It originally began service as the 588th Night Bomber Regiment ( 588 NBAP ) .
It originally was redesignated in February 1943 as recognition for service which would tally 24,000 + combat missions by the end of the war .
It originally began service as the 588th Night Bomber Regiment ( 588 NBAP ) , but was redesignated in February 1943 as recognition for service which would tally 24,000 + combat missions by the end of the war .