348th Night Fighter Squadron

The squadron was formed in October 1942 from elements of the 81st Fighter Squadron as part of the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) Fighter Command School at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida. Its personnel being veteran American pilots trained by the Royal Air Force in night interception operations. It was initially equipped with three Douglas DB-7s and twenty-three Douglas P-70 Havocs. Shortages in operational flying aircraft, spare parts and other issues kept flying training very rudimentary for the squadrons first classes that graduated in December 1942. The squadron's personnel and equipment were transferred to Squadron A of the 450th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Night Fighter Replacement Training Unit). ==Lineage==

• Constituted 348th Night Fighter Squadron on 1 October 1942 : Activated on 1 October 1942 : Disbanded on 31 March 1944 Assignments • Fighter Command School, Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, 21 January 1943 • Air Defense Department, Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, 18 February 1943 • Night Fighter Division, Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, 1 April 1943 (attached to 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group after 17 July 1943) • 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, 26 July 1943 – 31 March 1944 Stations • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 4 October 1942 • Salinas Army Air Base, California, 19 January – 31 March 1944 Aircraft Assigned • Douglas A-20 Havoc, 1942–1944 • Douglas P-70 Havoc, 1942–1944 • Douglas DB-7 Boston, 1942–1944 • Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1943–1944 • Cessna C-78 Bobcat, 1943–1944 • Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, 1943–1944 • Vultee BT-13 Valiant, 1943–1944 • Lockheed B-34 Ventura, 1943–1944 • Northrop YP-61 Black Widow, 1943–1944 ==See also==