447th Missile Squadron

Add links
Coordinates: 47°57′40″N 097°24′04″W / 47.96111°N 97.40111°W / 47.96111; -97.40111 (Grand Forks AFB)
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

447th Missile Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
447th Missile Squadron emblem[a][1]
447th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem[b][1]
447 Bombardment Sq emblem[c][1]
447 Bombardment Sq emblem (World War II)[2]

The 447th Missile Squadron is an inactive

321st Missile Group, stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 447th was equipped with the LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War
, the 447th was inactivated on 2 July 1998.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 447th Bombardment Squadron, a

V-E Day
, it remained in Italy, until it was inactivated in September 1945.

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 February 1965 as the 447th Strategic Missile Squadron.

History

World War II

Initial organization and training

The

321st Bombardment Group, which were equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells.[1][3][4] However, it was not until the squadron moved on paper to Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, that the initial cadre was assigned in August 1942[5]

After five months of training, the ground echelon of the squadron departed for the Port of Embarkation at

Morrison Field, Florida for staging via the South Atlantic ferry route.[5] It departed Morrison for overseas on 15 February 1943.[7]

Combat in the Mediterranean Theater

Squadron B-25J Mitchell at Solenzara Airfield, Corsica in late 1944[d]

The ground echelon landed at

gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa. Later, objectives spread into France, Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. It also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines.[4]

Until May 1943, it participated in

Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4][13]

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.[4] 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.[14]

After September 1944, it supported Allied operations in northern Italy, including

V-E Day, reducing in size as individuals returned to the United States, being reduced to a mere cadre by August 1945[15] and was inactivated at Pomigliano Airfield on 12 September 1945.[1][4]

Reserve operations

The squadron was reactivated as a

Lunken Field, Ohio.[1] It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft during this period.[16] In July 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[17] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[18] and the 447th was inactivated[1]
and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Lunken Field ceased.

Strategic bomber unit

B-47 Stratojet at McCoy AFB

The squadron was reactivated on 15 December 1953 at

Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida,[1] an Air Training Command (ATC) base, where ATC's 3540th Flying Training Wing conducted transition training on Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers.[19] On 1 January 1954, the base and B-47 training mission were transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC).[20][e] Under SAC's dual deputy organization, the squadron was assigned directly to the 321st Wing, with the group level organization eliminated. Over the next six months, the B-47 training mission at Pinecastle was phased out and was replaced by the 447th and other operational units of the 321st Bombardment Wing, and the squadron became operational in late May 1954.[1][21]

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

alert were replaced by Operation Reflex. Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters from multiple wings at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments.[22] From 1958, SAC B-47 units began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases, with an initial goal of maintaining one third of SAC’s planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[23]

By 1961, SAC was relying on dispersed

4047th Strategic Wing, a B-52 unit. The squadron was inactivated in late October 1961.[1][21]

Intercontinental ballistic missile operations

On 1 November 1963 the squadron was redesignated the 447th Strategic Missile Squadron, a SAC

Vandenberg Air Force Base, California during the second half of the year.[25] On 10 October, SAC accepted the first flight of ten Minutemen for the 447th. In January 1966, the squadron placed its first missiles on alert.[26]

The squadron was declared fully operational on 25 April 1966 and placed all its missiles on alert in May.[27] In early December1966, it passed an Operational Readiness Inspection as the entire 321st Wing became operational.[28]

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Alert and Launch Facilities

447th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Missile Alert Facilities (F-K flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
F-00 6.3 mi E of Lawton ND, 48°17′27″N 098°13′52″W / 48.29083°N 98.23111°W / 48.29083; -98.23111 (F-00)
G-00 5.3 mi SW of Fordville ND, 48°09′14″N 097°52′06″W / 48.15389°N 97.86833°W / 48.15389; -97.86833 (G-00)
H-00 5.1 mi N of Michigan ND, 48°05′46″N 098°06′56″W / 48.09611°N 98.11556°W / 48.09611; -98.11556 (H-00)
I-00 6.6 mi ExNE of Tolna ND, 47°50′54″N 098°17′53″W / 47.84833°N 98.29806°W / 47.84833; -98.29806 (I-00)
J-00 6.0 mi SW of Brocket ND, 48°09′14″N 098°27′03″W / 48.15389°N 98.45083°W / 48.15389; -98.45083 (J-00)

In December 1971, the squadron began replacing its Minuteman II missiles with

LGM-30G Minuteman IIIs.[29] These missiles were equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and penetration aids.[30] The transition was completed in March 1972.[29]

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,

Air Force Space Command.[31]

The

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty required the United States to reduce the number of missiles in its inventory, and to meet this goal, the 321st Wing was selected for inactivation by the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.[32] The squadron transferred its Minuteman III missiles to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana to replace the 341st's Minuteman IIs.[33] It maintained nuclear alert until it was inactivated in July 1998.[29]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 447th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 26 June 1942
Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 6 March 1944
Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945
  • Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 22 June 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 25 November 1953
Activated on 15 December 1953
Discontinued, and inactivated on 25 October 1961
  • Redesignated 447th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated on 1 November 1963 (not organized)
Organized on 1 February 1965
Redesignated 447th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991[34]
Inactivated on 2 July 1998[citation needed]

Assignments

  • 321st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 12 September 1945
  • Eleventh Air Force,[f] 22 June 1947
  • 321st Bombardment Group, 29 June 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, 1 February 1965
  • 321st Operations Group, 1 September 1991
  • 321st Missile Group, 1 July 1994 – 2 July 1998[34]

Stations

Aircraft

  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942-1945
  • Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1953-1961
  • LGM-30 Minuteman, 1965-1998[34]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation
 8 October 1943 Athens, Greece; 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation 18 August 1944 Toulon, France; 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 1 July 1968–30 June 1969 447th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1985–30 June 1987 447th Strategic Missile Squadron[35]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 1996–30 September 1997[36] 447th Missile Squadron
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Tunisia 12 March 1943–13 May 1943 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater 12 March 1943–11 May 1945 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Sicily 14 May 1943–17 August 1943 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Naples-Foggia 18 August 1943–21 January 1944 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Rome-Arno 22 January 1944–9 September 1944 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Southern France 15 August 1944–14 September 1944 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
North Apennines 10 September 1944–4 April 1945 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Po Valley 3 April 1945–8 May 1945 447th Bombardment Squadron[1]

See also

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

47°57′40″N 097°24′04″W / 47.96111°N 97.40111°W / 47.96111; -97.40111 (Grand Forks AFB)

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Reinstated and modified 7 October 1994.
  2. ^ Approved 25 November 1966
  3. ^ Approved 7 May 1956. Description: On a medium sky blue shield, over a white cloud formation, a chimerical flying reptile red, his body entwined around a silver-gray bomb, with red marking.
  4. ^ Aircraft is North American B-25J-10-NC Mitchell. Note squadron marking III on tail. On 11 November 1944 the aircraft was part of an 18 aircraft formation which attacked three enemy troop convoys with fragmentation bombs in the Brenner Pass. The aircraft was hit by ground fire and about 60% of its right vertical tail was blown off. However, the Mitchell was able to return to its base on Corsica with only a single working rudder. Serial given as 43-27425, but this serial was assigned to a Northwestern built Waco CG-4A-NW. Baugher, Joe (1 September 2023). "1943 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. Olmsted Air Force Base
    , Pennsylvania and responsible for managing reserve and National Guard air force units in the Middle Atlantic during the 1940s.
Citations
  1. ^ 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 aa ab Staff historian (7 April 2008). "Factsheet 447 Missile Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  2. ^ Watkins, pp. 86-87
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 550-554
  4. ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp 201-202
  5. ^ a b c "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, 1 August 1942-31 January 1943" (PDF). p. 38. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  6. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 45. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  9. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  10. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  11. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  12. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  13. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, October 1943" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  14. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, August 1944" (PDF). pp. 156, 15, 164. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  15. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, July - September 1945" (PDF). p. 54. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  16. ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 552-53 (no operational aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949).
  17. ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  18. ^ Knaack, p. 25
  19. ^ Manning, p. 75
  20. ^ Manning, p. 95
  21. ^ a b c Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 172-173
  22. ^ Narducci, p. 2
  23. ^ Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
  24. ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 46
  25. ^ 321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks, p. 8
  26. ^ SAC Missile Chronology, pp. 49-50
  27. ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 50
  28. ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 51
  29. ^ a b c No byline. "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): 321st Missile Wing". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  30. ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 48
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Fields, Dave (2024). "Wing VI - GrandForks Air Force Base". Minuteman Missile, A Tribute To The ICBM Program. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  33. ^ Anonymous. "321st Missile Group". Association of Air Force Missileers. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d Lineage information, including assignments and stations, through 1995 in Factsheet, 447th Missile Squadron.
  35. ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 11 June 2024. (search)
  36. ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 13 June 2024. (search)

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=447th_Missile_Squadron&oldid=1228929680"