Lineage

Constituted 557th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 25 Nov 1942. Activated on 1 Dec 1942. Redesignated 557th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 9 Oct 1944. Inactivated on 12 Nov 1945. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which was constituted, and activated, on 17 Apr 1962. Organized on 25 Apr 1962. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1970. Redesignated 557th Flying Training Squadron on 18 Jun 1974. Activated on 31 Jul 1974.

Assignments

387th Bombardment Group, 1 Dec 1942–12 Nov 1945.
Tactical Air Command, 17 Apr 1962;
12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 Apr 1962;
836th Air Division, 8 Nov 1965;
12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Dec 1965–31 Mar 1970.
Air Training Command, 31 Jul 1974;
United States Air Force Academy, 1 Oct 1982;
12th Operations Group, 1 Jul 1993–.

Stations

MacDill Field, FL, 1 Dec 1942;
Lakeland AAFld, FL, 12 Apr 1943;
Godman Field, KY, 12 May–10 Jun 1943;
Chipping Ongar, England, 1 Jul 1943;
Stoney Cross, England, c. 21 Jul 1944;
Maupertuis, France, c. 27 Aug 1944;
Chateaudun, France, c. 18 Sep 1944;
Clastres, France, c. 2 Nov 1944;
Beek, Holland, c. 2 May 1945;
Rosieres-en-Santerre, France, c. 27 May–c. 4 Nov 1945;
Camp Kilmer, NJ, 11–12 Nov 1945.
MacDill AFB, FL, 25 Apr 1962–Nov 1965;
Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 1 Dec 1965–31 Mar 1970.
USAF Academy, CO, 31 Jul 1974–.

Operations

Combat in ETO, 31 Jul 1943–19 Apr 1945.
Combat in Southeast Asia, 1 Dec 1965–10 Mar 1970.
Provided basic flight training at the USAFA, 31 Jul 1974–.

Aircraft

B–26, 1942–1945
F–84, 1962–1964
F–4, 1964–1970
T–41, 1974–
UV–18, 1979–1982.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 23 Dec 1944.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Dec 1965–30 May 1966; 1 Jun 1966–31 May 1967; 1 Jun 1967–31 May 1968; 1 Jun 1968–31 May 1969; 1 Jun 1969–[10] Mar 1970. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1979–30 Apr 1980; 30 Mar 1981–31 Oct 1982; 1 Jan 1983–18 Dec 1984. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: [1 Dec] 1965–[10] Mar 1970.

Emblem

On a Blue disc edged with a narrow Yellow border, a White horizontal vapor stream on which is a stylized aircraft in horizontal flight; overall on a Brown jesse detailed Black, a falcon, Gray with White head and neck, Yellow beak and claws, Gray talons, eyes, feathers and highlight detail Black. Approved on 8 Sep 1975 (KE 56529); replaced emblem approved on 19 Apr 1943 (23724 A.C.).

Aircraft
 
 

Personnel

• Ditton, Kenneth  Bombardier

• 08 Mar 44 1st Lt.  Levi, Alexander        B/N    KIA Collision during assembly (Double Trouble)