Global Information857th Bombardment Squadron information
| 857th Bombardment Squadron (Later 557th Tactical Air Support Squadron ) | |
|---|---|
 857th Squadron B-24 Liberator just after delivery to the unit.[a] | |
| Active | 1943-1945; 1958–1962 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Motto(s) | Nihil Nisi Optimus (Latin for 'Nothing but the Best') |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 657th Bombardment Squadron emblem |  |
The 857th Bombardment Squadron is one of the two predecessors of the 557th Tactical Air Support Squadron, an inactive United States Air Force unit, formed in 1985 by the consolidation of the 857th with another inactive bombardment squadron. It has never been active under its most recent designation.
The 857th was a United States Army Air Forces unit. it was first activated in October 1943 as one of the original Consolidated B-24 Liberator squadrons of the 492d Bombardment Group. After deploying to England, the 492d entered the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, but in three months of combat, the 492d Group suffered the most severe losses of an Eighth Air Force bomber group. The 492d Group was withdrawn from combat in August 1944, and the 857th moved on paper to replace the 850th Bombardment Squadron, which was engaged in Operation Carpetbagger, dropping agents and supplies behind German lines, primarily in France. As American forces advanced in France, this special operations mission diminished. The squadron transported fuel to mechanized units in France, then participated in night bombing. It was inactivated in October 1945.
The other predecessor of the squadron was the 657th Bombardment Squadron, a Strategic Air Command unit that flew Boeing B-47 Stratojets from 1958 until 1962.
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