From British airfields the squadron flew sweeps over Occupied France, attacking radar installations and flak towers, and escorted bombers that attacked bridges and marshalling yards in France as the Allies prepared for the invasion of the Continent. The group provided cover for Allied forces that crossed the Channel on 6 June 1944, and flew armed reconnaissance missions over the Cotentin Peninsula until the end of the month. On 17 July 1944, napalm incendiary bombs were dropped for the first time in war on a fuel depot at Coutances, near St. Lô, France.
After the D-Day invasion, squadron moved to its Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Cardonville Airfield, France on 20 July to support the Allied ground advance across France and into Germany. Flew armed reconnaissance during the Battle of the Bulge, attacking warehouses, highways, railroads, motor transports, and other targets.
Converted to North American P-51 Mustangs during February – March 1945. Bombed bridges and docks in the vicinity of Wesel to prepare for the crossing of the Rhine, and patrolled the area as paratroops were dropped on the east bank on 24 March Supported operations of 2d Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley in Apr. Flew last mission, a sweep over Dessau and Wittenberg, on 4 May 1945.
Returned to the United States during September–November 1945, and was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
Lineage
Constituted as the 485th Fighter Squadron on 22 July 1943
↑ Approved 20 March 1945. Description: On a disc light turquoise blue, wide border red, a small, caricatured lightning bug wearing red-and-white striped jersey, light turquoise blue trousers and aviator's helmet, red boots and goggles, standing on two, jagged, lightning bolts striking toward sinisterbase, pilewise, and holding a large gray aerial bomb under the right arm, and a gray automatic revolver in the left hand, while facing toward sinister all in front of a large white cloud formation.
United States
United States Air Force
