World War II The
squadron was first activated at
March Field, California in January 1941 as the
46th Bombardment Squadron, one of the three original squadrons of the
41st Bombardment Group. The squadron moved to
Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona and trained there with
Douglas B-18 Bolos. Following the
attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron moved to
Muroc Bombing Range and conducted
antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific Coast from bases in California until the summer of 1942. The squadron moved to the Atlantic Coast in July 1942 and its air echelon was attached to
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command in October and continued its patrols in this area. The squadron formally joined Antisubmarine Command in March 1943, when it became the
22d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) equipped with B-24. In June, 1943 the air echelon moved to England, conducting operations over the Bay of Biscay. The ground echelon remained in the United States and was inactivated in October 1943 as US Navy assumed the antisubmarine mission. The squadron assisted in the transition until the air echelon was disbanded in November. It provided aircrews in Vietnam to direct air strikes for tactical aircraft operating within the Tactical Air Control System. Visual reconnaissance, convoy escort, and other missions were conducted as directed by the Tactical Air Commander, and aircraft and maintenance were provided in support of these operations within
IV Corps, South Vietnam, as directed by
Seventh Air Force. The squadron provided aircraft and personnel in support of the Theater Indoctrination School, and field and transient maintenance support of USAF aircraft at Binh Thuy Air Base. The 22nd operated the
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog aircraft, 1965–1971; and the
Cessna O-2 Skymaster aircraft, 1967–1971. Aircraft losses were 13 O-1s and three O-2s.
Hawaii service At Wheeler the 22d, using the Cessna O-2, organized, trained, and equipped assigned personnel to provide the Air Force Component Commander with a joint force, capable of operating and maintaining a tactical air support subsystem for ground forces requiring close air support, tactical air reconnaissance and tactical airlift. The squadron also provided Direct Air Support Center and Tactical Air Control Party personnel and equipment to support US Army units in
Hawaii. During 1982, the 22d participated in a number of exercises and prepared plans for conversion to the
North American OV-10 Bronco. Converted to the OV-10 aircraft, August–October 1983. Supported U.S. Army on the ground with TACPs creating a network which provided the Army with immediate air support and, in the air, with OV-10 forward air control support. Participated in numerous exercises with US and allied army ground units throughout the
Far East. It was inactivated on 22 September 1988. It was then redesignated 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron on 1 October 1988 and reactivated on 14 October 1988. Its inactivation was on 30 September 1991. ==Lineage==