Lineage. Constituted 37 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 37 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 Jan 1942; 37 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 37 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945. Redesignated 37 Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled, and activated, on 20 Nov 1946. Redesignated 37 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 20 May 1948. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949. Redesignated 37 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952. Activated on 1 Nov 1952. Discontinued on 1 May 1960. Redesignated 37 Flying Training Squadron on 22 Mar 1972. Activated on 1 Jun 1972.
Assignments. 55 Pursuit (later, 55 Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941; 14 Fighter Group, 1 Mar 1943-9 Sep 1945. 14 Fighter Group, 20 Nov 1946-2 Oct 1949. 4711 Defense Wing, 1 Nov 1952; 517 Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953; 14 Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955-1 May 1960. 14 Flying Training Wing, 1 Jun 1972; 14 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; Portland, OR, 21 May 1941 (operated from Paine Field, WA, 7-24 Dec 1941); Olympia, WA, 24 Dec 1941; McChord Field, WA, 8-18 Jan 1943; La Senia, Algeria, 27 Feb 1943; Mediouna, French Morocco, c. 17 Mar 1943; Telergma, Algeria, 5 May 1943; El Bathan, Tunisia, 4 Jul 1943; Ste-Marie-du-Zit, Tunisia, 26 Jul 1943; Triolo Airfield, Italy, 12 Dec 1943; (operated from Corsica, 10-21 Aug 1944); Lesina, Italy, Sep-9 Sep 1945. Dow Field (later, AFB), ME, 20 Nov 1946-2 Oct 1949. Ethan Allen AFB, VT, 1 Nov 1952-1 May 1960. Columbus AFB, MS, 1 Jun 1972-.
Commanders. 1 Lt Charles H. McDonald, 15 Jan 1941; 1 Lt H. D. Aynsworth, 18 Feb 1941; 1 Lt Jack S. Jenkins, c. May 1941; 1 Lt Robert T. Romine, 1941; Capt Jack S. Jenkins, c. Sep 1941; Capt Kenneth S. Wade, 1941; Maj Jack S. Jenkins, c. Sep 1942; Capt Wendell J. Kelley, c. Jun 1942; Maj John G. Bright, 16 Jan 1943; Maj Carl F. Rudder, 4 Jun 1943; Maj Forrest H. Barker, 19 Sep 1943; Lt Col William L. Leverette, 29 Sep 1943; Maj Forrest H. Barker, 27 Apr 1944; Lt Col Kenneth A. Gaskin, 1 May 1944; Maj Charles R. McIntire, c. 6 Feb 1945; Maj Robert E. Hullsiek, 22 Apr 1945-1945. Lt Col William T, Samways, c. 1947; Maj Francis J. Vetort, 20 Jul 1949-1949. Lt Col Richard E. Turner, 1 Nov 1952; Maj Raymond R. Stewart, 1953; Lt Col Donald E. Songer, c. 1955; Lt Col Richard H. Burnor, c. 1956; Maj Francis D. Peters Jr., c. 1957; Maj Curtis L. Utterback, 1959; Lt Col Roy D. Carlson, 1959-1960. Lt Col Hall, c. Jul 1972; Lt Col David J. Pennington, c. Jan 1973; Lt Col Jack E. Terry, 10 Feb 1975; Lt Col James C. Poole Jr., c. Jan 1978; Lt Col Terry G. Isaacson, 30 Jun 1979; Lt Col Robert K. McLeod, 6 Mar 1981; Lt Col George E. Throckmorton, 15 Jul 1982; Lt Col Wallis D. Cone Jr., 1 Mar 1983; Lt Col William M. F. Phillips, 11 Jan 1985; Lt Col Richard H. Estes, 19 Jun 1987; Lt Col Chris W. Shaw, 7 Jul 1989; Lt Col Bruce C. Grant, 29 Oct 1990; Lt Col Frank L. Belote Jr., 10 Jan 1991; Lt Col Ronald J. Vaughn, 25 Feb 1991; Lt Col William H. Barker Jr., 1 Oct 1992; Lt Col Stefan Eisen Jr., 12 Mar 1993; Lt Col Kris D. Gianakos, 24 Jun 1994; Lt Col Mark K. Hefferly, 19 Jan 1996; Lt Col Richard C. Davidage, 9 Jan 1998; Lt Col Christopher B. King, 7 Jan 2000; Lt Col Anthony J. Smith, 12 Dec 2001; Lt Col William D. Millonig, 11 Oct 2003-.
Aircraft. P-43, 1941-1942; P-38, 1942-1945. P-47, 1946-1949; P-84, 1947-1949. F-51, 1952-1953; F-86, 1953-1958; F-102, 1957-1960. T-37, 1972-.
Operations. Air defense, 7-24 Dec 1941. Combat in ETO and MTO, 6 May 1943-4 May 1945. Air defense, 1946-1949 and 1952-1960. Undergraduate Pilot Training, 1 Jun 1972-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Austria, 2 Apr 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1974; 1 Mar 1978-29 Feb 1980; 1 Apr 1985-31 Mar 1987; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2006.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 14 Jun 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 2004.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved 10 Nov 1972.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.