USAF Patch Fighter c 482 FIS Fighter Interceptor Squadron F 102

USAF Patch US Air Force 482 FIS Fighter Interceptor Squadron Large F 102 Delta Dagger 1962 embroidered on twill cut edge 114mm by 120mm four and one half inches by four and five eighth inches.

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482 Fighter Interceptor Squadron FIS was activated at Seymour Johnson AFB NC on 8 April 1956 equipped with F 102 Delta Dagger interceptor aircraft assigned to 85 Air Division  Air Defense Command ADC to provide air defense mission over the Mid Atlantic states. The Squadron was reassigned to 35 Air Division on 1 September 1958 then to 32 Air Division on 15 November 1959 and then to Washington Air Defense Sector on 1 July 1961.

The Squadron deployed four F 102 Delta Dagger aircraft to Miami International Airport FL on 1 July 1961 to replace the F 102 detachment from Tyndall AFB operating from Homestead AFB FL for Operation Southern Tip to provide five minute air defense alert in Southern Florida in the face of the potential threat from Cuba following the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion on 17 April 1961. The Detachment relocated from Miami International Airport on 1 January 1962 when runway repairs at Homestead AFB were completed and the Det was increased to eighteen aircraft in October 1962 during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis when ADC increased its interceptor force in Florida from four to seventy four aircraft in 48 hours. 482 FIS handed over responsibility of the Detachment to 325 Fighter Interceptor Squadron in November 1962.

482 FIS resumed its Florida air defense mission on 15 June 1963 deploying six of its F 102 Delta Dagger interceptor to Naval Air Station Key West to replace a USMC F 4B Phantom fighter detachment which had been deployed to NAS Key West in 1962. The Squadron was also required to maintain the capability to increase its NAS Key West detachment to 20 fighters in the event of another crisis with Cuba and carried out a full scale test with Exercise Arawak Spear in 1964.

ADC decided to permanently assign interceptors to Homestead AFB FL to counter any air intrusion by Soviet Cuban fighters. 482 FIS was relocated from Seymour Johnson AFB NC to Homestead AFB on 1 July 1965 reequipped with F 104A single seat and F 104B two seat dual controlled Starfighter aircraft and was reassigned to Montgomery Air Defense Sector.

482 Fighter Interceptor Squadron was inactivated on 30 June 1969 with the phaseout of the F 104 Starfighter.

Thank you to James Sippel Mechanic on F 102 Delta Daggers 482 FIS for additional Squadron information.

This patch dates from the 1962.