Lineage. Organized as 42 Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Redesignated as Squadron I, Wilbur Wright Fld, OH, on 1 Oct 1918. Demobilized on 21 Feb 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated (1924) with 42 Squadron which was authorized on 10 Jun 1922. Organized on 5 Jul 1922. Redesignated as: 42 School Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 42 Bombardment Squadron on 1 Mar 1935. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1936. Redesignated as 42 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated as: 42 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 11 Dec 1940; 42 Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 30 Apr 1946. Inactivated on 20 Oct 1948. Redesignated as 42 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 1 Dec 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Feb 1963. Redesignated as 42 Strategic Squadron on 19 Dec 1988. Activated on 1 Jan 1989. Inactivated on 7 Aug 1990. Redesignated as 42 Attack Squadron on 24 Oct 2006. Activated on 9 Nov 2006.
Assignments. Unkn, 1917-1919. 10 School Group, 5 Jul 1922; Air Corps Advanced Flying School, 16 Jul 1931; 3 Wing (attached to Air Corps Advanced Flying School), 1 Mar 1935-1 Sep 1936. 11 Bombardment Group, 1 Feb 1940-20 Oct 1948. 11 Bombardment Group, 1 Dec 1948 (attached to 11 Bombardment Wing, 16 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952); 11 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952, 4043 Strategic Wing, 1 Jun 1960-1 Feb 1963. 11 Strategic Group, 1 Jan 1989-7 Aug 1990. 57 Operations Group, 9 Nov 2006; 432 Operations Group, 1 May 2007; 25 Attack Group, 5 Apr 2019-.
Stations. Camp Kelly, TX, 13 Jun 1917; Wilbur Wright Fld, OH, 25 Aug 1917-21 Feb 1919. Kelly Fld, TX, 5 Jul 1922-1 Sep 1936. Hickam Fld, TH, 1 Feb 1940; Kualoa Point, TH, 5 Jun 1942; Mokuleia, TH, 8 Jul 1942; Plaines des Gaiacs, New Caledonia, 22 Jul 1942; Espiritu Santo, 23 Nov 1942 (forward echelon operated from Guadalcanal, Dec 1942); Kualoa Point, TH, 8 Apr 1943 (forward echelon operated from Canton Island, 14 Jun-1 Jul and 15-21 Sep 1943); Funafuti, 9 Nov 1943; Mokuleia, TH, 9 Jan 1944; Kahuku, TH, 19 Mar 1944; Mokuleia, TH, 23 Jun 1944; Guam, 22 Sep 1944; Okinawa, 2 Jul 1945; Manila, Luzon, Dec 1945; Guam, 15 May 1946-20 Oct 1948. Carswell AFB, TX, 1 Dec 1948; Altus AFB, OK, 13 Dec 1957; Wright Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Jun 1960-1 Feb 1963. RAF Fairford, England, 1 Jan 1989-7 Aug 1990. Creech AFB, NV, 9 Nov 2006-.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Guadalcanal; Eastern Mandates; Northern Solomons; Western Pacific (Air); Ryukyus.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: South Pacific, 31 Jul-30 Nov 1942. Presidential Unit Citation: South Pacific, 7 Aug-9 Dec 1942. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2006-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2013; 1 Jun 2017-31 May 2018; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2020. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 Aug 1954-15 Jul 1957; 27 Oct 1958-[1 Jun] 1960; 1 Jan-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2010; 1 Jun 2019-31 May 2021.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 2 May 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 22 Aug 2016.
Emblem. Approved on 30 Nov 2009.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.