| abstract | - Established under the Northeast Air District (later First Air Force) as a pursuit squadron, initially equipped with second-line aircraft. Transferred to Southeast Air District (later Third Air Force) in late 1941, re-equipped with P-40 Warhawks. Trained in the southeast, being reassigned to Air University in 1943 becoming a training squadron at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Florida. Re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and trained as an operational squadron, being deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to IX Fighter Command in England in May 1944. Re-equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts, the squadron supported Allied ground forces in France after D-Day, attacking enemy strong points, troop concentrations, armor formations, bridges and other targets. Moved to Normandy and operated from several forward bases in Northeast France during the summer of 1944 as Allied ground forces moved eastwards towards Germany. Supported the Fifth Army movement from Southern France though the Lyon Valley, then into Occupied Germany as part of the Western Allied invasion in the spring of 1945. Remained in Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe occupation forces, demobilizing over the summer. Inactivated in Colorado, November 1945. Reactivated by Tactical Air Command in 1950 and assigned to several commands, including Air Defense Command but never activated or equipped. Reassigned to Clovis AFB, New Mexico and equipped with F-86H Sabres in 1953, deployed to West Germany and assigned to Hahn Air Base as a NATO tactical fighter squadron. Moved briefly to France in 1956, returning to West Germany in 1959 and flew defensive missions in Europe as part of the NATO forces until the closure of Hahn Air Base in 1991. Was deployed to Southwest Asia, Jan-Feb 1991, engaged in combat during Operation Desert Storm then inactivated after the March 1991 cease fire. Reactivated at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma in 1994 as a testing and checkout squadron for supported aircraft after depot-level maintenance prior to the aircraft being returned to active service.
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