World War II The squadron was activated on 15 October 1943 at
Grand Central Air Terminal. It was initially equipped with the
Lockheed P-38F Lightning and trained for combat to serve as an air defense organization for the west coast as part of
IV Fighter Command. Even though the defense of the US west coast initially took priority, it was decided to deploy Lightning squadrons to Britain for heavy bomber escort duty. The squadron was assigned to
VIII Fighter Command,
Eighth Air Force and moved to
RAF Wattisham, England, in April–May 1944. From England, the squadron escorted heavy bombers during operations against targets on the Continent, strafed targets of opportunity, and flew fighter-bomber, counter-air, and area-patrol missions. Engaged primarily in
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and
Consolidated B-24 Liberator escort activities and fighter sweeps until the
Normandy invasion in June 1944. Patrolled the beachhead during the invasion. Strafed and dive-bombed troops, bridges, locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields, gun emplacements, flak towers, ammunition dumps, power stations, and radar sites while on escort or fighter-bomber missions as the
Allies drove across France during the summer and fall of 1944. The unit flew area patrols to support the breakthrough at
Saint-Lô in July and the
airborne attack on the Netherlands in September. The unit continued escort and fighter-bomber activities from October to mid-December 1944. It converted to
P-51s between 10 September and 1 October, using both types on missions until conversion was completed. Participated in the
Battle of the Bulge (December 1944 – January 1945) by escorting bombers to and from targets in the battle area and by strafing transportation targets while on escort duty. From February to April 1945 it continued to fly escort missions, but also provided area patrols to support the
airborne attack across the Rhine in March. Returned to
Camp Kilmer New Jersey in November 1945, and was inactivated in December 1945.|left , 2011 The squadron trained as fighter-day, and later, tactical fighter squadron from, 1952–1962. It was not manned from, 3 January 1962 – October 1966. In 1966, it began training
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II crews for assignment in
Southeast Asia. In August 1972, the squadron deployed to Thailand, where it served under operational control of
49th Tactical Fighter Wing. It engaged in combat over North and South Vietnam. It redeployed to the U.S. in October 1972. By 1975, the 434th provided combat aircrew training for U.S. and Allied pilots. From 1977 to 1991, the squadron trained pilots, weapon systems officers, and
forward air controllers. ==Lineage==