34th Bomb Squadron
34th Bomb Squadron | |
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Insignia | |
34th Bomb Squadron emblem[a][1] |
The 34th Bomb Squadron is part of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It operates Rockwell B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.
Overview
The 34th Bomb Squadron is presently the 4th-oldest active squadron in the United States Air Force, being formed on 10 May 1917, less than a month after the United States' entry into
Today, the 34th Bomb Squadron stands ready to provide combat-ready aircrews to project global power anytime in support of the
History
World War I
The 34th Bomb Squadron can trace its origins to the organization of 2d Company H, Kelly Field, Texas which was organized on 10 May 1917.[dubious ] At the time Kelly Field consisted mostly of a field of cotton plants, as it was just obtained by the Army for the establishment of a training airfield, just to the south of San Antonio, Texas. When the first soldiers arrived, there were not any tents or cots for them so they slept on the ground. When the first tents arrived, they were assigned locations for them and they were pitched. A few days later, when the company received its full quota of men, it was changed to 1st Company G, Kelly Field. The men received their indoctrination into the Army as soldiers, standing guard duty and other rudimentary duties. The lack of sanitary facilities and also uniforms meant most men worked in the civilian clothing they arrived in and slept in them without bathing until latrines and washing facilities were constructed. The men dug ditches for water mains, erected wooden buildings for barracks and a large YMCA.[2][3]
Across the Atlantic
On 15 July, the unit was redesignated as the 34th Provisional Squadron,[dubious ] and rumors began to circulate that the unit would be sent to Europe. On the 25th, it was again re-designated as the 34th Aero Squadron, and they were issued proper uniforms and began to be equipped for overseas duty. On 10 August, the squadron received orders to leave Kelly Field for transport to Hoboken, New Jersey the next day. Five days later, the squadron arrived at Fort Totten, New York. On the 22d they were transported to the Port of Entry, Hoboken, and were boarded on the RMS Baltic. The next day, they left Pier 59, en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia where the ship anchored awaiting for a convoy. Finally, on 5 September, the convoy was formed and the trans-Atlantic journey began.[2]
On the night of 14 September, two red rockets were fired from an accompanying destroyer that had spotted a submarine periscope. The destroyer dropped depth charges on the submarine, and the Baltic made a sudden turn to port, that caused both men and anything loose aboard the ship to move. Suddenly a large explosion was heard and five long blasts were made by the ship's whistle and everyone on board was ordered to report to their assigned lifeboats. The Baltic's captain announced that a torpedo had struck the ship, but it had only made a glancing blow on the bow; that the emergency pumps were working and there was no danger.[2]
Training in England
The next day the Baltic arrived at Liverpool, England where the squadron boarded a train for Southampton, arriving on 16 September. There, the squadron received orders that it would remain in England for training by the Royal Flying Corps. On the 20th the men (about 200 in all), were divided into groups and sent to schools to take training in the different types of work they would be expected to do. 75 men were sent to the machine-gun school in Grantham; the remainder sere sent to schools in Reading, Upaven Station, Wendover, Farnsborough, Halton, Pemlice and other RFC Stations. The 34th Aero Squadron was the first American unit to completely train in England.[2]
2d Aviation Instructional Center
After the detachments received their training, the squadron was re-assembled at Winchester for a final inspection. On 18 December, the squadron departed for France, arriving at the port of Le Havre on the 20th. After a few days wait in a "Rest Camp", they boarded a troop train for the city of Tours, arriving on the 23d. From there, the squadron marched to the American Second Aviation Instructional Center (2d AIC), at Tours Aerodrome, their assigned duty station in France on 23 December 1917.[2]
The 2d AIC was established by the Training Section, AEF to train aerial observers and observation pilots. The observer also manned two Lewis Machine Guns for defense. Several squadron members, who had been trained by the RFC in machine guns, started a machine gun school at the base. Other men were engaged in construction activities, putting up aircraft hangars and wooden buildings for all manner of uses from training classes to barracks. Men were assigned as mechanics to airplanes arriving at Tours, and others were used as instructors for the various classes that were organized at the base. In February, there was a general reorganization of the 2d AIC and about half the men of the 34th were transferred to other squadrons, and new men were transferred into the 34th. Many promotions were given to the senior members of the squadron who had arrived the previous December. Training was given to many members of the Corps Observation squadrons of the First Army Air Service as they arrived in France; and beginning in August 1918, new pilots and observers for the planned Second Army Air Service began to arrive for training.[2]
By the time of the Armistice on 11 November, the men of the 34th Aero Squadron held about 75% of the responsible positions at the 2d AIC. Although they did not enter combat, the men trained the men who went to the front and gave them the best of training so they might accomplish their work.[2]
Demobilization
The AEF was notoriously slow in returning men to the United States after the end of hostilities, and men who served on the front had priority over those who served in the rear areas. The 34th, therefore, remained at Tours until May 1919 when orders were received to proceed to the 1st Air Depot,
Inter-war years
On 24 March 1923, the World War I 34th Aero Squadron was reconstituted into the permanent
The 34th Pursuit Squadron was finally activated on 15 July 1931, at
In June 1940 the squadron moved to
World War II
Antisubmarine patrols
In the immediate aftermath of the
Doolittle raid
Planning for a retaliatory bombing raid on Japan began in December 1941, and twenty-four B-25Bs were diverted from the 17th Bombardment Group, which was the only B-25 unit in the Air Corps, and volunteers from its four squadrons, including the 34th, were recruited, the crews being told only that this was a secret and dangerous mission. The volunteers trained at
Combat in the Mediterranean
The remainder of the squadron remained in Columbia, flying antisubmarine patrols until 23 June when it moved to
In November 1942, the squadron deployed to North Africa, arriving at
During 1943, the 34th participated in
The unit provided tactical air support in the liberation of Sardinia and Corsica. From airfields in Corsica, the 34th supported Allied ground forces during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August 1944. It moved to Southern France and bombed enemy targets during the Allied drive northward. It earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near Schweinfurt, Germany just before the end of the war on 10 April 1945.[12]
The squadron remained in Europe after
Korean War
The squadron was reactivated as part of the
When the North Korean army invaded the South on 25 June 1950, the USAF was critically short of light bombers. In particular, the 1054 B-26s that were still officially in the USAF inventory were mostly in reserve units or in storage in the southwest. To meet the emergency needs of the Korean War, the
During the conflict, the 17th and the
Cold War
Tactical Air Command
After the Korean armistice in June 1953, the squadron remained in South Korea for a year and a half until being moved to
At Eglin, the squadron was re-equipped with the new
The Canberras were replaced by the
The 43d returned to Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9 in March 1958, but due to budget issues, the squadron and its host 17th Bombardment Group were inactivated on 25 June 1958.[1][17]
Strategic Air Command
The squadron designation was transferred from TAC to Strategic Air Command (SAC) in November 1962 as part of a process to re-designate Boeing B-52 Stratofortress "Strategic Wings", which were set up by SAC to disperse its bombers to numerous bases to avoid a single nuclear strike taking out an entire wing at one place. The dispersal, or "Strategic" wings consisted of one bomb and one air refueling squadron. As SAC Major Command designated units (MAJCOM), the wings were not able to carry a lineage or history as Air Force designated wings (AFCON) could.
To remedy this, the Strategic Wings would be given designations of inactive MAJCOM Wings that had notable combat records in World War II, and/or low pre-war designations. The 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, was organized on 1 February 1963 which assumed the assets of the
The squadron stood nuclear alert at Wright-Patterson, and also provided crews to other Strategic Air Command units conducting combat operations over Southeast Asia ss part of Operation Arc Light, however the squadron's B-52Es were never deployed and remained on nuclear alert. Upgraded to the B-52H in 1968 when the E-models were retired and sent to storage at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base.
The squadron moved to Beale Air Force Base, California when SAC pulled out of Wright-Patterson in 1975, absorbing the B-52G assets of the 744th Bombardment Squadron. It flew training missions at Beale for about a year when it was inactivated along with the 17th Bombardment Wing as part of the phaseout of the B-52 at Beale in 1976.
Modern era
The 34th Bomb Squadron was reactivated at
In early 1994 the B-52Gs were retired with the closing of Castle and the squadron moved to
Reassigned to the
Lineage
- Organized as the 34th Aero Squadron on 11 June 1917
- Redesignated 34th Aero Squadron (Construction) on 25 July 1917[2]
- Redesignated 34th Aero Squadron (Training) on 23 December 1917[2]
- Demobilized on 10 June 1919
- Reconstituted and redesignated 34th Pursuit Squadron on 24 March 1923
- Activated on 15 July 1931
- Redesignated 34th Attack Squadron on 1 March 1935
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 17 October 1939
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 9 October 1944
- Inactivated on 26 November 1945
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 29 April 1947
- Activated on 19 May 1947
- Inactivated on 10 September 1948
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder on 8 May 1952
- Activated on 10 May 1952
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 1 October 1955
- Inactivated on 25 June 1958
- Redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy and activated on 15 November 1962 (not organized)
- Organized on 1 February 1963
- Inactivated on 30 September 1976
- Redesignated 34th Bomb Squadron and activated on 1 July 1992[18]
Assignments
- Headquarters, Camp Kelly, 11 June 1917[citation needed]
- Aviation Concentration Center, 11 August 1917[citation needed]
- Air Service Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force, British Isles, 19 September 1917 (attached to Royal Flying Corps for training: 20 September – 18 December 1917)[citation needed]
- Second Aviation Instructional Center, 23 December 1917 – May 1919
- Services of Supply, May 1919[citation needed]
- Eastern Department, 27 May – 10 June 1919[2]
- 17th Pursuit Group (later 17th Attack Group, 17th Bombardment Group), 15 July 1931 – 26 November 1945[e]
- 17th Bombardment Group, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948; 10 May 1952 – 25 June 1958
- Strategic Air Command, 15 November 1962 (not organized)
- 17th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1976
- 366th Operations Group, 1 July 1992
- 28th Operations Group, 19 September 2002 – present[18]
Stations
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Aircraft operated
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See also
Explanatory notes
- ^ Approved 18 June 1932. Description: On and over a plate a conventualized thunderbird displayed bendsinisterwise with lightning flashes emitting from eyes and on the breast an inverted pyramid bendsinisterwise of three steps divided palewise of seven white and red.
- Salmson 2A2reconnaissance aircraft are parked behind the formation.
- ^ Martin B-26C-25-MO Marauder, serial 41-35177 is identifiable, flying on one engine over the Mediterranean. This plane was salvaged on 18 August 1945 due to damage from enemy action. Baugher, Joe (10 August 2023). "1941 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- Organized Reserveunits. Because they had no regular personnel they were still considered inactive in the regular army. Clay, p. vi.
- 8th Pursuit Groupuntil 1 September 1928, then the 17th Pursuit Group until activated. Clay, p. 1399.
- ^ While the squadron was in Regular Army Inactive status from 1929 to 1931, reserve officers performed their summer training at Kelly Field. Clay, p. 1399.
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Haulman, Daniel (9 October 2015). "Factsheet 34 Bomb Squadron (AFGSC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gorrell, Series E, Volume 7, History of the 30th–37th Aero Squadrons.
- ^ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War[page needed]
- ^ Gorrell, Series D, Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919.[page needed]
- ^ a b Clay, p. 1399
- ^ Editor, "New Airplanes For 17th Attack Group", Air Corps News Letter, Information Division, Air Corps, Munitions Building, Washington, D.C., 15 July 1936, Volume XIX, Number 14, page 4.
- ^ "Air Force News Jul-Dec 1936 | Military | Military Organization".
- ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 163-164
- ^ Baugher, Joe (6 March 2000). "North American B-25 Mitchell". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Baugher, Joe (6 March 2000). "North American B-25B Mitchell". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Baugher, Joe (12 November 2002). "The Doolittle Tokyo Raid". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 61-63
- ^ "17th Bomb Group WWII Stories". 17th/452nd Bomb Wing/Group. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ a b Baugher, Joe (29 December 2006). "A-26/B-26 Invader in USAAF/USAF Service". joebaugher.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ Baugher, Joe (21 June 2000). "Martin B-57B". joebaugher.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ Baugher, Joe (8 April 2001). "Douglas B-66B Destroyer". joebaugher.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ Staff, no byline (7 May 2011). "34th Bomb Squadron (34th BS)". Globalsecurity.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ a b Lineage, including assignments, in Haulman, Factsheet 34 Bomb Squadron, except as noted.
- ^ Station number in Johnson.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919–1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War. Vol. 3, Part 3 Zone of the Interior: Directory of Troops (Reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. 1988 [1949]. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2017.