Major McGuire, commander of the 431st Fighter Squadron, next to his P-38L Pudgy (V) in 1944.[1]431st FWS F-111F 70-2400431st TFS F-4E 67-0352431st FIS F-102A Delta Dagger 55-3431431st FIS F-86D Sabre 52-10054 at Zaragoza AB, 1958431st FIS F-86F 51-13168 at Selfridge AFB, 1953
Established by Fifth Air Force in Australia in May 1943 specifically to accommodate very long range Lockheed P-38J Lightnings at Amberley Airfield in Queensland, Australia. The 431st was specifically trained to provide long-range escort for bombers during daylight raids on Japanese airfields and strongholds in the Netherlands East Indies and the Bismarck Archipelago. On 14 August 1943, the 431st transferred from Amberley Airfield to Port Moresby. New Guinea.
Engaged in combat operations, providing escort for North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers that were engaged in strafing attacks on airdromes at Wewak but also destroyed a number of the enemy fighter planes that attacked the formation. Also intercepted and destroyed many Japanese aircraft which were sent against American shipping in Oro Bay on 15 and 17 October 1943. Covered landings in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Schouten Islands. After moving to Biak in July 1944, the squadron flew escort missions and fighter sweeps to the southern Philippines, Celebes, Halmahera, and Borneo.
Moved to the Philippines in October 1944 and attacked enemy airfields and installations, escorting bombers, and engaging in aerial combat during the first stages of the Allied campaign to recover the Philippines, October–December 1944. The squadron flew many missions to support ground forces on Luzon during the first part of 1945. Also flew escort missions to Southeast China and attacked railways on Formosa. Began moving to Ie Shima near Okinawa in August 1945 but the war ended before the movement was completed.
After active combat ended, on 22 September 1945, the squadron moved to Seoul Airfield, Korea for occupation duty as part of the 308th Bomb Wing, assigned to the 315th Air Division of Far East Air Forces. The unit moved to Kimpo Airfield, on 7 January 1946 where it converted to the very long-range P-51H Mustang. The squadron was reassigned to Nagoya Airfield, Japan in March 1947 and later moved to Itazuke Airfield, Japan in August 1948. It became a subordinate unit of 475th Fighter Wing on 10 August.
The squadron was inactivated on 1 April 1949 at Ashiya Airfield, Japan.
Was reassigned to Tactical Air Command, being stationed at George AFB, California, assigned to 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. Equipped with F-4C Phantom II tactical fighter-bomber, engaged in training, participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, deployments. Re-equipped with new F-4D Phantom II in 1965 and reassigned to 479th Tactical Training Wing at George AFB. The F-4D was an improved version of the F-4C, which the 8th TFW had been deployed with to Southeast Asia.
In February 1966, the squadron began McDonnell F-4D Phantom II replacement pilot training for personnel to be deployed to Southeast Asia. Along with the USAF fighter pilot training, the squadron began training foreign personnel in F-4 operations and maintenance in March 1969. Pilots were trained from Israel, Iran, Japan, and West Germany. Inactivated on 30 October 1970 due to budget reductions.
The 431st's mission was to test and evaluate Time Compliance Technical Order modifications to the F-111A/D/E and F models prior to those changes being released to operational F-111 tactical wings in the United States and Europe. In addition was tasked with exploiting foreign technologies, and developing leading-edge tactics to improve the future combat capability of aerospace forces.
Squadron remained active until June 1992 when the F-111 was retired at the end of the Cold War.
Lineage
Activated on 14 May 1943 by special authority prior to constitution as 431st Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1943.
Inactivated on 1 April 1949.
Redesignated 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 September 1952.
Activated in November 1952.
Inactivated on 18 May 1964
Reactivated and redesignated as 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 25 July 1964
Inactivated on 30 October 1970
Reactivated and redesignated as 431st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 15 January 1976
Inactivated on 1 October 1978.
Reactivated and redesignated as 431st Fighter Weapons Squadron, 1 October 1980
Redesignated: 431st Test and Evaluation Squadron on 30 December 1981
