7th Pursuit Squadron (7th PS) / 7th Fighter Squadron (7th FS)
"Screamin' Demons"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG)

Background
On November 10, 1940 constituted as the 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 49th Pursuit Group (49th PG), U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). at Selfridge Field, Michigan. On January 15, 1941 activated equipped with Seversky P-35s. On May 23, 1941 moves to Morris Field, Florida. At the start of the Pacific War, prepares for deployment to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On December 24, 1941 placed under the command of 1st Lt. Robert L. Morrissey. On January 4, 1942 sent oversea to Australia equipped with Curtiss P-40E Warhawks. On February 2, 1942 arrives Melbourne.

On March 14, 1942 four P-40E Warhawks led by 1st Lt Robert L. Morrissey scramble from Horn Island Airfield a morning patrol then scrambled at 11:45am to intercept an incoming formation of G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M2 Zeros. Engaging the Zeros, Morrissey shot down A6M2 Zero 4443 pilot Lt(jg) Iwasaki then was engaged by A6M2 Zero pilot Oishi. Coming to his aid, P-40E "Poopy"  pilot 2nd Lt. A. T. House guns jammed and deliberately rammed the Zero causing it to explode and crash into the sea. His plane sustained damage but managed to land safely after three attempts. Lost is P-40E Warhawk pilot 2nd Lt. Clarence E. Sanford who ditched into the sea off Cape Arnhem, Northern Territory and was rescued.

On April 29, 1942 lost is P-40E Warhawk #32 pilot 2nd Lt. J. W. Tyler lost control on take off from Batchelor Field crashed into a parked Lockheed C-40 38-519 pilot Major Joseph "Joe" H. Moore as the passengers began exiting including Brigadier General Harold H. George and passengers aboard. Wreckage from the crash possibly one of the P-40's wheels struck General George in the head severely injuring him. Two others standing nearby were also killed instantly including 2nd Lieutenant Robert D. Jasper and war correspondent Melville Jacoby.

On May 15, 1942 redesignated 7th Fighter Squadron (7th FS).

On June 10, 1942 lost is P-40E Warhawk 41-5557 pilot 2nd Lt. William H. Payne on a test flight to test the oxygen system and crashed Brock's Creek roughly 20 miles south of Adelaide River.

On June 11, 1942 P-40E Warhawk 41-5621 pilot Dittler crashed near Hayes Creek.

On August 23, 1942 lost is P-40E "Mary Lucille / Spare Parts" 41-24868 pilot Lt. Lawrence A. Hansen (survived) on a patrol and suffered an engine failure after take off and crashed roughly 15 miles from Batchelor Field.

On September 11, 1942 the squadron took off on a ferry flight from Cairns Airfield northward via Horn Island Airfield then to Port Moresby in New Guinea. Lost is P-40E 41-24874 pilot 1st Lt Robert G. Hazard (KIA).

On September 19, 1942 moves from Batchelor Field to 14 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On November 2, 1942 lost is P-40E 41-5313 pilot 2nd Lt Bryant V. Wesley ditched into Bootless Bay.

On November 22, 1942 the squadron took off on an interception mission. Lost is P-40E 41-5610  pilot Lt. Don L. Sutliff (survived) and P-40E 41-5613  pilot 2nd Lt. Donald C. Dittler (MIA).

On November 24, 1942 twelve P-40s took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby on a strafing mission against Buna. Over the target, the formation experienced light anti-aircraft fire. Damaged is P-40E Warhawk pilot Captain William P. Martin (survived) force landed east of Popondetta.

On November 26, 1942 fifteen P-40s took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby on on a mission to dive bomb and strafe Buna New Strip (New Strip). Lost is P-40E Warhawk 41-5645  pilot 2nd Lt. Dean F. Burnett (MIA).

On November 30, 1942 sixteen P-40E Warhawks fly top cover for twelve P-40E Warhawks from 8th Fighter Squadron (8th FS) each armed with 500 pound bomb on a mission to bomb Buna village. West of the target, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from 252 Kokutai. Lost is P-40K Warhawk pilot 2nd Lt. John C. Johnston (MIA), P-40K Warhawk pilot 1st Lt. Irving W. Voorhees, Jr. (MIA) and P-40K Warhawk pilot 2nd Lt Bryant V. Wesley (survived).

On February 6, 1943 lost is P-40K Warhawk 42-45964 pilot Lt. Don L. Sutliff (survived).

On April 15, 1943 moves to Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) near the north coast of New Guinea.

On April 27, 1943 the squadron flies an escort mission over Lae Airfield. Returning, lost is P-40K "Swing It" 42-45981 pilot 2nd Lt. Christ A. Props (MIA).

On June 1, 1943 lost is P-40K "Vera"  pilot John Griffith force landed at Dobodura Airfield (Horanda 4Y).

On July 14, 1943 the squadron flies a mission over Lae. Lost is P-40K "Pistoff" 42-45979  pilot 1st Lt Donald H. Lee, Jr. (survived).

On October 17, 1943 the squadron scrambled to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid. Lost is P-40N 42-104991 pilot 1st Lt. Lawrence N. Succop (MIA).

On November 16, 1943 moves to Gusap Airfield in the Ramu Valley of New Guinea.

On December 4, 1943 the squadron took off on a strafing mission against Japanese positions in Madang, Alexishafen and Dogomur Bay (Dogamur) on the north coast of New Guinea. Lost due to bad weather is P-40N Warhawk pilot 1st Lt. Robert W. Croft (survived).

On January 23, 1944 the squadron flew high cover on a patrol mission over Wewak. Lost is P-40N Warhawk pilot 1st Lt. John F. Crowley (MIA).

On February 25, 1944 lost is P-40N 42-105306 pilot Lt. Marion Hawke (KIA).

On March 22, 1944 the squadron took off on a bombing and strafing mission against Tadji Airfield. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire and lost is P-40N 42-105738  pilot Captain Russell C. Cash (MIA).

On April 27, 1944 moves to Finschafen Airfield.

On May 3, 1944 moves to Hollandia on the north coast of western New Guinea.

On June 5, 1944 moves to Biak.

On October 24, 1944 moves to Tacloban Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On December 30, 1944 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro Island.

On February 25, 1945 moves to Lingayen Airfield on Luzon.

On August 17, 1945 moves to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On September 15, 1945 moves to Atsugi Airfield on Honshū in Japan. On February 20, 1946 moves to Chitose Airfield.

On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On April 2, 1948 moves to Misawa Airfield. During 1949, converts to the F-80. On February 1, 1950 redesignated 7th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. On August 14, 1950 moves to Itazuke Air Base on Kyūshū Island. On September 28, 1950 moves to Taegu in Korea. During 1951 converts to the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. On April 1, 1953 moves to Kunsan in Korea until the end of the Korean War. On November 2, 1953 returns to Itazuke Air Base. During 1956 converts to the North American F-86 Sabre. On August 7, 1956 moves to Misawa Air Base on Honshū.

During 1957 converts to the North American F-100 Super Sabre. On June 30, 1957 moves to Chitose Air Base on Hokkaidō and remains until June 1957 when the squadron prepares for a movement to Europe. On June 30, 1957 moves to Etain/Rouvres, France but was not fully manned or equipped. On December 10, 1957 moves to Spangdahlem, Germany. On July 8, 1958 redesignated 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron. During 1962 converts to the Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Today
On November 1, 1991 renamed the 7 Fighter Squadron. On July 17, 1999 renamed 7 Combat Training Squadron, On July 22, 2005 renamed 7 Fighter Squadron. On December 15, 2006 inactivated. On May 15, 2008 reactivated. On May 2, 2014 deactivated. On September 7, 2021 redesignated as the 7 Fighter Training Squadron (ACC). On November 12, 2021 assigned to the 1 Operations Group at Joint Base at Langley-Eustis, VA.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
1st Lt. Robert L. Morrissey (December 24, 1941)

Awards
World War II: Distinguished Unit Citations: Australia, Papua, Biak, Philippine Islands, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Korean War: Distinguished Unit Citations: Korea 1950, Korea 1951. Republic of Korean Presidential Unit Citation (August 14, 1950–February 7, 1951, February 8, 1951–March 31, 1953)

References
AFHRA - History Highlights of the 49th Fighter Group 1941 to 1946
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 43-44 (7th Fighter) [PDF pages 55-56]
Protect & Avenge The 49th Fighter Group in World War II (1995) by S. W. Ferguson & William K. Pascalis
49th Fighter Group Aces of the Pacific Aviation Elite Units 14 (2004) by by William Hess
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) - 7 Fighter Training Squadron (ACC)