387th Tactical Fighter Squadron

History

Established in early 1942 as a light bomb squadron, equipped with A-24 Banshees, although equipped with export model A-31 Vengeance dive bombers for training. Trained under Third Air Force in the southeast United States, also used for antisubmarine patrols over the Atlantic southeast coast and then Gulf of Mexico.

Deployed to Southern California in early 1943 to the Desert Warfare Center, trained in light bombing while supporting Army maneuvers in the Mojave Desert until October.

Re-equipped with North American A-36 Apache dive bombers and deployed to New Guinea as part of Fifth Air Force. In the Southwest Pacific the squadron attacked Japanese strong points and tactical positions and targets of opportunity in support of MacArthur's campaign along the north coast of New Guinea; then advancing into the Netherlands East Indies and Philippines as part of the Island Hopping campaign. Re-equipped with P-40s; then later A-20 Havocs. Engaged in heavy fighting on Lete; Mindoro and Luzon in the Philippines during 1944-1945.

The squadron moved to Okinawa in mid-August and after the Atomic Bomb missions had been flown; remained on Okinawa until December until returning to the United States with most personnel demobilizing. It was inactivated as a paper unit on 6 January 1946.

The squadron was reactivated as a B-29 Superfortress unit in the reserves in 1947, but lack of funding and personnel led to rapid inactivation.

Transferred to Tactical Air Command in the mid-1950s and activated first with F-68 Sabres, then F-100 Super Sabres in 1958. Inactivated in 1959 when its parent 312th TFW was inactivated and re-designated as the 27th TFW. Personnel and equipment of the squadron were re-designated as the 523d Tactical Fighter Squadron.

Lineage

Constituted 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 March 1942 Redesignated: 387th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 July 1942 Redesignated: 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 6 December 1943 Redesignated: 387th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 July 1945 Inactivated on 18 December 1945

Redesignated: 387th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 14 July 1947

Activated in the reserve on 30 July 1947 Inactivated on 27 June 1949

Redesignated: 387th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 29 July 1954

Activated on 1 October 1954 Redesignated: 387th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958 Inactivated on 18 February 1959.

Assignments

312th Bombardment Group, 15 March 1942 – 18 December 1945

Tenth Air Force, 30 July 1947

312th Bombardment Group, 13 August 1947 – 27 June 1949

312th Fighter-Bomber Group, October 1954

312th Fighter-Bomber (later Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 October 1957 – 18 February 1959.

Aircraft

A-31 Vengeance, 1942–1943

A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943

North American A-36, 1943

P-40 Warhawk, 1943–1944

A-20 Havoc, 1944–1945

F-86 Sabre, 1955–1956

F-100 Super Sabre, 1956–1959.