Global Information786th Air Expeditionary Squadron information
786th Air Expeditionary Squadron
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|---|---|
 786th Air Expeditionary Squadron airmen support Rwandan Defense Force troop rotation | |
| Active | 1943-1945, 1965; 2006; 2009; 2012 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Expeditionary operations |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with unofficial 786th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1][2] |  |
| World War II fuselage code[1] | U8 |
The 786th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to activate or inactivate as needed. USAFE has activated the squadron for short periods of contingency operations.
The squadron was first organized in August 1943 as the 786th Bombardment Squadron, a heavy bomber unit. After training in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the 786th 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.
The squadron was briefly active in 1965 as the 786th Tactical Fighter Squadron. While it was training with McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs, it was inactivated and its assets transferred to another squadron.
- ^ a b Watkins, pp. 105-106
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756 (no official emblem)