It was activated in early 1941 by the Army Air Corps as a medium bomber squadron during the pre-war mobilization by the United States. Performed coastal patrols as part of First Air Force with B-18 Bolos and early-model B-26 Marauders. Reactivated in France in 1953 as a NATO B-57 light bombardment squadron, equipped for night bombardment with nuclear weapons. Moved to West Germany in 1958 as a TM-76B Mace tactical missile squadron when the unit was ordered out of France. Remained as a tactical missile unit until 1969 when the Mace missile was retired, the last Mace unit on active duty.