56th Fighter Control Squadron (56th FCS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)

Background
During December 1941, activated as the 56th Air Corps Squadron, Interceptor Control assigned to the 56th Pursuit Group (56th PG) at Charlotte, North Carolina in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). After activation, moved to Teaneck Airport in West Englewood, New Jersey and served as part of the New York City Air Defense Wing. On May 23, 1942 added VHF equipment and redesignated 56th Fighter Control Squadron (56th FCS). On June 23, 1942 moves to Newark, New Jersey. On December 12, 1942 moves to Farmingdale, New York until August 18, 1943 moves to Mitchell Field. That month, redesignated as the 56th Fighter Control Squadron (Special) or 56th Fighter Control Squadron (Sep) with the addition of High Frequency (HF) equipment. On November 9, 1943 departs by train across the United States to Camp Stoneman, California then embarked aboard ship overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA)

Wartime History
On December 11, 1943 arrives Milne Bay in New Guinea and the squadron is assigned to 5th Fighter Command (V Fighter Command) of the 5th Air Force (5th AF). Attached were two Australian liaison officers from the Australian Intelligence Bureau (AIB) to relay information from Australian spotters behind enemy lines. On January 21, 1944 the squadron unloaded on "Red Beach" at Saidor and establishes at Saidor Airfield.

On March 2, 1944 killed was Cpl John E. Morrell who was killed by the accidental explosion of a rifle grenade in the squadron area. On March 6, 1944 the squadron assumes responsibility for the 21st Fighter Sector "Cowpox" under the operational control of the 309th Bombardment Wing (309th BW). By the middle of the month, after two brief trial periods using plots relayed from radar stations in the sub-sector, the section was established with two other Direction Finding (D/F) stations (HF) at Sio and on Long Island manned by personnel from the squadron that were supplied by LCM barges and supply drops by L-5 planes. These two D/F stations proved to be superfluous with the only useful fix obtained was the approximate location of an enemy jamming station near Madang. During the month, there were 35 red alert with only two daylight air raids, the rest were at night with some degree of moon light. On March 19, 1944 Pvt Bernard F. Knaub, 33506640 drown while swimming in the surf off Long Island and afterwards his body was recovered.

During April 1944, the "Special" designation was removed from the squadron name and again became simply the 56th Fighter Control Squadron (56th FCS). That month, defensive functions dwindled with 23 red alerts called but only two resulted in bombing attacks. On April 7, 1944 a bombing mission against Saidor resulted in 16 Killed In Action (KIA) including 1 officer and 15 enlisted men plus 29 enlisted men wounded. On April 11, 1944 during the night was the last bombing mission against Saidor and resulted in slight damage. Afterwards, poor weather likely prevented further air raids plus U.S. strikes against Japanese airfields and U.S. landings at Hollandia and Tadji. On April 15, 1944 Detachment A was sent to Finschafen Airfield to take over responsibility and operation of the 23rd Fighter Sub-Sector "Harvard".

On April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" in the afternoon, the 21st Fighter Sector D/F Homing station (SCR 551) helped guide U.S. planes returning from a bombing mission against Hollandia that were returning in zero visibility bad weather to land at Saidor Airfield. As many as thirteen flights of over forty planes managed to land. For his actions, Corporal John Kappstatter, 12065527 received a letter of commendation from Brigadier General Paul B. Wurtsmith. By the end of the month, the threat to Saidor diminished to almost nil.

During May 1944, operations of the 21st Fighter Sector were routine. By early May, the two Direction Finding (D/F) stations (HF) at Sio and on Long Island were dismantled and returned to Saidor. The controller acted as a message and intelligence center on behalf of offensive mission. In addition, the controlled supplied non-combat flights with weather information and in-flight instructions. On one occasion, planes were directed to bombing and strafe a location where Australian soldiers were located, but the error was detected before the attack and the planes and were diverted to a new target. The bulk of radio traffic is providing information to pilots about weather and facilitating air traffic control in conjunction with adjacent sectors. A number of rescue operations were accomplished and several planes were homed. The squadron participated in numerous rescues by determining the position of crash from reports of pilots, emergency IFF or by directing planes and PT Boats to search in designated areas. When survivors were located, PT Boats or PBY Catalina were directed to the location for air-sea rescue, and arranged fighter cover.

On July 1, 1944 assigned to the 86th Fighter Wing (86th FW) and VHF equipment and teams were added and aerial activity declined that Saidor Airfield became a second rate operational base. On August 19, 1944 the squadron relinquished control of the 21st Fighter Sector and 23rd Fighter Sector and embarked on transports bound for Maffin Bay in western New Guinea to stage for future operations. On September 15, 1944 Detachment B landed with the assault wave on Morotai Island and two days later established fighter control facilities with a specially built mobile Fighter Control Center with the rest of the squadron landing the next day. The Japanese only conducted night air raids and as a result controlled Allied night fighters including P-61 and RAAF Spitfires plus searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries. On October 6, 1944 assumed control of the 36th Fighter Sector under operational control of the 310th Bombardment Wing (310th BW). During November 1944, control was switched to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 13th Bomber Command (XIII Bomber Command).

On June 13, 1945 attached to the 5275th Aircraft Control and Warning Group (P). On October 15, 1945 again redesignated 56th Fighter Control Squadron (Sep). On November 1, 1945 departs the Philippines and ten days later lands at Inchon Harbor (Jinsen) on Korea. On November 16, 1945 moves to Yondungp'o in Seoul and worked to establish VHF/DF stations and radar.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Unknown (December 1941–March 1942)
1st Lt. Whitney L. Turley (March 1942–July 1942)
Captain Farr Nuster (July 1942–October 7, 1942)
Captain Prentice V. Dangerfield (October 7, 1942–April 7, 1943)
1st Lt. Charles L. Summers (April 7, 1943–September 16, 1943)
Major Charles J. Romer (September 16, 1943–September 28, 1943)
Captain Chalmers C. Weaver (July 14, 1944–August 16, 1944)
Major William T. Hodson (August 16, 1944–September 3, 1944)
Captain Chalmers C. Weaver (September 3, 1944–November 8, 1944)
Major William T. Hodson (November 8, 1944–?)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Kappstatter, 12065527
History of the 56th Fighter Control Squadron (AFHRA IRISNUM: A0832)
Map (PDF page 734), April 1944 (PDF pages 799–804), May 1944 (PDF pages 805-807) May 1944
Red Alert Reports 16 Dec 1943 – 29 April 1944
FindAGrave - CPL John E Morrell (grave photos)
FindAGrave - PVT Bernard Francis Knaub (grave)

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