703d Tactical Air Support Squadron
The 703d Tactical Air Support Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where it was inactivated in June 1988.
| 703d Tactical Air Support Squadron | |
|---|---|
Sikorsky CH-3 helicopter in flight | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1948–1949; 1967–1988 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Tactical reconnaissance and control of close air support |
| Nickname(s) | The Magnificent Men (1967-1988) |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Jimmy Stewart |
| Insignia | |
| 703d Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem | |
| 703d Bombardment Squadron Emblem | |
| Eighth Air Force Fuselage Code | RN |
The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 703d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy in 1943. It trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers in the western United States before deploying to England. There it engaged in air combat for eighteen months in the European Theater, earning the Distinguished Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions during the war.
Although inactivated at the end of the war, the squadron was activated in the reserves in 1948. It apparently was not fully manned or equipped before it was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the Wing Base organizational plan.
The 703d Tactical Air Support Squadron was activated as a forward air control (FAC) unit in Texas in 1967. It became a special operations unit for two years before returning to its FAC mission, this time equipped with helicopters. In 1985 USAF consolidated the two squadrons into a single unit. The consolidated squadron was inactivated in 1988.