6th Fighter Squadron (6th FS)
6th Night Fighter Squadron (6th NFS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 7th Air Force (7th AF)

Background
On March 13, 1917 organized as the 6th Aero Squadron at Fort Kamehameha on Oahu as part of the Hawaiian Department of the U.S Army equipped with N-9, R-6 and HS2L aircraft. On September 25, 1918 moves to Luke Field on Ford Island. On September 15, 1919 assigned to the 2nd Observation Group. In the inter war period, operated DH-4, HS2L, JN-6, MB-3 and Fokker D-VII aircraft.

On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). During January 1927 assigned to the 18th Pursuit Group (18th PG) in the Hawaiian Air Force. On March 14, 1921 redesignated 6th Squadron. On January 25, 1923 redesigned 6th Pursuit Squadron. On December 6, 1939 redesignated 6th Fighter Squadron (Interceptor). On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF).

Wartime History
On February 5, 1942 the Hawaiian Air Force was redesignated as the 7th Air Force (7th AF).

On May 15, 1942 redesignated 6th Fighter Squadron in the 18th Fighter Group (18th FG).

On August 30, 1942 moves to Kahuku Airfield on Oahu.

On November 17, 1942 moves to Kipapa Airfield (Kipapa Gulch Field) on Oahu with detachments sent overseas to Guadalcanal and New Guinea.

On January 9, 1943 redesignated 6th Night Fighter Squadron (6th NFS).

On February 28, 1943 five P-70s of Detachment B begins operating from Guadalcanal.

On March 16, 1943 assigned to the 15th Fighter Group (15th FG).

On April 18, 1943 a detachment led by led by Captain Warren G. Hornaday begins operating from Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On May 7, 1943 lost is P-70 Havoc 39-790 pilot Captain Warren G. Hornaday (MIA) on a training flight off Port Moresby and crashed at the entrance to Bootless Bay, The crew was the squadron's first fatalities in New Guinea.

On September 14, 1943 the detachment in New Guinea begins a movement back to Hawaii. On September 15, 1943 the detachment on Guadalcanal begins a movement back to Hawaii.

On September 20, 1943 at night, P-38 piloted by 1st Lt. Henry Meigs II from 6th Night Fighter Squadron, intercepts two Bettys over Bougainville and within 60 seconds shoots down two G4M1 Bettys including G4M1 pilot Itakura and G4M1 pilot Kisuberi both from 702 Kōkūtai (702 Air Group).

On March 3, 1944 moves to John Rogers Airport on Oahu and converts to the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-61 Black Widow.

On June 5, 1944 assigned to 7th Fighter Command.

On June 21, 1944 a detachment moves to Saipan.

On June 30, 1944 during a night interception, P-61A "Black Widder / Moonhappy" 42-5527 pilot Lt. Dale Haberman shot down a Betty, the first P-61 kill of World War II.

On July 14, 1944 during a night interception, P-61A "Black Widder / Moonhappy" 42-5527 pilot Lt. Dale Haberman clamed a Betty.

On October 28, 1944 moves to Kipapa Airfield on Oahu.

On December 25, 1944 during a night interception, P-61A "Black Widder / Moonhappy" 42-5527 pilot Lt. Dale Haberman claimed two Bettys.

On January 11, 1945 moves to Kagman Airfield (East Field) on Saipan attached to 318th Fighter Group (318th FG) while a detachment continues to operate from Kipapa Airfield.

On May 12, 1945 returns to Kipapa Airfield and assigned to 7th Fighter Wing until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On October 2, 1945 moves to Wheeler Field. On January 1, 1946 assigned to Pacific Air Command. On June 11, 1946 moves to Atsugi Airfield in Japan and assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). On September 1, 1946 moves to Yokota Airfield. On February 20, 1947 inactivated and disbanded.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II pages 39-40 (PDF pages 51-52)