It employs the full array of air superiority and surface attack munitions to include the most advanced precision-guided weapons in the USAF inventory.

Over the next two months, the number of sorties steadily increased and the squadron flew its first combat mission on 20 April 1944—an uneventful fighter sweep of the occupied French coast.

Assisted the Normandy invasion by dropping bombs on bridges and gun positions, attacking rail lines and trains, and providing visual reconnaissance reports.

With many of the members separating at port, those remaining set up the headquarters at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, and was programmed for deployment to Okinawa to take part in planned Invasion of Japan.

However the nuclear-weapon capable F-100 caused disagreements with France concerning atomic storage and custody issues within NATO, resulting in a decision to remove Air Force atomic-capable units from French soil.

Between 1960 and 1972 the squadron's F-100 fleet maintained its readiness by participating in a number of USAFE and NATO exercises training to react to possible aggression from the Soviet Union.

Beginning in late 1971 the squadron started its conversion to the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II, with the aircraft being transferred from the 81st TFW at RAF Bentwaters.

Almost immediately after changing aircraft, the squadron began a series of monthly exercises and deployments that took the Liberty Wing to Italy, Iran, Greece, and Pakistan.

The squadron received the 66-year-old trophy, a servicewide award sponsored by defense contractor Raytheon, for its overall performance and in recognition of its six-month deployment to the Middle East.

[7] In mid-October 2023, the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft of the 494th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the US Central Command to enhance air operations throughout the Middle East in response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.