587th Bombardment Squadron
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2012) |
| 587th Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 587th Bombardment Squadron | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment |
The 587th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 394th Bombardment Group, stationed at Bolling Field, District of Columbia. It was inactivated on 28 February 1946.
History
Activated as a B-26 Marauder medium bombardment squadron in mid-1943. Trained under Third Air Force and deployed to European Theater of Operations in March 1944. Initially being stationed in England and assigned to IX Bomber Command.
Engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe initially from stations in England, then after D-Day, moved to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and Belgium; advancing eastward as Allied ground forces advanced. Supported Eighth Air Force strategic bombardment missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe; striking enemy airfields to obtain maximum interference in Luftwaffe day interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations returning to England. Also participated in Western Allied Invasion of Germany, March–April 1945, combat ending with German Capitation in May 1945.
Became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe performing occupation duty in Germany while squadron demobilized personnel in 1945. Squadron reassigned to the United States as a paper unit, inactivated in February 1946.
Lineage
- Constituted 587th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 15 February 1943
- Activated on 5 March 1943
- Redesignated 587th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 28 February 1946
- Inactivated on 28 February 1946
Assignments
- 394th Bombardment Group, 5 March 1943 – 28 February 1946
Stations
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Aircraft
- B-26 Invader, 1943–1945
- A-26 Invader, 1945–1946
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.