402d Fighter-Day Group
The 402d Fighter-Day Group was an inactive United States Air Force unit that briefly existed during the postwar transition to the fighter-day mission.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 402d Fighter-Day Group was a United States Air Force organization associated with the post–World War II reorganization of American tactical aviation. Although its formal fighter-day designation dates from the mid-1950s, its lineage incorporated two short-lived wartime organizations: the 402d Bombardment Group and the 402d Fighter Group. The 402d Bombardment Group was constituted as a medium-bomber unit on 20 April 1943 and activated at Kunming, China, on 19 May of that year under the Fourteenth Air Force. It was intended to operate North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, but the planned aircraft and subordinate squadrons were not assigned. The group headquarters also appears not to have reached full staffing. It was therefore disbanded on 31 July 1943 without becoming an operational combat formation. A separate 402d Fighter Group was constituted on 24 September 1943 and activated on 1 October at Westover Field, Massachusetts, under I Fighter Command. Its initial components included the 538th, 539th, and 540th Fighter Squadrons, with the unit briefly attached to the New York Fighter Wing. The group moved to Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, in October 1943. During the reorganization of its components, the 538th and 539th Fighter Squadrons were transferred to the 326th Fighter Group, while the 402d received the 320th and 442d Fighter Squadrons. The group later operated from Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina, and Bradley Field, Connecticut. It was equipped with P-47 Thunderbolt fighters and remained active until 10 April 1944, when it was disbanded. The wartime bombardment and fighter organizations were later reconstituted and consolidated. The combined lineage was redesignated the 402d Fighter-Day Group on 4 October 1956 and activated on 15 October under Tactical Air Command at Greenville Air Force Base, Mississippi. The group was planned to operate North American F-100 Super Sabre aircraft as part of the Air Force’s emerging fighter-day structure. Greenville, however, was retained as an Air Training Command installation rather than being converted into the intended operational fighter base. Because the group received no aircraft, it did not become an operational F-100 formation. It was inactivated on 8 February 1957, less than four months after activation. The unit is consequently best understood as a short-lived Air Force lineage and organizational designation rather than a continuing operational brand or active military command.
History
The 402d Fighter-Day Group traced its lineage to two organizations created during World War II. The first was the 402d Bombardment Group, Medium, which was constituted on 20 April 1943 and activated on 19 May at Kunming Airport, China. Assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force, it was intended to receive B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. The aircraft and subordinate squadrons were never assigned, and the headquarters apparently did not become fully staffed. The group was disbanded on 31 July 1943 after only a brief administrative existence. The second predecessor was the 402d Fighter Group. Constituted on 24 September 1943, it was activated on 1 October at Westover Field, Massachusetts, by I Fighter Command. The group initially included the 538th, 539th, and 540th Fighter Squadrons and was attached to the New York Fighter Wing until 13 October. It soon relocated to Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina. In a subsequent exchange of components, the 538th and 539th Squadrons went to the 326th Fighter Group, while the 320th and 442d Fighter Squadrons joined the 402d. The 452d Fighter Squadron also served with the group, as did the 540th. The group moved to Bluethenthal Field near Wilmington, North Carolina, around December 1943 and later to Bradley Field, Connecticut, in February 1944. Its aircraft were Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. Despite this more substantial organization, the 402d Fighter Group had a short life and was disbanded on 10 April 1944. In the postwar period, the Air Force revived and consolidated the predecessor lineages. On 3 October 1956, the 402d Bombardment Group and 402d Fighter Group were reconstituted and consolidated. The resulting organization was designated the 402d Fighter-Day Group on 4 October and activated on 15 October at Greenville Air Force Base, Mississippi, under Tactical Air Command. The planned mission involved the North American F-100 Super Sabre, a supersonic fighter intended for tactical day operations. The planned activation did not develop into an operational deployment. Greenville was retained by Air Training Command, preventing the station from functioning as the intended fighter base. The 402d Fighter-Day Group received no aircraft and did not establish an operational flying program. Its assigned components included the 320th, 442d, and 540th Fighter-Day Squadrons. The group was inactivated at Greenville on 8 February 1957. Its history therefore combines several planned or short-lived formations, with only the wartime fighter predecessor operating aircraft for a meaningful period.
- 1957
Unit inactivated
[1]The group was inactivated at Greenville on 8 February after receiving no aircraft and failing to become an operational F-100 formation.
- 1956
Lineages consolidated
[1]The wartime bombardment and fighter groups were reconstituted and consolidated on 3 October, with the resulting unit redesignated the 402d Fighter-Day Group.
- 1956
Fighter-day group activated
[1]The group was activated at Greenville Air Force Base, Mississippi, on 15 October under Tactical Air Command.
- 1944
Wartime fighter group disbanded
[1]The 402d Fighter Group was disbanded on 10 April after operating P-47 Thunderbolts from bases in the eastern United States.
- 1943
402d Bombardment Group constituted
[1]The 402d Bombardment Group, Medium, was constituted on 20 April for a planned B-25 Mitchell mission.
- 1943
Bombardment group activated in China
[1]The group was activated at Kunming on 19 May under the Fourteenth Air Force, but never received aircraft or a fully staffed headquarters.
- 1943
402d Fighter Group activated
[1]The 402d Fighter Group was activated at Westover Field, Massachusetts, on 1 October under I Fighter Command.
Products and positioning
A historical United States Air Force tactical aviation unit and lineage designation, not a commercial brand.
fighter aircraft · 1943
P-47 Thunderbolt
The wartime 402d Fighter Group operated Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters during its brief active period from 1943 to 1944. The aircraft formed the group’s operational equipment before its disbandment.
medium bomber · 1943
North American B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were planned for the 402d Bombardment Group after its activation in China. The aircraft were never assigned, so the group did not develop an operational bomber capability.
fighter aircraft · 1956
North American F-100 Super Sabre
The F-100 Super Sabre was the intended aircraft for the 402d Fighter-Day Group after its 1956 activation. The planned Greenville-based operation was not established, and the group received no aircraft.
Brand decisions
1956
Planned transition to fighter-day operationsStrategyBackground
The Air Force reconstituted and consolidated the predecessor lineages as part of a postwar tactical-air organization intended to operate F-100 fighter aircraft.
Action taken
The consolidated lineage was redesignated the 402d Fighter-Day Group and assigned to Tactical Air Command at Greenville Air Force Base.
Aftermath
Greenville remained an Air Training Command base, aircraft were not assigned, and the group was inactivated in February 1957.
Sources1 sources
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