Pilots and crew! Enjoy this beautifully embroidered 44th Fighter Squadron Patch. You'll be able to wear this patch proudly.
World War II
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.[1]
Vietnam War
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.[1]
The squadron was unmanned from 31 December 1966 - 24 April 1967 and November 1970-15 May 1971.
Japan
It has flown air defense over Okinawa and Japan since 1971.[1]
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.[3][4][5]
The 44th Fighter Squadron was named as the winner of the Raytheon Trophy for 2012.[6]
Taiwan
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.
2013 Sequestration
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.[7]
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.[7] 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.[7]
Recent events
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.[8][9][10]
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.[11][12]
Lineage
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[1]