Constituted 813th Bombardment Squadron (Pathfinder) on 10 Aug 1943. Activated on 20 Aug 1943. Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 11 Nov 1944. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1945. Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Sep 1947. Activated in the reserve on 24 Sep 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 813th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 26 May 1952. Activated in the reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 1 Dec 1952. Redesignated 813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 28 Feb 1957. Activated in the reserve on 8 Jul 1957. Inactivated on 16 Nov 1957.

Assignments. 482nd Bombardment Group, 20 Aug 1943-1 Sep 1945. 482nd Bombardment Group, 24 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949. 482nd Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun-1 Dec 1952. 482nd Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 Jul 1957-16 Nov 1957.

Stations. Alconbury, England, 20 Aug 1943-Jun 1945; Victorville AAFld, Calif, Jul-1 Sep 1945. Harding Field, La, 24 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949. Miami Intl Aprt, Fla, 14 Jun-1 Dec 1952. Dobbins AFB, Ga, 8 Jul-16 Nov 1957.

Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945.

Operations. Combat in ETO as pathfinder force, 24 Sep 1943-25 Apr 1945.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy, Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 11 Jan 1944.

Emblem. On a dark red disc, a caricatured light green firefly, edged black, highlighted yellow, wearing aviator's helmet and goggles, in flight, having a white "tail light" with glow of yellow, light red, and violet concentric circles, and holding in the forelegs a tan aerial bomb, edged black, highlighted yellow. (Approved 17 Oct 1944.)