After basic training at Kelly Field, the squadron was sent to the Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, New York in mid-September 1917 for subsequent movement to France.

[dubious – discuss] It embarked on the Cunard Liner SS Pannonia, suffering a stormy and unpleasant voyage across the Atlantic.

It also erected hangars and did the necessary construction work to bring the airfield into an operational school for training pursuit (fighter) pilots.

It also began work on six airfields to support the training school, building roads, putting up hangars, and installing water and electrical systems.

[5] In May 1918, the squadron was then reassigned to the First Army Air Service, and began constructing combat airfields to support the St. Mihiel Offensive.

At Parois Aerodrome in the Meuse, it constructed 12 hangars and 23 barracks, the flying field being full of former trenches and shell holes that had to be filled in.

During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in early November, it moved to Buzancy to reconstruct a former German airfield that was littered with munitions and other hazardous materiel.

A part of the Air Corps Primary Flying School, it trained aviation cadets using the Consolidated PT-1, with tandem seats and a Wright E engine.

The squadron was sent to North Africa in late 1942 as part of the Operation Torch invasion forces, taking up station in Algeria.

Following the German defeat and withdrawal from North Africa the squadron participated in the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy and the subsequent drive of the United States Fifth Army up the Italian peninsula.

The 48th flew McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagles from 1982 to 1991, when many of the F-15 were transferred to the Missouri and Hawaii Air National Guard, and 3 or 4 going to Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center.