787th Air Expeditionary Squadron

Last updated

787th Air Expeditionary Squadron
United States Air Forces in Europe.png
Operation United Assistance 141104-Z-VT419-235.jpg
Airmen and equipment deploy as the 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron for Operation United Assistance
Active1943–1946; 1965; 2006; 2014–2015
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleExpeditionary operations
Part of United States Air Forces Europe
Engagements European Theater of Operations
Decorations Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with unofficial 787th Bombardment Squadron emblem [1] [2] 787th Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png
World War II fuselage code [1] 6L

The 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces Europe. The squadron has been activated twice for contingency operations in Africa.

Contents

The squadron was first organized in August 1943 as the 787th Bombardment Squadron, a heavy bomber unit. After training in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the 787th moved to England, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States, where it began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, but was inactivated in October 1945.

In 1965, the squadron was briefly active under the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing as a McDonnell F-4 Phantom II squadron, but its personnel and equipment were transferred to another unit within four months of its activation.

History

World War II

Training in the United States

The 787th Bombardment Squadron was activated at Alamogordo Army Air Field on 1 August 1943 as one of the four original squadrons of the 466th Bombardment Group. After training there with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the squadron departed for the European Theater of Operations in February 1944. [3] [4] The ground echelon proceeded to the port of embarkation for transport to Europe by ship, while the air echelon ferried their Liberators via the South Atlantic Ferry route. [5]

Combat in Europe

466th Bomb Gp B-24 Liberator B-24J-180-CO Liberator.jpg
466th Bomb Gp B-24 Liberator

The squadron arrived at its combat station, RAF Attlebridge in England in March 1944. It flew its first combat mission on 22 March in an attack on Berlin, Germany. It engaged primarily in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, with targets that included oil refineries and facilities at Bohlen and Misburg, marshalling yards at Liège and Saarbrücken, factories at Brunswick, Kempten and Eisenach, repair facilities at Reims, mining facilities near Hamburg and airfields at Saint-Trond and Chartres. [4]

The squadron also flew air support and air interdiction missions. It attacked pillboxes in Normandy on D-Day to support Operation Overlord and performed interdiction missions against targets beyond the beachhead in the following days. During Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo in July, it bombed German positions in the city. It attacked lines of communication during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945. On 24 March, it supported Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine by attacking a military air base at Nordhorn. The squadron's last mission of the war was flown on 25 April 1945 against electrical facilities at Traunstein. [4]

Return to the United States and inactivation

Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States. The air echelon began flying their B-24s back to the United States in the middle of June, while the ground echelon sailed aboard the RMS Queen Mary on 6 July. [5] The squadron reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in late July 1945. In August, the squadron moved to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona to begin training with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. However with the surrender of Japan, the squadron was inactivated in October as Davis-Monthan transitioned from a training base to a storage facility. [3] [4] [6]

Fighter operations

F-4D near Eglin AFB F-4D with HARM near Eglin AFB 1983.JPEG
F-4D near Eglin AFB

As the United States Air Force expanded its McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fleet in April 1965, it activated the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base Florida. Although it was planned that the squadrons of the 33d Wing would be Convair F-102 Delta Dagger squadrons that were inactivating in the Pacific, these squadrons were still winding down their operations, so the 33d was initially formed with the 786th, 787th, 788th and 789th Tactical Fighter Squadrons. The 33d embarked on a program of tactical training with the Phantom. In June 1965, the squadron was inactivated and its planes and personnel were transferred to the 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which moved on paper to Eglin from Misawa Air Base, Japan. [7]

Expeditionary unit

In April 2006, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron and assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. It deployed to Karadje, Niger in July to support Operation Eagle Vision, downloading satellite imagery for mapmaking. [8]

The squadron was activated at Dakar, Senegal, where it established a transportation hub for Operation Unified Assistance, the US military name for humanitarian operations to limit the spread of Ebola in West Africa. It relieved members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123d Contingency Support Group. It continued airlift missions with Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for the next four months. [9] [10]

Lineage

Activated on 1 August 1943
Redesignated 787th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 10 August 1944
Redesignated 787th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945
Inactivated on 17 October 1945 [3]
Organized on 1 April 1965 [11]
Inactivated on 20 June 1965 [11]
Active July 2006 [8]
Activated c. 18 November 2014 [9]
Inactivated c. 13 February 2015 [10]

Assignments

Attached to 86th Airlift Wing, July 2006
Attached to 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, c. 18 November 2014 – c. 13 February 2015

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award 1 January 2015-31 December 2015787th Air Expeditionary Squadron [14]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Offensive, Europe8 March 1944 – 5 June 1944787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Combat, EAME Theater8 March 1944 – 11 May 1945787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945787th Bombardment Squadron [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945787th Bombardment Squadron [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">487th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> Military unit

The 487th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time. The unit's last known assignment was in 2003 at Cairo West Air Base, Egypt, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">455th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> Military unit

The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing was a provisional United States Air Force unit located at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from 2002 to 2021. It was one of two expeditionary wings in Afghanistan. Most wing personnel were located at the Air Force Village known as Camp Cunningham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">451st Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 451st Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force USAFCENT unit. It was assigned to Kandahar Airfield and is also the host unit at Kandahar. It reported to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">34th Training Wing</span> Wing of the United States Air Force

The Commandant of Cadets is a named organization of the United States Air Force based at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Until August 2006 the commander of the 34th Training Wing was "dual-hatted" as the Commandant of Cadets at the Academy. In that month the 34th Wing became a named organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">740th Missile Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 740th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">491st Bombardment Group</span> Military unit

The 491st Bombardment Group is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was activated in October 1943 as a heavy bomber unit, drawing its cadre from the former 17th Antisubmarine Squadron. After training in the United States, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation in an attack against Misburg. The group flew 187 combat missions. Following V-E Day, the group returned to the United States and was inactivated at McChord Field, Washington in September 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">562nd Flying Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 562nd Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where it operated the Boeing T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training from 1993 until inactivating on 19 November 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">563rd Flying Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 563rd Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was part of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where it operated the Boeing T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training until inactivating on 19 November 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">855th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 855th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated as the 522d Bombardment Squadron at Lantana Airport, Florida, in October 1942, when it assumed the personnel and equipment of a National Guard unit engaged in antisubmarine warfare over the Atlantic. The squadron continued antisubmarine patrols as the 17th Antisubmarine Squadron until the summer of 1943, when its mission was transferred to the Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">857th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 857th Bombardment Squadron is one of the two predecessors of the 557th Tactical Air Support Squadron, an inactive United States Air Force unit, formed in 1985 by the consolidation of the 857th with another inactive bombardment squadron. It has never been active under its most recent designation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">482nd Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 482d Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 482d Fighter Wing. It is stationed at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">401st Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 401st Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to be activated or inactivated at any time as needed. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">784th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 784th Bombardment Squadron is the senior predecessor of the 784th Tactical Air Support Training Squadron. It was organized in August 1943 as a heavy bomber unit. After training in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the 784th moved to England, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States, where it began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, but was inactivated in October 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">786th Air Expeditionary Squadron</span> Military unit

The 786th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to activate or inactivate as needed. USAFE has activated the squadron for short periods of contingency operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">723d Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 723d Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 450th Tactical Fighter Wing at Foster Air Force Base, Texas, where it was inactivated on 18 December 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">860th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 860th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit that was assigned to the 493d Bombardment Group during World War II. It was part of the last bombardment group to be assigned to Eighth Air Force. It flew combat missions until V-E Day, then returned to the United States for inactivation. In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the 660th Bombardment Squadron, a Strategic Air Command unit that flew Boeing B-47 Stratojets during the Cold War. Although the two squadrons were consolidated as the 967th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, they have never been active under that designation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">788th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 788th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. During World War II, as the 788th Bombardment Squadron, it was assigned to the 467th Bombardment Group as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator squadron in 1943. After training in the United States, it moved to the European Theater of Operations the following year. It saw combat until the surrender of Germany in May 1945, earning a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions contributing to the liberation of France. From May to August 1944, the squadron was detached to the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) engaging in Operation Carpetbagger operations. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and transitioned into the Boeing B-29 Superfortress It was inactivated on 4 August 1946 at Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">789th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 789th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. During World War II, as the 789th Bombardment Squadron, it was assigned to the 467th Bombardment Group as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator squadron in 1943. After training in the United States, it moved to the European Theater of Operations the following year, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It saw combat until the surrender of Germany in May 1945. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and transitioned into the Boeing B-29 Superfortress It was inactivated on 4 August 1946 at Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 7th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 34th Bombardment Group at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 28 August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">466th Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 466th Air Expeditionary Group of the United States Air Force provides support for airmen at stations across Afghanistan. This includes "joint expeditionary tasking" airmen, airmen whose units are assigned to a headquarters other than the one from United States Air Force during their deployment. It also includes individual augmentees assigned to joint organizations. The 466th has been headquartered at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar since 2014, when it moved from the Transit Center at Manas. The group provides a lifeline, referred to as a "Blue Line' back to the Air Force. Its two squadrons, the 466th and 966th Air Expeditionary Squadrons are still located in Afghanistan.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ The aircraft in the photograph is clearly a 466th Group airplane, based on its markings. It is identified in the photograph as Consolidated B-24J-180-CO Liberator, serial 44-40807. However, the aircraft's serial number is not clear in the photograph, and Baugher identifies the aircraft with this serial number as assigned to the 758th Bombardment Squadron, a unit in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Baugher, Joe (10 June 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
Notes
  1. 1 2 Watkins, pp. 105-106
  2. ↑ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756 (no official emblem)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 755-756
  4. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 341-342
  5. 1 2 Freeman, p. 259
  6. ↑ Mueller, p. 99
  7. 1 2 Bailey, Carl E. (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 33 Fighter Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Dorrance, Capt Erin (26 August 2011). "Ramstein Airmen assist villagers in Niger". European Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Greer, Maj Dale (18 November 2014). "Kentucky Air Guard completes Ebola-response mission in Senegal". Joint Task Force Senegal Public Affairs. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Taunton, Capt Sybil (13 February 2015). "AF Ebola support winds down". European Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 4 See Bailey, Factsheet 33 Fighter Wing
  12. ↑ Station number in Anderson.
  13. ↑ Station information through 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 755-756, except as noted.
  14. ↑ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 18 July 2019. (search)

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.