Air Field, South Carolina and equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts before the end of the year. The 514th trained with its "Jugs" until March 1944, when it departed the United States for the European Theater of Operations.

The squadron arrived at RAF Ashford in England in early April and flew its first combat mission the following month, preparing for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. It attacked military airfields, bridges and marshalling yards in France. On D-Day, the squadron flew patrols in the vicinity of the invasion beaches and armed reconnaissance and dive bombing missions.

The squadron supported Operation Cobra, the Allied breakthrough at Saint-Lo on 25 July, then moved to Tour-en-Bessin Airfield in France a few days later. The 514th participated in the reduction of Saint-Malo and Brest, France and supported the drive across France. On 7 September, flying from Saint-Léonard Airfield, the squadron operated with the other units of the 406th Fighter Group in destroying a column of tanks, armored vehicles and motor transport that were trying to escape to southeastern France through the Belfort Gap. This attack earned the squadron the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). The squadron cooperated with ground forces and flew air interdiction sorties in the area of the Mosel and Saar Rivers.

When the Germans launched the counterattack that resulted in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the squadron shifted operations to the Ardennes to relive the embattled garrison at Bastogne. For four days in late December, the squadron flew attacks on German vehicles, gun emplacements and defensive positions close to Bastogne, for which it was awarded a second DUC. The squadron flew escort, interdiction, and air support missions in the Ruhr Valley early in 1945 and to assist Allied ground forces in the drive to and across the Rhine.

Following, V-E Day, the squadron moved to AAF Station Nordholz, Germany, where it became part of the Army of Occupation. The squadron was inactivated on 20 August 1946, and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 527th Fighter Squadron. which was activated the same day.

Air defense in Europe

The squadron returned to its Fighter-Bomber designation and was activated in July 1952 at RAF Manston, England, where it replaced the 167th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, a West Virginia Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War. The 514th assumed the mission, personnel and Republic F-84 Thunderjets of the 167th, which was returned to state control. In late 1953, the squadron converted to North American F-86D Sabres. In 1954, the squadron was designated the 514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.

When the 406th Fighter-Interceptor Wing reorganized in May 1956, the 406th Fighter-Interceptor Group was inactivated and the squadron assigned directly to wing headquarters. In February 1958, the 406th Wing began phasing down its operations as it prepared for inactivation. In connection with this drawdown, the squadron moved to Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base when the 406th inactivated on 15 May 1958 and was reassigned to the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The squadron was inactivated on 8 January 1961, one of the last two F-86D squadrons in United States Air Forces in Europe.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 630th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 4 February 1943

Activated on 1 March 1943

Redesignated 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943

Redesignated 514th Fighter Squadron on 30 May 1944

Inactivated on 20 August 1946

• Redesignated 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 25 June 1952

Activated on 10 July 1952

Redesignated 514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 April 1954

Discontinued and inactivated on 8 January 1961

Assignments

• 406th Bombardment Group (later 406th Fighter-Bomber Group, 406th Fighter Group), 1 March 1943 – 20 August 1946
• 406th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 406th Fighter-Interceptor Group), 10 July 1952
• 406th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 May 1956
• 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (later 86th Air Division), 25 April 1958 – 8 January 1961

Stations

• Key Field, Mississippi, 1 March 1943
• Congaree Army Air Field, South Carolina, 18 September 1943 – 13 March 1944
• RAF Ashford (AAF-417), England, 5 April 1944
• Tour-en-Bessin Airfield (A-13), France, c. 19 July 1944
• Cretteville Airfield (A-14), France, 17 August 1944
• Saint-Léonard Airfield (A-36), France, 4 September 1944
• Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield (A-80), France, 24 September 1944
• Metz Airfield (Y-34), France, c. 31 January 1945
• Asch Airfield (Y-29), Belgium, c. 6 February 1945
• Münster-Handorf Airfield (Y-94), Germany, c. 15 April 1945
• AAF Station Nordholz (R-56), Germany, 5 June 1945 – 20 August 1946
• RAF Manston, England, 10 July 1952
• Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base (later Ramstein Air Base), Germany, 15 May 1958 – 8 January 1961

Aircraft

• Douglas A-20 Havoc, 1943
• Douglas A-24 Banshee, 1943
• Curtiss A-25 Shrike, 1943
• Douglas A-26 Invader, 1943
• Vultee A-35 Vengeance, 1943
• North American A-36 Apache, 1943
• Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, 1943
• North American BC-1, 1943
• Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943
• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1943
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1946
• Republic F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1953
• North American F-86D Sabre, 1953–1961

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	7 September 1944	France, 514th Fighter Squadron
	Distinguished Unit Citation	23 December 1944-27 December 1944	Belgium, 514th Fighter Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	31 October 1955-31 October 1958	514th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	American Theater without inscription	1 March 1943 – 13 March 1944	630th Bombardment Squadron (later 514th Fighter-bomber Squadron)
	Air Offensive, Europe	6 April 1944 – 5 June 1944	514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 514th Fighter Squadron)
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	6 April 1944 – 11 May 1945	514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 514th Fighter Squadron)
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	514th Fighter Squadron
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	514th Fighter Squadron
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	514th Fighter Squadron
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945	514th Fighter Squadron
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	514th Fighter Squadron
	World War II Army of Occupation (Germany)	9 May 1945 – 20 August 1946	514th Fighter Squadron

See also

• List of Douglas A-26 Invader operators
• List of F-86 Sabre units

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Aircraft is North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre, serial 51-6205. This plane crashed on 29 April 1959 near Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. Baugher, Joe (6 May 2023). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
2. Approved 1 March 1955. Description: on a disc, checky, white and black, within a double border, blue and of the first , a chess queen of the third , detail white.
3. Aircraft is Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Skirty Bert III at Münster-Handorf Airfield, Germany in April 1945.
4. The photo caption states the aircraft is Republic F-84G-10-RE Thunderjet, serial 51-1112 at RAF Manston in 1953. Only the last 3 digits of the "buzz number" are visible in the photo, so this aircraft may have a different serial number. Baugher states that 51-1112 was destroyed in a crash near Chitose Air Base Japan on 29 October 1952. Baugher, Joe (6 May 2023). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
5. Under this plan, called the "dual deputy organization" flying squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Operations and maintenance squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance.

Citations

1. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 620
2. ^ Watkins, pp. 52–53
3. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 292–293
4. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 633–634
5. Willard, p. 38
6. Ravenstein, pp. 219–220
7. See McAuliffe, p. 379 (inactivation of 513th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron).
8. Station number in Anderson.
9. ^ Station number in Johnson.
10. Station information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 620, except as noted

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• McAuliffe, Lt Col Jerome J. (2005). U.S. Air Force in France 1950–1967. San Diego, CA: Milspec Press. ISBN 978-0-9770371-1-7.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.
• Willard, TSG Richard R. (1988) . Location of United States Military Units in the United Kingdom, 16 July 1948-31 December 1967. USAF Air Station, South Ruislip, United Kingdom: Historical Division, Office of Information, Third Air Force. LCCN 68061579.

v t e United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA)
Air Forces	Third (Europe)
Bases	Aviano Air Base Incirlik Air Base RAF Lakenheath RAF Mildenhall Ramstein Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base
Support facilities	Ämari Air Base Büchel Air Base Camp Lemonnier Câmpia Turzii Air Base Chabelley Airport Chièvres Air Base Ghedi Air Base Izmir Air Station Kleine Brogel Air Base Lajes Field Łask Air Base Morón Air Base RAF Akrotiri RAF Alconbury RAF Fairford RAF Menwith Hill RAF Molesworth RAF Welford Stuttgart Airport Volkel Air Base
Major units	31st Fighter Wing 39th Air Base Wing 48th Fighter Wing 52nd Fighter Wing 86th Airlift Wing 100th Air Refueling Wing 406th Air Expeditionary Wing 435th Air Ground Operations Wing 501st Combat Support Wing

v t e USAAF Ninth Air Force in World War II
Stations	Palestine (Mand) Lydda Muqueibile Ramat David St Jean Egypt Abu Sueir Ismailia El Amiriya Daba Deversoir Fayid Kabrit * Landing Ground 174 Payne Sidi Haneish Libya Baheira Belandah Benina Castel Benito Berca Darragh El Adem El Assa Gambut Hamraiet Lete Martuba Tmed El Chel Tobruk Tripoli Sidi Azeiz Tunisia Ben Gardane Bou Grara Chekira Hani Hazbub Hergla El Djem El Haouaria Kairouan Medenine Menzel Heurr Sfax Soltane United Kingdom Aldermaston Andover Andrews Field Ashford Balderton Barkston Heath Beaulieu Birch Bisterne Boreham Bottesford Boxted Charmy Down Chalgrove Chilbolton Chipping Ongar Christchurch Cottesmore Earls Colne Exeter Folkingham Fulbeck Gosfield Great Dunmow Greenham Common Grove High Halden Headcorn Holmsley South Hurn Ibsley Kingsnorth Langar Lashenden Little Walden Lymington Matching Membury Merryfield Middle Wallop North Witham Ramsbury Raydon Rivenhall Saltby Scorton Staplehurst Spanhoe Stansted Stoney Cross Thruxton Upottery Warmwell Welford Weston Zoyland Wethersfield Winkton Woodchurch Wormingford Europe Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany too numerous.
Units	Commands 9th Air Division (was IX Bomber Command) IX Air Defense IX Fighter IX Tactical Air IX Troop Carrier XIX Tactical Air XXIX Tactical Air Wings Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment Fighter 8th Fighter 9th Fighter 70th Fighter 71st Fighter 84th Fighter 100th Fighter 303d Fighter Troop carrier 50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier Groups Bombardment 12th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment Group 340th Bombardment Group 344th Bombardment Group 376th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 416th Bombardment Fighter 36th Fighter 48th Fighter 50th Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 324th Fighter 354th Fighter 358th Fighter 365th Fighter 362d Fighter 363d Fighter 366th Fighter 367th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 406th Fighter 474th Fighter Troop carrier 61st Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier IX Troop Carrier Pathfinder (Provisional) Reconnaissance 10th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance Squadrons Liaison 14th Liaison 47th Liaison Night fighter 422d Night Fighter 425th Night Fighter
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force in World War II
Units	Commands II Air Support Command III Air Support Command III Bomber Command III Fighter Command III Reconnaissance Command III Tactical Air Command Divisions III Tactical Air Division Wings 8th Fighter Wing 9th Fighter Wing 40th Bombardment Wing Groups Air Commando 2nd Air Commando 3rd Air Commando Bombardment 3rd Bombardment 12th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 21st Bombardment 29th Bombardment 30th Bombardment Group 38th Bombardment 44th Bombardment 46th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 85th Bombardment 88th Bombardment 90th Bombardment 91st Bombardment 92nd Bombardment 93rd Bombardment 94th Bombardment 95th Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 100th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 319th Bombardment 320th Bombardment 321st Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment 335th Bombardment 336th Bombardment 340th Bombardment 344th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 411th Bombardment 416th Bombardment 417th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 454th Bombardment 463rd Bombardment 483rd Bombardment 488th Bombardment Fighter 20th Fighter 31st Fighter 49th Fighter 50th Fighter 53rd Fighter 54th Fighter 56th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 81st Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 311th Fighter 332nd Fighter 337th Fighter 338th Fighter 339th Fighter 361st Fighter 369th Fighter 372nd Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 408th Fighter 414th Fighter 506th Fighter Fighter-Bomber 27th Fighter-Bomber 48th Fighter-Bomber 86th Fighter-Bomber 406th Fighter-Bomber 407th Fighter-Bomber Reconnaissance 2d Reconnaissance 9th Reconnaissance 10th Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 65th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 68th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance 70th Reconnaissance 75th Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance 423d Reconnaissance 424th Reconnaissance 426th Reconnaissance
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force
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