813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

B-17 and 482d Bombardment Group crews in 1944

VIII Bomber Command's early operations in 1942 and 1943 had shown it that weather conditions in the European Theater of Operations were such that to conduct a successful bombing campaign, the command would need to have the capability of bombing through overcast. Following the Royal Air Force's example, Eighth Air Force formed a group with specially selected aircrews that would act as "Pathfinders", using radar-equipped bombers to lead each wing's bomber formation.[2] The squadron was activated as the 813th Bombardment Squadron, one of the two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress squadrons of the 482d Bombardment Group on 20 August 1943.[1][3][lower-alpha 2]

Squadron aircrews were specially selected from all VIII Bomber Command groups. In addition to its combat mission of acting as Pathfinders, the squadron's mission was to continue the development of tactics and techniques for the use of radar navigation and bombing systems and training crews of other bomber units as Pathfinders.[2] The squadron flew its first mission on 27 September 1943 against port facilities at Emden, although it did not fly as a unit. Rather, its crews and airplanes dispersed to bases of 1st and 3d Bombardment Divisions to lead other group formations. The squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for an 11 January 1944 mission leading bombers to targets such as aircraft factories in central Germany. Although weather prevented effective fighter protection against enemy aircraft, the group bombed assigned targets and destroyed many enemy airplanes. During Big Week attacks it led raids on aircraft factories at Gotha, Braunschweig and Schweinfurt.[3] On 4 March 1944, a crew from the 813th Squadron was leading Eighth Air Force's first B-17 raid on Berlin. Because they were in the lead, the 813th lays claim to being the first B-17 squadron to bomb Berlin.[4]

In addition to flying pathfinder missions, the squadron trained crews from other groups of VIII Bomber Command. Although it was formally withdrawn from combat in March 1944, it continued to fly occasional missions to test tactics and equipment.[2] In addition, the squadron performed radar photographic mapping of parts of France, the Low Countries, and Germany for training and briefing combat crews.[3] It changed the "Pathfinder" in its name to "Heavy" in November 1944.[3]

The squadron's aircraft left England for the United States between 27 and 30 May 1945. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth from Gourock, Scotland on 24 June 1945.[2] The squadron regrouped at Victorville Army Air Field, California on 5 July 1945, but was inactivated on 1 September 1945.[3]

C-46 as flown by the squadron as a training unit[lower-alpha 3]

The squadron was redesignated the 813th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy and activated in the reserve at Harding Field, Louisiana on 24 September 1947, although its parent 482d Bombardment Group was stationed at New Orleans Municipal Airport.[1] Although nominally a bomber unit, it is not clear whether the squadron had any operational aircraft assigned, or if it was fully manned. Continental Air Command, which was responsible for training reserve and Air National Guard units, reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949.[5] President Truman's 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, and reserve flying operations at Harding Field ended and the 813th was inactivated in the reorganization.[1][6]

All reserve combat organizations had been mobilized for the Korean War,[7] and it was not until the summer of 1952 that reserve units again began receiving aircraft.[8] The squadron was redesignated the 813th Troop Carrier Squadron and activated at Miami International Airport, Florida on 14 June 1952, when the 482d Troop Carrier Wing replaced the 906th Reserve Training Wing, which had supervised reserve operations there since 1951. The squadron trained with Curtiss C-46 Commandos under the supervision of the 2585th Air Force Reserve Training Center.[9] In December 1953, the 435th Troop Carrier Wing at Miami was released from active duty and assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 482d Wing. In this reorganization, the 77th Troop Carrier Squadron took over the mission, personnel and aircraft of the 813th, which was inactivated.[1][10][lower-alpha 4]

The squadron was redesignated the 813th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated with North American F-86 Sabres in July 1957.[1] Despite its fighter bomber designation, it was designed to augment active duty interceptor squadrons in performing air defense missions.[11] However, The Joint Chiefs of Staff were pressuring the Air Force to provide more wartime airlift. At the same time, about 150 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars became available from the active force. Consequently, the Air Force directed Continental Air Command to convert three reserve fighter bomber wings to troop carrier units in 1957.[12] Sabre training ended, and instead Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars arrived in October 1957. In November the squadron was inactivated and its troop carrier assets were transferred to the 700th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was simultaneously activated at Dobbins.[13][14]

• 482d Bombardment Group, 20 August 1943 – 1 September 1945
• 482d Bombardment Group, 24 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 482d Troop Carrier Group, 14 June-1 December 1952
• 482d Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 July–16 November 1957[1]

• RAF Alconbury, England, 20 August 1943 – June 1945
• Victorville Army Air Field, California, July-1 September 1945
• Harding Field, Louisiana, 24 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
• Miami International Airport, Florida, 14 June-1 December 1952
• Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia, 8 July-16 November 1957[1]

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945[1]
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1952
• North American F-86 Sabre, 1957
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1957[13]

Explanatory notes

Citations

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

• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• 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. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.