HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 586th Flight Test Squadron will honor their heritage by painting a T-38 Talon, tail number 187, in a scheme reminiscent of their World War II namesake, the 586th Bombardment Squadron. The insert photo shows a WW II era Martin Marauder, B-26, SN 68160, “Kathleen” in action.
Formed in early 1943 as a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber squadron, the 586th Bomber Squadron engaged in combat beginning in early 1944. It attacked tactical targets in France, Low Countries, later identified as Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg and Germany supporting Allied ground forces advancing after D-Day in the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany.