81st Bombardment Squadron
Constituted 81st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 30 Dec 1941. Inactivated on 22 Jan 1946. Redesignated 81st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 29 Apr 1947. Activated on 19 May 1947. Inactivated on 10 Sep 1948. Redesignated 559th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 27 Oct 1950. Activated on 1 Nov 1950. Redesignated: 559th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20Jan 1953; 559th Fighter-Day Squadron on 1 Jul 1957. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 17 Apr 1962. Organized on 25 Apr 1962.
Assignments. 12th Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941-22 Jan 1946. 12th Bombardment Group, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. 12th Fighter-Escort Group, 1 Nov 1950, 12th Fighter-Escort (later Strategic Fighter, Fighter-Day) Wing, 16 Jun 1952-8 Jan 1958. Tactical Air Command, 17 Apr 1962, 12 Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 Apr 1962--.
Stations. McChord Field, Wash, 15 Jan 1941; Esler Field, La, 27 Feb-3 Jul 1942 (operated from Stockton Field, Calif, 24 May-24 Jun 1942); Deversoir, Egypt, 30 Jul 1942; LG 88, Egypt, 18 Oct 1942; Gambut, Libya, 6 Dec 1942, Magrun LG, Libya, 14 Dec 1942; Gambut, Libya, 17 Dec 1942; Tmed El Chel, Libya, 11 Jan 1943; Berteaux, Algeria, 3 Feb 1943, Canrobert, Algeria, 15 Mar 1943; Thibar, Tunisia, 1 May 1943; Hergla, Tunisia, 2 Jun 1943; Ponte Olivo, Sicily, c. 2 Aug 1943. Gerbini, Sicily, 22 Aug 1943; Foggia, Italy, 5 Nov 1943; Gaudo Airfield, Italy, 18 Jan-6 Feb 1944; Tezgaon, India, c. 20 Mar 1944; Madhaiganj Airfield, India, 13 Jun 1944; Fenny, India, 17 Jul 1944 (operated from Miktila, Burma, 21-29 Apr 1945); Madhaigani Airfield, India, 7 Jun 1945; Karqachi, India, 15 Nov-24 Dec 1945; Ft. Lawton, Wash, 21-22 Jan 1946. Langley Field, Va, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. Turner AFB, Ga, 1 Nov 1950; Bergstrom AFB, Tex, 5 Dec 1950-8 Jan 1958. MacDill AFB, Fla, 25 Apr 1962--.
Aircraft. B-18, 1941-1942; B-25, 1942-1945; A-26, 1945. F-84, 1950-1957; F-84, 1962--.
Operations. Patrols over the Pacific from the west coast, Dec 1941-Feb 1942 and 24 May-24 Jun 1942; combat in MTO, 16 Aug 1942-30 Jan 1944, and in DBI, 16 Apr 1944-23 May 1945. Not manned, 1947-1948.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Air Combat, EAME Theater; India-Burma, China Defense; Central Burma.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: North Africa and Sicily, Oct 1942-17 Aug 1943.
Emblem. On a white disc a butting goat (light brown and black markings) within a black and white border. (Approved 6 Jan 1942.)