Global Information787th Air Expeditionary Squadron information
787th Air Expeditionary Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 Airmen and equipment deploy as the 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron for Operation United Assistance | |
| 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 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.
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.
- ^ a b Watkins, pp. 105-106
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756 (no official emblem)