446th Missile Squadron
446th Missile Squadron | |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | |
Insignia | |
446th Missile Squadron emblem[2][a] | |
446th Bombardment Squadron emblem (SAC)[b][1] | ![]() |
446th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[3][c] | ![]() |
The 446th Missile Squadron is an inactive
The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 446th Bombardment Squadron, a
The squadron was briefly activated in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft. It was activated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command bomber unit, serving until 1961, when its Boeing B-47 Stratojets were replaced by Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses. It was organized in July 1965 as the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron.
History
World War II
Initial organization and training
The
After five months of training, the ground echelon of the squadron departed for the Port of Embarkation at
Combat in the Mediterranean Theater
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/B-25J_446th_BS_October_1944.jpg/220px-B-25J_446th_BS_October_1944.jpg)
The ground echelon landed at
Until May 1943, it participated in
The squadron provided air support for the Allied advance toward Rome between January and June 1944 and Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. On 18 August, its attacks on Toulon harbor earned the squadron a second DUC.[5] The enemy had concentrated shipping in the harbor to augment harbor defense artillery. Adverse weather conditions caused other groups to turn back, but the 321st Group continued to the target. The squadron pressed its attack despite "heavy, intense, accurate" flak on the bomb run. Post strike reconnaissance showed the 321st Group heavily damaged a battleship, and sunk a cruiser and a submarine.[15]
After September 1944, it supported Allied operations in northern Italy, including
Reserve operations
The squadron was reactivated as a
Strategic bomber unit
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/McCoy_AFB_Postcard_-_B-47_Stratojet_and_Control_Tower.jpg/220px-McCoy_AFB_Postcard_-_B-47_Stratojet_and_Control_Tower.jpg)
The squadron was reactivated on 15 December 1953 at
The squadron trained in global strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. It deployed with the 321st Wing to RAF Lakenheath, England from December 1954 until March 1955 and to
By 1961, SAC was relying on dispersed
Intercontinental ballistic missile unit
On 1 November 1963 the squadron was redesignated the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron, a SAC
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/446th_Missile_Squadron_-_ALL.png/400px-446th_Missile_Squadron_-_ALL.png)
- Squadron missile alert facilities (A-E flights, each controlling 10 missiles) were located as follows:
- A-00 6.7 mi SE of Wales ND, 48°49′17″N 098°30′48″W / 48.82139°N 98.51333°W
- B-00 6.8 mi NxNW of Osnabrock ND, 48°45′49″N 098°11′36″W / 48.76361°N 98.19333°W
- C-00 5.7 mi NW of Edinburg ND, 48°32′43″N 097°57′50″W / 48.54528°N 97.96389°W
- D-00 1.7 mi SxSW of Nekoma ND, 48°33′14″N 098°22′50″W / 48.55389°N 98.38056°W
- E-00 4.3 mi SxSW of Hampden ND, 48°29′01″N 098°41′46″W / 48.48361°N 98.69611°W[30]
In December 1971, the squadron began replacing its Minuteman II missiles with
In September 1991, SAC implemented the Air Force's Objective Wing Organization. With this restructuring, the squadron was assigned to the new 321st Operations Group,
The
Lineage
- Constituted as the 446th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
- Activated on 26 June 1942
- Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 6 March 1944
- Inactivated on 12 September 1945
- Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 5 March 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 30 March 1947
- Inactivated on 22 June 1949
- Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 25 November 1953
- Activated on 15 December 1953
- Discontinued and inactivated on 25 October 1961
- Redesignated 446th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 November 1963 and activated (not organized)
- Organized on 1 July 1965
- Redesignated 446th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991[35]
- Inactivated on 30 September 1998
Assignments
- 321st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 12 September 1945
- Eleventh Air Force,[e] 30 March 1947
- 321st Bombardment Group, 30 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 321st Bombardment Wing, 15 December 1953 – 25 October 1961
- Strategic Air Command, 1 November 1963 (not organized)
- 321st Strategic Missile Wing (later 321st Missile Wing), 1 July 1965
- 321st Operations Group, 1 September 1991
- 321st Missile Group, 1 July 1994[35] – 30 September 1998
Stations
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Aircraft and missiles
- North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1945
- Boeing B-47E Stratojet, 1953–1961
- LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965–1973
- LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972–1998[35]
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
8 October 1943 | Athens, Greece; 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 18 August 1944 | Toulon, France; 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
1 July 1968–30 June 1969 | 446th Strategic Missile Squadron[2] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1984–30 June 1986 | 446th Strategic Missile Squadron[2] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1986–30 June 1987 | 446th Strategic Missile Squadron[2][f] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 1994–30 September 1996 | 446th Missile Squadron[36] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
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Tunisia | 12 March 1943–13 May 1943 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Air Combat, EAME Theater | 12 March 1943–11 May 1945 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Sicily | 14 May 1943–17 August 1943 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Naples-Foggia | 18 August 1943–21 January 1944 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Rome-Arno | 22 January 1944–9 September 1944 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Central Europe | 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Southern France | 15 August 1944–14 September 1944 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2]> |
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North Apennines | 10 September 1944–4 April 1945 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
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Po Valley | 3 April 1945–8 May 1945 | 446th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
See also
47°57′40″N 097°24′04″W / 47.96111°N 97.40111°W
- List of United States Air Force missile squadrons
- 446th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ The 1956 emblem was placed on a disc to comply with USAF standards for squadron emblems. The horizontal dividing line was lowered as well. USAF Fact Sheet.
- ; superimposed over all a sphere, land areas green, water areas light blue; encircling the sphere a modernistic wing with speed lines of the first and second colors; above the demisphere [sic] a tiger, in his proper colors, resting his paws on the top of the sphere.
- ^ Apparently, this emblem never received official approval, although it was used by the squadron. Watkins, p. 86.
- ^ Despite its mission of training bomber crews, the 3540th was designated as the 3540th Flying Training Wing (Fighter). Manning, p. 87. With the transfer to SAC, the 3540th became the 4240th Flying Training Wing and the fighter parenthetical was eliminated.
- Olmsted Air Force Base, Pennsylvania and responsible for managing reserve and National Guard air force units in the Middle Atlantic during the 1940s.
- ^ Air Force Personnel Services lists the start date for this award as 1 July 1986, which is consistent with the end date of the previous award.
- Citations
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 551-552
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Staff historian. "U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet 446 Missile Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ Watkins, pp. 86-87
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 550-554
- ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp 201-202
- ^ a b c "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, 1 August 1942-31 January 1943" (PDF). p. 38. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 45. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, October 1943" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, August 1944" (PDF). pp. 156, 15, 164. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, July - September 1945" (PDF). p. 54. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ Manning, p. 75
- ^ Manning, p. 95
- ^ a b c Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 172-173
- ^ Narducci, p. 2
- ^ Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 43
- ^ 321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks, p. 8
- ^ No byline. "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): 446th Missile Squadron". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ 321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks, p. 4
- ^ a b c d No byline. "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): 321st Missile Wing". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 51
- ^ Kirk, Jim. "Grand Forks AFB Minuteman Missile Site Coordinates". University of Wyoming. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 48
- ^ No byline (29 September 2015). "Factsheets: 20th Air Force". Twentieth Air Force, Commander's Action Group. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Fields, Dave (2024). "Wing VI - GrandForks Air Force Base". Minuteman Missile, A Tribute To The ICBM Program. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Anonymous. "321st Missile Group". Association of Air Force Missileers. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments, stations and missiles through July 1994 in USAF Fact Sheet.
- ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 11 June 2024. (search)
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Manning, Thomas A.; Aschcroft, Bruce A.; Emmons, Richard H.; Hussey, Ann K.; Mason, Joseph L. (2005). History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002 (PDF). Randolph AFB, Texas: Office of History and Research, Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command. ISBN 978-1376984057. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- 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.
- Narducci, Henry M. (1988). Strategic Air Command and the Alert Program: A Brief History. Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- 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.
- Schake, Col Kurt W. (1998). Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950-1960 (PDF). Trondheim, Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ISBN 978-8277650241. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.
- SAC Missile Chronology 1939-1988 (PDF). Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. 1990. ISBN 978-1521159439. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- Anonymous. "321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks: Cold War Legacy" (PDF). 321st Missile Wing History Office. Retrieved 10 June 2024.