Active 1942-1945; 1955-1957 Type Fighter-Bomber | Country United States | |
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Branch United States Air Force | ||
The 553d Fighter-Bomber Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 386th Fighter-Bomber Group, stationed at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. It was inactivated on 8 July 1957.
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History
Activated as a B-26 Marauder Medium Bomber squadron in late 1942; trained under Third Air Force in southeastern United States. Reassigned to European Theater of Operations in June 1943, first being assigned to VIII Air Support Command; then to IX Bomber Command in 1944. Engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe initially from stations in England, then after D-Day, moved to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and Belgium; advancing eastward as Allied ground forces advanced. Supported Eighth Air Force strategic bombardment missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe; striking enemy airfields to obtain maximum interference in Luftwaffe day interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations returning to England. Also participated in Western Allied Invasion of Germany, March–April 1945, combat ending with German Capitation in May 1945.
Squadron demobilized personnel in Europe during Summer of 1945; squadron returned to the United States for re-equipping with A-26 Invader and prepared for tactical operations over Japan as part of planned invasion force. Inactivated in November 1945 after Japanese Capitulation and end of World War II.
Reactivated in 1955 as a Tactical Air Command F-100 Super Sabre squadron; inactivated in 1955 due to budget reductions.