| 706th Fighter Squadron | |
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706th Fighter Squadron Patch |
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| Active | 1 April 1943 - 28 August 1945 26 March 1948 - 27 June 1949 8 October 1955 - 16 November 1957 7 February 1959 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command 10th Air Force 926th Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans |
| Decorations | AFOUA RVGC w/ Palm |
The 706th Fighter Squadron (706 FS) is part of the 926th Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Its mission is to oversee Air Force Reserve Command members assigned to the United States Air Force Warfare Center, supporting missions in its 57th Wing, 53d Wing and 505th Command and Control Wing. Pilots assigned to the 706 FS fly F-16, F-15C, F-15E and A-10 aircraft.
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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.
Became a B-29 Superfortress bombardment squadron in the Air Force Reserve in 1948; was ordered to active service in May 1951 with unit personnel and equipment being reassigned to units in Far East Air Force. Squadron was inactivated administratively as a paper unit in June.
Reactivated in the reserves again in 1955 as a Troop Carrier Squadron. Flew various second-line transports, inactivated as a result of funding reductions in 1957. Reactivated as a C-119 Flying Boxcar reserve squadron in 1959, upgrading to C-130 Hercules in 1969. It transitioned to and trained for A-37 and A-10 offensive and defensive capabilities, including close air support from, 1978-1992. The squadron was called to active duty and flew combat in Southwest Asia from, August 1990-February 1991 as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
It has trained in F-16 fighter operations since 1992. The 706th also participated in UN patrols to enforce a no-fly zone over Bosnia from, March–April 1995.[1]
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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