Lineage. Constituted as 455 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 4 Aug 1942. Inactivated on 12 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 455 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 17 Mar 1951. Redesignated as 455 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 9 May 1955. Activated on 8 Aug 1955. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1957. Redesignated as 455 Flying Training Squadron on 28 Jul 1972. Activated on 1 Apr 1973. Inactivated on 31 May 1993. Activated on 2 Oct 2009.
Assignments. 323 Bombardment Group, Medium, 4 Aug 1942-12 Dec 1945. 323 Bombardment Group, Light, 27 Jun 1949-17 Mar 1951. 11 Air Division (Defense), 8 Aug 1955; 323 Fighter-Bomber Group, 22 Nov 1955-1 Sep 1957. 323 Flying Training Wing, 1 Apr 1973; 323 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-31 May 1993. 479 Flying Training Group, 2 Oct 2009-.
Stations. Columbia AAB, SC, 4 Aug 1942; MacDill Field, FL, 21 Aug 1942; Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, SC, 4 Nov 1942; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 26 Apr-4 May 1943; Horham, England, 12 May 1943; Earls Colne, England, 14 Jun 1943; Beauliey, England, 21 Jul 1944; Lessay, France, 26 Aug 1944; Chartres, France, 21 Sep 1944; Laon/Athies, France, 13 Oct 1944; Denain/Prouvy, France, 9 Feb 1945; Gablingen, Germany, 8 May 1945; Leipheim, Germany, 23 May 1945; Landsberg, Germany, c. 13 Sep 1945; Clastres, France, Oct-Dec 1945; Camp Myles Standish, MA, 11-12 Dec 1945. Tinker AFB, OK, 27 Jun 1949-17 Mar 1951 (deployed at Eglin AF Aux Field No. 2, FL, 11-25 Jun 1950). Eielson AFB, AK, 8 Aug 1955; Bunker Hill AFB, IN, 22 Nov 1955-1 Sep 1957. Mather AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1973-31 May 1993. Pensacola NAS, FL, 2 Oct 2009-.
Commanders. None (not manned), 4 Aug-10 Sep 1942; Lt Col William W. Brier IV, 11 Sep 1942; Maj Grover C. Willcox Jr., c. Jan 1944; Lt Col Albert W. Satterwhite, 29 Feb 1944; Lt Col Jimmie W. Britt, 6 Dec 1944; Maj Harold A. Kohnert, 17 Mar 1945-unkn; none (not manned), 13 Sep-12 Dec 1945. Lt Col Marvin K. Mills, 27 Jun 1949; Maj Denver R. Stufflebean, c. Sep 1950-1951. Maj Robert B. Bell, 8 Aug 1955; Lt Col Lowell K. Brueland, c. Mar 1957; 1 Lt Thomas A. Akin, c. Jul-1 Sep 1957. Lt Col Russell D. Terpening, 1 Apr 1973; Lt Col Donald R. Hollis, 21 Aug 1973; Lt Col William A. Wittenberg, 20 Jun 1976; Lt Col Albert A. Gagliardi, 16 Sep 1976; Lt Col Martin E. Fricks, 9 Jun 1978; Lt Col George P. Swanson, 26 Jun 1980; Lt Col Richard L. Berdan, 23 Jan 1981; Lt Col Paul E. Huber, 14 May 1982; Lt Col Anthony F. Germann, 19 Jul 1982; Lt Col Grady H. Hawkins, 6 Jun 1984; Lt Col Jimmy H. Howard, 21 Jan 1986; Lt Col Stafford W. Ouderkirk, 2 Oct 1987; Lt Col Russell C. Lowmiller, 25 Aug 1989; Lt Col Edward E. Romack, 28 Jun 1991; Lt Col Jack R. Barnes, 18 Sep 1992-31 May 1993.
Aircraft. B-26, 1942-1945. T-6, T-11 and B-26, 1949-1951; T-7, 1950-1951. F-86, 1955-1956; F-100, 1956-1957. T-29, 1973-1974; T-37, 1974-1993.
Operations. Not operational, Aug-Sep 1942. Trained for combat, Oct 1942-Apr 1943. Combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 16 Jul 1943-25 Apr 1945. Transferred aircraft and aircrews to other units, 6-7 May 1945. Participated in disarming the German Air Force, May-Sep 1945. Not operational, Sep-Dec 1945. Served in the organized Reserve, 1949-1951. Called to active service in Mar 1951 and personnel reassigned as fillers for other organizations. Air defense of Alaska, Aug-Oct 1955. Trained in tactical operations of Tactical Air Command, Mar 1956-May 1957. Provided support for 323 Flying Training Wing navigator training program, 1973-1993.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Belgium and Germany, 24-27 Dec 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr-31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976-28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 Jan 1980-30 Apr 1981.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through Dec 2009.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 May 1993.
Supersedes statement prepared on 12 Jul 1985.
Emblem. Approved on 10 May 2023.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.