787th Air Expeditionary Squadron
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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.
787th Air Expeditionary Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1946; 1965; 2006; 2014–2015 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Expeditionary 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] | |
World War II fuselage code[1] | 6L |
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.