87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
| 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
European Theater of Operations | |
|---|---|
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (Approved 3 April 1944)[2] |  |
| World War II Fuselage Code | 3X[1] |
The 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron is an inactive
The
The squadron was activated in the
History
World War II
The 87th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated in June 1943 under
There it prepared for the invasion of
On 20 July the squadron departed for Canino airbase in Italy in preparation for the August invasion of Southern France, Operation Dragoon. In the invasion, it dropped paratroops and towed gliders that carried reinforcements.
During
During the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944 – January 1945), the squadron flew air supply missions to battle areas, including the first two flights into beleaguered Bastogne, re-supplying the 101st Airborne Division.
After moving to France in February 1945, it flew combat operations from rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields carrying supplies and ammunition to front line forces, evacuating wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. The unit released gliders in support of the American crossing of the
After
Air Force Reserve
.jpg)
In 1949
All combat units of the Air Force Reserve were ordered to active service for the Korean War.[7] The 87th was called up in the second wave of mobilizations on 10 March 1951. Its personnel were used to man other organizations, primarily those of Strategic Air Command, and it was inactivated on 14 March 1951.[2][8] Its aircraft were distributed to other organizations as well.[9]
Little more than a year later the squadron was redesignated the 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated at
In 1957 the squadron began to upgrade to the North American F-86 Sabre. However, its time with this plane would be short. By 1956, the Joint Chiefs of Staff were pressuring the Air Force to provide more wartime airlift. At the same time, about 150 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars became available from the active force. Consequently, in November 1956 the Air Force directed Continental Air Command to convert three fighter bomber wings to the troop carrier mission by September 1957.[12] The squadron was inactivated 16 November 1957.[3][13]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron on 14 May 1943
- Activated on 1 June 1943
- Inactivated on 22 September 1945
- Re-designated 87th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949
- Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
- Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
- Inactivated on 14 March 1951
- Re-designated 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952
- Inactivated on 16 November 1957[2]
Assignments
- 438th Troop Carrier Group, 1 June 1943 – 22 September 1945
- 438th Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 14 March 1951
- 438th Fighter-Bomber Group, 15 June 1952 – 16 November 1957[2]
Stations
|
|
_(8011890192).jpg)
Aircraft
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1943–1945
- Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945, 1949–1951
- North American F-51 Mustang, 1953–1954
- Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, 1954–1957
- North American F-86 Sabre, 1957[2]
Awards and campaigns
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Distinguished Unit Citation |
5 June 1944-7 June 1944 | Normandy 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Rome-Arno | 20 July 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Southern France | 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
|
Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 87th Troop Carrier Squadron[2] |
References
Notes
- ^ Watkins, pp. 84–85
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 300–301
- ^ a b c d Ravenstein, pp. 234–236
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 268–269
- ^ Cantwell, p. 74
- ^ See Mueller, p. 457. 2473d Center at Offutt from 1946–1951.
- ^ Cantwell, p. 87
- ^ Cantwell, pp. 96–97
- ^ Cantwell, p. 137
- ^ Cantwell, p. 139
- ^ See Cantwell, p. 152 (all reserve fighter bomber wings initially have an air defense role and later a tactical fighter role.)
- ^ Cantwell, p. 168
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 237–238
- ^ a b Station number in Anderson
- ^ a b Station number in Johnson
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN 0-900913-80-0
- Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.
.svg)