Established in early 1942 initially as a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron, flying antisubmarine patrols. Later being redesignated as a heavy bomb group; trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Completed training in late 1942; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) as one of the initial heavy bomber squadrons assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, September 1942. Reactivated as a B-52 Combat Crew Training squadron in 1986; inactivated in 1991 after the end of the Cold War and the reduction of the B-52 fleet.