After training with Consolidated B-24 Liberators in the United States, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

The squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions in an attack on Gotha, Germany in February 1944.

It was again active between September 1947 and November 1949 in the reserve, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with tactical aircraft at this time.

In executing the ICBM initial operational test and evaluation and force development evaluation programs, the squadron prepares for and conducts ground and flight tests to collect, analyze, and report performance, accuracy, and reliability data for the Joint Staff, United States Strategic Command, the Air Staff and Air Force Global Strike Command.

Its ground echelon departed its last training base, Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico on 18 July for the New York Port of Embarkation, sailing on 25 July for the United Kingdom, while the air echelon ferried their Liberators across the Atlantic.

Most of the established B-24 units of VIII Bomber Command were deployed to reinforce efforts in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations when the squadron began operations, and during September and until the other Liberator units returned in early October, the squadron was primarily involved in flying decoy missions near the North Sea, while the command's main raids were being conducted by its Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses.

Strategic targets included an oil refinery at Geilenkirchen, a marshalling yard at Osnabruck, a railway viaduct at Bielefeld, steel plants at Braunschweig an armored vehicle factory at Kassel and gas works at Berlin.

[1][5][7] The squadron participated in the heavy attacks against the German aircraft manufacturing industry during Big Week in late February 1944.

During this campaign it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on a component manufacturing plant for the Messerschmitt Me 210 at Gotha.

It struck enemy positions opposing Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo in July 1944.

During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, it bombed railroads, bridges and highways to break German lines of communication.

[5] Flooding in areas of the Netherlands not occupied by the Allies had reduced the Dutch population to near starvation.

After leave, the squadron reassembled at Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina, to perform airlift duties, but apparently was not fully manned or equipped before inactivating on 13 September 1945.

However, President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[14] and the 47th was inactivated in October.

[17] The SM-65D was the first operational Atlas, with more powerful engines and improved ground radio/inertial guidance than earlier test models.

Although it was reassigned to Twentieth Air Force on 1 October 2016, the director retained operational and functional oversight of the unit.