Designated 87th Aero Squadron, and organized, on 18 Aug 1917. Redesignated Squadron B, Park Field, on 25 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 1 Dec 1918. Reconstituted, and consolidated (1 Dec 1936) with unit constituted as 87th Pursuit Squadron on 19 Feb 1935. Organized on 1 Mar 1935. Inactivated 1 Sep 1936. Demobilized on 1 Jan 1938. Reconstituted, and consolidated (21 Mar 1979) with unit constituted as 87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Redesignated 87th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated: 87th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 87th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 21 Aug 1944. Inactivated on 15 Jul 1947. Redesignated 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952. Activated on 1 Nov 1952. Inactivated on 8 Sep 1955. Activated on 8 Apr 1956. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1985. Redesignated 87th Flying Training Squadron on 9 Feb 1990. Activated on 2 Apr 1990.
Assignments
III Corps, Observation Group, 18 Aug 1917�1 Dec 1918. 20th Pursuit Group (attached to the Air Corps Tactical School), 1 Mar 1935�1 Sep 1936. 79th Pursuit (later, 79th Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942�15 Jul 1947. 31st Air Division, 1 Nov 1952; 521st Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953; Third Air Force, 21 Dec 1954�8 Sep 1955. 58th Air Division, 8 Apr 1956; 30th Air Division, 1 Sep 1958; Detroit Air Defense Sector, 8 Apr 1959; 34th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966; 343d Fighter Group, 30 Sep 1968; 23d Air Division, 28 Aug 1970; 21st Air Division, 1 Aug 1981; 24th Air Division, 23 Sep 1983�1 Oct 1985. 47th Flying Training Wing, 2 Apr 1990; 47th Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991�.
Stations
Kelly Field, TX, 18 Aug 1917; Selfridge Field, MI, Sep 1917; Park Field, TN, Dec 1917�1 Dec 1918. Maxwell Field, AL, 1 Mar 1935�1 Sep 1936. Dale Mabry Field, FL, 9 Feb 1942; Morris Field, NC, 1 May 1942; Rentschler Field, CT, 25 Jun�28 Sep 1942; Egypt, 12 Nov 1942; Libya, 24 Jan 1943; Tunisia, 13 Mar 1943; Malta, 4 Jul 1943; Sicily, 17 Jul 1943; Southern Italy, 15 Sep 1943; Salsola, Italy, 4 Oct 1943; Madna Airfield, Italy, 17 Nov 1943; Capodichino, Italy, 17 Jan 1944; Pomigliano, Italy, 1 May 1944; Corsica, 11 Jun 1944; Southern France, 22 Aug 1944; Iesi, Italy, 4 Oct 1944; Fano, Italy, 6 Dec 1944; Cesenatico, Italy, 21 Mar 1945; Horsching, Austria, 27 Jul 1945�25 Jun 1947; Langley Field, VA, 25 Jun�15 Jul 1947. Sioux City Muni Aprt, IA, 1 Nov 1952; Bentwaters RAF Station, England, 13 Dec 1954�8 Sep 1955. Lockbourne AFB, OH, 8 Apr 1956; Duluth Intl Aprt, MN, 30 Sep 1968; K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI, 1 May 1971�1 Oct 1985. Laughlin AFB, TX, 2 Apr 1990�.
Aircraft
Unkn, 1917�1918. Unkn, 1935�1936. P�40, 1942�1944; P�47, 1944�1947. F�51, 1952�1953; F�86, 1953�1955. F�86, 1956�1958; F�102, 1958�1960; F�101, 1960�1968; F�106, 1968�1985. T�38, 1990�.
Operations
Combat in MTO, 14 Mar 1943�7 May 1945. Air defense, 1952�1955 and 1956�1985. Undergraduate pilot training, 1990�.
Honors
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley, Rhineland; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, Mar�17 Aug 1943; Italy, 16�20 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1976�30 Jun 1978; 4 May 1981�3 May 1983; 16 Mar 1989�15 Mar 1991.
Emblem
On an Air Force disc Azure and Argent, a bull�s head Gules edged Sable, depicted frontal view with head lowered and curved horns Or with highlights of the second and edged Black; emanating from base near his nostrils a streak of Yellow lightning on either side, also edged Black. Above his head on a field of the first three stylized White aeroplanes with vapor trails of the last. Approved on 12 Feb 1969 (KE 4669); replaced emblems approved on 16 Jul 1956 and 1 Aug 1945 (KE 15714). MOTTO: VIGILANTIA EST PAX�Vigilance is Peace. Approved on 16 Jul 1956.