317th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron The 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit , last assigned to Aerospace Defense Command , being stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska . The squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1969 . History . World War II . The 317th Fighter Squadron was activated on 1 July 1942 at Theodore Green Airport , Providence , Rhode Island , as part of the 325th Fighter Group , the " Checker Tails " . After six months of intensive training in the P - 40 Warhawk , the 317th embarked for North Africa aboard the USS Ranger , in consort with its sister squadrons , the 318th and 319th . The 317th flew its first combat mission in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations ( MTO ) under Twelfth Air Force on 17 April 1943 . Flying P - 40 Warhawks , P - 47 Thunderbolts and P - 51 Mustangs , the 317th fought in 13 separate campaigns where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citation s in action over Italy and Sardinia . In October 1945 , after the conclusion of the European air war , the 317th returned to the United States and was inactivated . Air Defense Command . In May 1947 , the squadron was reactivated at Mitchel Field , New York and equipped with P - 61 Black Widow s . Reassigned to Moses Lake AFB , Washington , the squadron was re - equipped with the new F - 82 Twin Mustang in October 1948 . The squadron was assigned for the defense of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Eastern Washington . One month later it was reassigned to Hamilton Field , California , and in April 1950 , returned to McChord AFB , Washington . In 1951 . the squadron was re - designated as the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron . a component of the 25th Air Division , Air Defense Command , During the period between 1947 to 1956 . the 317th flew the F - 82 . the F - 94 Starfire , and the F - 86D Sabre interceptor . In 1955 and 1956 , at Vincent AFB , Yuma , Arizona , flying the F - 86D , the 317th engaged in airborne rocket competition , breaking all records previously set . In August 1956 the squadron was selected as the best air defense unit in the Air Force and was awarded the Hughes Trophy , In addition , the squadron received its first Outstanding Unit Award for high combat readiness for the period of 1953 through 1956 . In November 1956 , the 317th began transitioning into the F - 102 Delta Dagger . Alaskan Air Command . In November 1956 , the 317th began transitioning into the F - 102A Delta Dagger , becoming the second squadron to receive the new delta winged supersonic aircraft . In August 1957 , the 317th was reassigned in force , to Elmendorf AFB , Alaska , where it assumed air defense mission of the southern portion of Alaska and the northwestern approaches to the United States . In the summer of 1960 . the 449th FIS was inactivated and Ladd AFB was closed . leaving the entire Alaska air defense mission to the 317th FIS . To carry out this mission , the squadron was authorized 40 aircraft and 60 pilots . The squadron received its second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for maintaining full combat readiness during and after the 1964 Alaska earthquake on 27 March 1964 . In the summer of 1965 , the 317th was reduced to 29 aircraft and the manning reduced accordingly , but the air defense mission remained the same . In October 1965 , the squadron was awarded the Hughes Trophy for the second time , and a third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for combat readiness . In December 1969 , due to budget reductions , the 317th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron was inactivated .