Description

26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Patch – Plastic Backing

Airmen, enjoy this 26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Patch.  You’ll be able to wear this patch proudly.

• 3.5*3.5″
• Embroidered
• US Veteran-Owned Business
• Reproduction

World War II
Activated as the 26th Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field, California in January 1941 as a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron to defend the West Coast. Deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater in March 1942, initially arriving at Karachi, India moving via Australia and Ceylon. It was assigned to Tenth Air Force. The squadron defended the Indian terminus of the Hump airlift route over the Himalayas between India and China and airfields in that area, operating from the Assam Valley of northeast India. The squadron flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943.

Moved to southeast China in October 1943, being assigned to Fourteenth Air Force. The squadron defended the Chinese end of the Hump route and air bases in the Kunming area. Attacked Japanese shipping in the Red River delta of Indochina and supported Chinese ground forces in their late 1944 drive along the Salween River. Was reequipped with North American P-51D Mustangs in 1945 to defend the eastern end of the route over the Hump, and to guard air bases in the Kunming area.

It returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the United States in November. Inactivated on 13 December 1945.

Unit History
Assignment Naha Airfield, Okinawa (May 22, 1947)
Command Far East Command (May 16, 1949)
Command Twentieth Air Force (May 16, 1949)
Assignment 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Feb 01, 1950)
Re-designated on 1 February 1950 Inactivated on 31 May 1971
Unit 26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (Feb 01, 1950)
Deployed 26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (Sep 20, 1950)
Attached to: 6302d Air Base Group, September 20, 1950
Deployed 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Sep 25, 1950)
Attached to Fifth Air Force 25 September 1950 ? 1 August 1954 Further attached to 8th Fighter-Bo…
Deployed 26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (Jun 25, 1951)
Attached to: 6351st Air Base Wing, June 25, 1951
Deployed 26th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (Nov 11, 1954)
Attached to: Thirteenth Air Force, November 11, 1954
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Nov 11, 1954)