52nd Fighter Squadron
The 52nd Fighter Squadron is an active reserve unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 944th Operations Group, 944th Fighter Wing. Stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the squadron was most recently activated on 6 August 2021. Previously, it was with the Western Air Defense Force, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California until its inactivation on 8 June 1951. History World War II Activated on 1 January 1941 as one of the three squadrons assigned to the 32nd Pursuit Group as part of the United States buildup of forces after the eruption of World War II. The squadron was equipped with Curtiss P-36A Hawks and Boeing P-26A Peashooters drawn from the 16th and 37th Pursuit Groups. After being formed at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, the squadron was moved to Río Hato Army Air Base, Panama. Following its stay at Rio Hato, the unit was ordered to France Field on 1 January 1942, and the squadron was equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. In early 1942, the Squadron was actively engaged in anti-submarine patrols, for which duty the aircraft were each armed with a 350 pound depth charge. Either 75-foot or 150-foot hydrostatic fuses were used,