| 704th Fighter Squadron | |
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Emblem of the 704th Fighter Squadron |
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| Active | 1943-1996 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment/Troop Carrier/Fighter |
The 704th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 924th Fighter Group, stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 27 September 1996.
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Established in early 1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron; assigned to II Bomber Command for training in Arizona and Colorado for overseas duty. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England in November 1943.
Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking transportation, industrial, Oil Industry and other targets as directed. Also engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy forces in France in support of the Operation Overlord landings in Normandy, and the subsequent breakout at St-Lo in July 1944. Changed equipment from B-24 Liberators to B-17 Flying Fortresses in July 1944. Attacked enemy formations and armor during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1945. Continued bombardment of strategic targets until the German Capitulation in May.
Largely demobilized in England during the summer of 1945; small cadre of personnel reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in July and prepared for transition training on B-29 Superfortresses. The Japanese Capitulation led to the cancellation of training and the units final inactivation at the end of August.
Reactivated as an Air Force Reserve squadron in April 1948, equipped with B-29 Superfortress aircraft at Carswell AFB, Texas. Trained in the active reserve, being activated in May 1951 due to the Korean War. Personnel and aircraft reassigned to active units in Far East Air Force, unit inactivated as a paper unit in June.
Again activated in the Reserve in 1955 as a Troop Carrier squadron at Ellington Field, Texas, being equipped with C-119C/G Flying Boxcars. the 704 TCS transitioned to C-130A Hercules in 1967. Deployed to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War; unit members flew more than 120 combat missions. Relocated to Bergstrom AFB, Texas in 1975 with the closure of Ellignton Field, where the unit became the first Reserve unit to be assigned there. In the second half of 1976, converted to eight Lockheed C-130Bs.
Realigned in June 1981 as a Tactical Fighter Squadron, being equipped with F-4D Phantom IIs. Upgraded in 1989 to F-4Es. Re-equipped in July 1991 with F-16C/D Falcons.
As a result of the BRAC activities, in 1996 the parent 924th Fighter Wing was inactivated due to the closing of Bergstrom AFB. Inactivated on 27 September 1996.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.