World War II Initial organization and training The
squadron was activated at
MacDill Field, Florida, on 15 June 1942 as the
333rd Bombardment Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the
94th Bombardment Group. The AAF had decided to concentrate training of
heavy bomber units under
Second Air Force, and the squadron moved to
Pendleton Field, Oregon, one of that command's bases, two weeks later to begin training with the
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The squadron
cadre received its initial training at Pendleton. It moved to different bases for Phase I (individual training) and Phase II (crew training), completing Phase III (unit training) at
Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado. The air echelon of the squadron began ferrying their aircraft to the
European Theater of Operations around the first of April 1943. The ground echelon left Pueblo on 18 April for
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and the New York Port of Embarkation on 18 April. They sailed aboard the on 5 May, arriving in Scotland on 13 May.
Combat in the European Theater The squadron began assembling at
RAF Earls Colne in mid May, but
Eighth Air Force decided to transfer its new
Martin B-26 Marauder units from
VIII Bomber Command to
VIII Air Support Command and concentrate them on bases closer to the European continent. As a result, the
323d Bombardment Group moved to Earls Colne on 14 June, forcing the 94th Group and its squadrons to relocate to
RAF Bury St. Edmunds, which would be its combat station for the rest of the war. It flew its first combat mission (and what would be its only mission from Earls Colne) on 13 June against the airfield at
Saint-Omer, France. Until the end of the war, the squadron participated in the
strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It attacked port facilities at
Saint Nazaire, shipyards at
Kiel, an aircraft plant at
Kassel, oil facilities at
Merseburg and ball bearing facilities at
Eberhausen. On 11 January 1944, it attacked a Messerschmitt aircraft parts manufacturing plant at
Brunswick/Waggum Airfield. Weather conditions deteriorated during the flight to the target, preventing part of the escorting fighters from reaching the bombers and resulting in the squadron's bombers being recalled. However, the
wing leader was unable to authenticate the recall message and continued to the target. In contrast, fair weather to the east of the target permitted the
Luftwaffe to concentrate its fighter defenses into one of its largest defensive formations since October 1943. Despite heavy
flak in the target area, the squadron bombed accurately and earned its second DUC for this action. The squadron participated in
Big Week, the concentrated campaign against the German aircraft manufacturing industry from 20 to 25 February 1944. It bombed transportation, communication and petroleum industrial targets during
Operation Lumberjack the final push across the
Rhine and into Germany. In 1948
Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and
Air National Guard units from ADC. In June 1949, the squadron was redesignated as a
light bomber unit. The squadron began to equip with the
Douglas B-26 Invader. All reserve combat units were
mobilized for the
Korean War. The 331st was called to active duty on 10 March 1951. Its personnel and equipment were used to bring other units up to strength, and the squadron was inactivated ten days later.
Reconnaissance operations The squadron was reactivated at Dobbins Air Force Base in June 1952 as the
333rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and equipped with RB-26 Invader photographic reconnaissance aircraft when the
94th Bombardment Wing replaced the 902d Reserve Training Wing at Dobbins. The reserve mobilization for the Korean War had left the reserve without aircraft, and the squadron only began receiving aircraft in July. In addition to its primary aircraft and obsolescent
North American P-51 Mustangs, the squadron also operated a variety of trainers and transports. that had no mobilization mission. On 18 May 1955, the 94th Wing moved to Scott to replace the 8711th. The squadron did not move, but was inactivated as the 94th reorganized with only two tactical squadrons. At Hill, the squadron was assigned to the
452d Troop Carrier Group, which was located at
Long Beach Municipal Airport, under the Dispersed Squadron Concept, under which ConAC dispersed some of its flying squadrons to separate bases in order to improve recruiting and avoid public objection to entire wings of aircraft being stationed near large population centers.. The squadron used inactive duty training periods for Operation Swift Lift, transporting high priority cargo for the Air Force and Operation Ready Swap, transporting aircraft engines, between
Air Materiel Command’s depots. In 1959 ConAC reorganized its flying wings under the dual deputy organization. Under this plan the squadron reported to directly to the wing, the 452nd Group was inactivated, and the squadron was reassigned to the
452nd Troop Carrier Wing. The squadron was called to active duty for a second time on 28 October 1962 for the
Cuban Missile Crisis. The 452nd Wing was not called up for this crisis, so while on active duty, the squadron was assigned to the
349th Troop Carrier Wing. It was returned to the reserve on 28 November, as tensions eased. The mobilization of the squadron for the Cuban missile crisis delayed its reorganization until February 1963, when the
945th Troop Carrier Group was activated as the command element for the squadron, along with support elements for the 733rd. ==Lineage==