The squadron was reactivated in 1947, serving in the air defense role in the Northeastern United States, initially equipping with World War II era night fighters.

When the Soviet Long-Range Aviation began flights over Alaska, the squadron deployed aircraft and crews to augment Alaskan Air Command.

It equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and trained for combat at New Bedford and Grenier Field, New Hampshire until late January 1943, when it began to deploy overseas.

On 30 July, the 325th Group used diversionary tactics to lure a superior number of enemy planes into the air over Sardinia, destroying more than half of them.

However, it only operated the P-47 for a short period, converting to North American P-51 Mustangs in March 1944, and moving to Lesina Airfield, Italy on the 29th of the month.

However, on 30 January it flew its "T-Bolts" more than 300 miles at very low altitude to make a surprise attack on German interceptors defending airdromes near Villorba.

The severe losses it inflicted on the defending forces enabled heavy bombers to attack vital targets in the area without encountering serious opposition.

It also flew escort for attacks on other targets, such as airfields and marshalling yards and lines of communication in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania.

In December 1947 it moved to Hamilton Field, California[2] where it received its first aircraft,[citation needed] Northrop P-61 Black Widows which had been pressed into the air defense mission.

In the spring[citation needed] of 1948 the squadron received new North American F-82 Twin Mustangs and in November 1948, it moved to McChord Air Force Base, Washington.

[2] In June 1951 the squadron began its transition into jet Lockheed F-94A Starfire interceptors armed with 20 millimeter cannon, completing the upgrade by the end of the year.

[7] In August 1955 ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.

[2][6][9] In March 1957, the squadron began a transition into supersonic Convair F-102A Delta Daggers, armed with GAR-1 Falcons and equipped with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system.

[16] The 325th Wing inactivated on 1 July 1968 as Military Airlift Command assumed responsibility for McChord, and the squadron was reassigned directly to the 25th Air Division.