813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

The 813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 482d Fighter-Bomber Group stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia.

History

Activated in England in 1943 as an Eighth Air Force heavy bomber pathfinder group, flying RADAR-equipped B-17s that preceded bomber formations flying from England to Germany and indicated targets such as airfields, submarine installations, and marshalling yards obscured by weather. Squadron's aircraft were assigned individually to various groups during combat missions. Returned to United States after the end of the war in Europe, but inactivated in California in 1945.

Trained in the Reserve as a heavy bombardment group, June 1947-June 1949; as a troop carrier group, June–December 1952; and as a fighter-bomber group flying various fighter and trainer aircraft, July–November 1957

Lineage

• Constituted 813th Bombardment Squadron (Pathfinder) on 10 August 1943

Activated on 20 August 1943, assuming personnel, aircraft and equipment of the 325th Bombardment Squadron

Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 11 November 1944

Inactivated on 1 September 1945

• Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 September 1947

Activated in the reserve on 24 September 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Redesignated 813th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952

Inactivated on 1 December 1952

• Redesignated 813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 28 February 1957

Activated in the reserve on 8 July 1957

Inactivated on 16 November 1957.

Assignments

• 482d Bombardment Group, 20 August 1943 – 1 September 1945
• 482d Bombardment Group, 24 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 482d Troop Carrier Group, 14 June-1 December 1952
• 482d Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 July 1957 – 16 November 1957

Stations

• RAF Alconbury, England, 20 August 1943-June 1945
• Victorville Army Airfield, California, July-1 September 1945
• Harding Field, Louisiana, 24 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
• Miami International Airport, Florida, 14 June-1 December 1952
• Dobbins AFB, Georgia, 8 July-16 November 1957

Aircraft

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945
• C-46 Commando, 1952
• F-80 Shooting Star, 1955

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• 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.