The squadron moved forward through New Guinea and the Philippines, earning three Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions, operating from Okinawa in the closing month of the war.

It was reactivated in France in January 1953, when it took over the personnel and equipment of an Air National Guard unit that had been called to active service for the Korean War.

It was activated again from August 1987 to September 1988 as a Ground Launched Cruise Missile squadron, but was inactivated at Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands with the implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The air echelon remained at Jackson and continued training until the summer of 1942, converting to North American B-25 Mitchells.

[3][7] The air echelon arrived at its first combat station, Breddan Aerodrome, Queensland, Australia in early August 1942.

From this base, it bombed airfields, ground installations, harbors and shipping in the southern Philippines to support the invasion of Leyte.

It was awarded a third DUC for strikes on a large enemy convoy at Ormoc Bay on 10 November that prevented the landing of supplies and reinforcements, that were critical to the final outcome of the Battle of Leyte.

In June 1945, the squadron moved temporarily to Palawan, to provide pre-invasion bombardment in preparation for Operation Oboe, the invasion of Borneo.

In 21 July 1945, the squadron moved to Okinawa, attacking industrial targets, rail transportation and shipping in southern Japan until V-J Day.

[7] On 18 August 1943, Major Ralph Cheli was leading the squadron to attack the Dague Airdrome, a heaviily defended site on New Guinea, when enemy interceptors concentrated their fire on his aircraft, causing it to burst into flames while still two miles from the target.

[10] In February 1955, the squadron's pilots began flying jet Lockheed T-33 T-Bird trainers to prepare for the replacement of its B-26s with Martin B-57 Canberras.

The T-Birds proved essential for pilot training because the squadron did not receive any dual control B-57Cs until December, after it had completed its conversion to the B-57B.

[15] United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) had organized its TM-61 Matadors in Germany under the 701st Tactical Missile Wing in September 1956.

The squadron was inactivated along with the 38th Wing and its missiles were shipped to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to be used as targets.