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Activated in
Hawaii in 1941 as the 58th Bombardment Squadron (Light), a Bombardment/Reconnaissance squadron, being equipped with a mixture of
B-18 Bolos, second-line
P-26s, and
A-20 Havocs. Was part of the air defense forces of Hawaii, many aircraft being destroyed during the
Pearl Harbor Attack at
Hickam Field. Re-equipped with
A-24 Dauntless dive bombers in 1942, remained in Hawaii as an air defense squadron until 1943.
Re-designated as a fighter-bomber squadron in mid-1943, deploying to the Central Pacific in 1944 as part of the
21st Fighter Group. Returned to Hawaii and re-equipped with long-range
P-38 Lightnings and returned to combat operations in the Central Pacific, operating from
Iwo Jima beginning in early 1945 until the end of the war in August. Remained as part of
Twentieth Air Force in the Marianas until inactivated in October 1946.
Cold War
Reactivated in 1953 at
George AFB, California as an
F-86 Sabre Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Spent about a year under
Tactical Air Command training, deploying to
France in 1954 as part of the
NATO buildup of the
United States Air Forces in Europe during the early years of the
Cold War. Operated from several bases in France during the 1950s, inactivated in 1958 as part of a USAFE reorganization.
Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN978-0-7643-5273-7.