9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 9th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On January 15, 1941 activated at Slfridge Field in Michigan equipped with the Seversky P-35 as part of the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor). On May 22, 1941 moves to Morrison Field in West Palm Beach, Florida equipped with the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Nicknamed "The Flying Knights" with the motif of a medieval knight's helmet with wings atop a shield with a blue background and red diagonal stripe.

On January 4, 1942 departs overseas across the Pacific bound for Australia. On February 2, 1942 arrives Melbourne. On February 14, 1942 transfers to Williamtown Airfield. On March 17, 1942 transfers to Batchelor Field near Darwin and the next day fly their first combat mission.

During May 1942, the squadron moves to 34 Mile Drome with their camp main camp on Humpty Doo cattle ranch property and the personnel nicknamed themselves "Boys of Humpty Doo" or simply "Humpty Doo".

On April 4, 1942 crashed on take off from 34 Mile Drome is P-40E Warhawk 41-24873 pilot Lt. John D. Livingstone who died in the crash and afterwards the airfield was renamed "Livingstone Field" in his honor. Accidentally shot down by Australian anti-aircraft fire is P-40E "Arizona" 41-5551 pilot Lt. Grover J. Gardner.

On May 15, 1942 redesigned 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS).

On July 12, 1942 four P-40s took off a training flight to simulate a dogfight over over Manton Reservoir south of Darwin. During a simulated dog fight, P-40E Warhawk 41-35943 pilot 2nd Lt. John Sauber dove in from a higher altitude and collided with P-40E "Tarheel" 41-5509 pilot 2nd. Lt. George E. Preddy Jr. who managed to bail out. Sauber was either killed on impact when his aircraft crashed into the ground.

On October 10, 1942 moves to 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer Drome) near Port Moresby and began flying combat missions over New Guinea including missions during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in early March 1943.

On November 17, 1942 P-40s took off on a mission to escort C-47 Skytrains bound for Pongani Airfield. Returning in bad weather, low on fuel and lost is P-40E Warhawk 41-24821 pilot Lt Floyd Finberg off Gaile to the southeast of Port Moresby. Also lost is P-40E Warhawk 41-36166  pilot 1st Lt. William F. Haning force landed at Hula Airfield.

On November 22, 1942 lost is P-40E Warhawk 41-36089  pilot 2nd Lt. Ralph L. Wire who bailed out and later returns to duty.

On December 26, 1942 twelve P-40s took off on a patrol mission over Dobodura and engaged in air combat with Ki-43 Oscars from 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment) misidentified as "Zeros". Shot down is P-40E "The Rebel" 41-25164  pilot 1st Lt. John D. "Big John" Landers (survived) who bailed out and later returns to duty.

On February 20, 1943 took off on an escort mission over Gasmata and returning three aircraft: P-38G Lightning 42-12866 pilot 1st Lt. Arthur R. Bauhof, P-38G Lightning 43-2215 pilot 1st Lt. Robert E. Douglas and P-38G Lightning 42-12863 pilot 1st Lt. Harry E. Lidstrom became lost and force landed at Huiva Plantation. All three pilots were rescued and returned to duty and later all three aircraft were recovered.

On March 2, 1943 crashed is P-40E Warhawk 41-36243 near Kokoda.

On March 6, 1943 moves to Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) near the north coast of New Guinea. During late 1943, the squadron also operated from Kiriwina Airfield to stage for missions against Rabaul.

On June 18, 1943 crashed is P-40E Warhawk 41-36157  pilot 1st Lt. Benjamin F. Duke, Jr. was killed during a take off accident at Dobodura.

On November 5, 1943 the squadron staged from Kiriwina Airfield to escort B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Rabaul and intercepted Zeros over the target. Lost is P-38F "Sooner" 42-12655 pilot 2nd Lt. George C. Haniotis (MIA).

On October 8, 1943 lost is P-38G Lightning 43-2208 pilot 1st Lt. Ralph H. Wandrey (survived) crashed shortly after take off due to a double engine failure.

On October 16, 1943 lost is P-38 Lightning pilot Captain Harry E. Lidstrom (KIA) returning from a mission and crashed in New Guinea.

During November 1943, due to shortages of P-38 Lightnings, the squadron transitioned to fly the P-47D Thunderbolt.

On December 16, 1943 moves to Gusap Airfield in New Guinea.

During May 1944, the squadron transitioned back to flying the P-38 Lightning.

On June 3, 1944 nineteen P-38 from the 9th FS took off from Hollandia Airfield on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Babo. Lost is P-38J 43-28516 pilot Lt. Col. David A. Campbell (MIA).

Postwar
On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On February 1, 1950 redesignated 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. During the Korean War, served in combat between June 27, 1950 until December 1952. On December 17, 1952 attached to the Japan Air Defense Force until November 1953. On December 10, 1957 assigned to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, later redesigned. On July 8, 1958 redesignated the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Commanding Officers (C. O.)
Captain Ben S. Irvin "Bitchin' Ben" (1942)
Lt. Col. David A. Campbell (December 1943–June 3, 1944)

Awards
The 9th Fighter Squadron earned four Distinguished Unit Citations in World War II: Australia (March 18, 1942–August 25, 1942), Papua (October 15, 1942–January 23, 1943), New Britain (October 23, 1942–November 7, 1943) and Philippines (October 27, 1944–December 7, 1944)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
The 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations during the Korean War:
Korean War: Korea (June 27, 1950–November 25, 1950) and Korea (July 9, 1951–November 27, 1951)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (June 27, 1950–February 7, 1951)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (February 8, 1951–March 31, 1953)

References
History Highlights of the 49th Fighter Group 1941 to 1946 via Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA)
9th Fighter Squadron pilot roster October 1942–August 1944 via Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA)
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 52-53 (9th Fighter) [PDF pages 64-65]
Fighter Pilot (1950) by Ralph H. Wandrey
49th Fighter Group (1989) by Ernest R. McDowell
Jungle Ace Col. Gerald R. Johnson, the USAAF's Top Fighter Leader of the Pacific War (1991) by John R. Bruning, Jr.
Stars & Bars (1995) by Frank Olynyk pages 35 (49th FG, 7th FS, 8th FS), 36 (49th FG, 9th FS)
Tales of a War Pilot (2001) by Richard C. Kirkland
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