9th Fighter Squadron

9th Attack Squadron
9th Attack Squadron - Training drone control station
Active	15 January 1941 - 16 May 2008; 4 October 2012-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft training
Nickname(s)	"Flying Knights"
Insignia
9th Attack Squadron emblem

The 9th Attack Squadron (9 ATKS) in a United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 49th Operations Group, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron is a training unit for new pilots and sensor operators for the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

The 9th ATKS is the second RPA training squadron at Holloman AFB. The squadron was activated to meet Air Force training requirements. By having a second squadron, it enables Holloman to train more students to meet those requirements. The 9th trains half of the Reaper operators who receive their instruction at Holloman. The base's 29th AS will train the others.

The 9th Fighter Squadron traces its origins to the formation of the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 20 November 1940. The 9th Pursuit Squadron was equipped with Seversky P-35s that were transferred from the 1st Pursuit Group that departed to Rockwell Field, California. In May 1941, the squadron proceeded to Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, to train in the Curtiss P-40 fighter.

With the advent of World War II, the squadron moved to Australia and became part of Fifth Air Force in January 1942. It was re-designated as the 9th Fighter Squadron in May 1942. The unit received Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in Australia and, after training for a short time, provided air defense for the Northern Territory.

The squadron moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby. Engaged primarily in air defense of Port Moresby; also escorted bombers and transports, and attacked enemy installations, supply lines, and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces.