World War II

The first predecessor of the squadron, the 573d Bombardment Squadron, was activated at MacDill Field, Florida on 21 January 1943 as one of the four original squadrons of the 391st Bombardment Group. After training with Martin B-26 Marauder in the United States, it departed for the European Theater of Operations in December 1943.^[2][3]

The squadron gathered at RAF Matching, its first combat station in theater, in late January 1944 and flew its first combat mission on 15 February. It initially concentrated on attacks to support Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, by attacking airfields, bridges and marshalling yards. It attacked V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launch sites as part of Operation Crossbow. On D-Day and the next day it struck German coastal defenses near the invasion beaches.^[3]

Until September, the squadron continued attacks from its English base. It supported Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo in late July by attacking fuel dumps and troop concentrations, then hit transportation and communications targets to slow the German retreat eastward. In late September it moved to Roye-Amy Airfield, France to be closer to the advancing ground forces it was supporting and extending its targets into Germany. From its continental bases, it hit bridges, railroads, highways, ammunition dumps and other targets. The unit was also tasked on occasion to drop propaganda leaflets.^[4]

During the Battle of the Bulge, it attacked heavily defended bridges and viaducts. Performing these attacks without fighter escort in the face of heavy flak and overwhelming attacks by enemy fighters earned the squadron a Distinguished Unit Citation for the period between 23 December and 26 December 1944.^[3] On 23 December, it attacked a rail viaduct at Ahrweiler. Although its fighter escort failed to arrive due to adverse weather, the squadron continued its attack, despite the loss of both pathfinder planes leading the attack. More than 60 Luftwaffe fighters attacked the 391st Group's formations while it was on its bomb run. The 391st Group lost 16 of its Marauders on this attack. The following day, the squadron destroyed the railroad viaduct at Konz-Karthaus.^[5]

The squadron continued its attacks, concentrating on German transportation and communications systems. It converted to the Douglas A-26 Invader in April and flew its last combat mission on 3 May 1945. The squadron left Europe in September 1945 and was inactivated on arrival at the port of embarkation, Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, on 13 October 1945.^[2][3]

Training for tactical fighter operations

342d Fighter-Day Group F-80s and T-33s on Myrtle Beach AFB ramp]^{[lower-alpha 2]}

The squadron's second predecessor is the 573d Fighter-Day Squadron, which was activated in July 1956 as part of the 342d Fighter-Day Group when the Air Force re-opened Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina. The squadron began training with Lockheed T-33 T-Bird advanced jet trainers in preparation for equipping with the North American F-100 Super Sabre. However, before the squadron could reach operational status, it was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 356th Fighter-Day Squadron.^[6]

The 573d Fighter-Day Squadron and 573d Bombardment Squadron were consolidated as the 573d Tactical Air Support Squadron on 19 September 1985, but the consolidated unit has not been active.^[7]

Assignments

• 391st Bombardment Group, 21 January 1943 – 25 October 1945^[2]
• 342d Fighter-Day Group, 25 July–19 November 1956^[8]

Stations

Aircraft

• Martin B-26 Marauder, 1943-1945
• Douglas A-26 Invader, 1945^[2]
• Lockheed T-33 T-Bird, 1956^[6]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	23-26 December 1944	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	26 January 1944 – 5 June 1944	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	26 July 1943 – 11 May 1945	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	573d Bombardment Squadron[2]

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Rust, Kenn C. (1967). The 9th Air Force in World War II. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc. LCCN 67-16454.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force In World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.