579th Strategic Missile Squadron
579th Strategic Missile Squadron | |
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Distinguished Unit Citation | |
Insignia | |
579th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem[b][1] | ![]() |
World War II fuselage code[2] | GC |
The 579th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive
The unit was first established in January 1943 as the 579th Bombardment Squadron. After training with
On 1 July 1961, the squadron went on
History
World War II
Organization and training
The squadron was first activated at
Combat in the European Theater
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/579th_Bombardment_Squadron_-_B-24_Liberator.jpg/220px-579th_Bombardment_Squadron_-_B-24_Liberator.jpg)
The ground echelon arrived in the United Kingdom on 30 July and arrived at
The squadron participated in the heavy attacks against the German aircraft manufacturing industry during
The squadron was sometimes diverted from its strategic mission to perform
Return to the United States and inactivation
The squadron flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945.
Reserve operations
The squadron was reactivated at
Intercontinental ballistic missile squadron
The squadron was redesignated the 579th Strategic Missile Squadron and organized in September 1961 at
- Missile sites
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/579th_Strategic_Missile_Squadron_-_SM-65F_Atlas_Missile_Sites.png/220px-579th_Strategic_Missile_Squadron_-_SM-65F_Atlas_Missile_Sites.png)
- 579–1 (1962–1963), 0.8 mi NW of Acme, New Mexico 33°35′52″N 104°20′27″W / 33.59778°N 104.34083°W
- 579–2 (1962–1964), 8.1 mi ENE of Acme, New Mexico 33°38′27″N 104°12′10″W / 33.64083°N 104.20278°W
- 579–3, 16.1 mi ENE of Acme, New Mexico 33°41′17″N 104°04′29″W / 33.68806°N 104.07472°W
- 579–4, 12.7 mi ENE of Rio Hondo, New Mexico 33°25′31″N 104°11′17″W / 33.42528°N 104.18806°W
- 579–5 (1962–1964), 20.0 mi SE of Acme, New Mexico 33°25′24″N 104°02′54″W / 33.42333°N 104.04833°W
- 579–6, 12.4 mi ESE of Hagerman, New Mexico 33°04′24″N 104°07′12″W / 33.07333°N 104.12000°W
- 579–7, 4.2 mi E of Hagerman, New Mexico 33°06′16″N 104°15′29″W / 33.10444°N 104.25806°W
- 579–8, 7.3 mi S of Hagerman, New Mexico 33°00′15″N 104°20′22″W / 33.00417°N 104.33944°W
- 579–9, 2.5 mi ENE of Sunset, New Mexico 33°21′17″N 105°02′07″W / 33.35472°N 105.03528°W
- 579–10, 11.2 mi E of Sunset, New Mexico 33°22′21″N 104°52′59″W / 33.37250°N 104.88306°W
- 579–11, 6.2 mi W of Arroyo del Macho, New Mexico 33°35′58″N 104°34′33″W / 33.59944°N 104.57583°W
- 579–12, 16.7 mi NW of Acme, New Mexico 33°43′47″N 104°34′05″W / 33.72972°N 104.56806°W
On 20 October 1962, after the
SAC also invoked the SAC/Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) Agreement for Emergency Combat Capability, which called for AFSC to turn over missiles still under AFSC control to SAC to place them on alert. As a result six additional missiles were turned over to the squadron to be placed on alert.[17] On 5 November, four of these sites were returned to AFSC, and the others, two days later.[18] On 15 November, SAC directed that the squadron would be permitted to remove one of its missiles from alert to perform operational training and "shakedown" testing.[16] From 3 November the number of alert missiles was reduced until on 29 November the number was the same as before the crisis.[19]
The squadron lost three missiles due to accidents. On 1 June 1963, during a propellant loading exercise, an explosion occurred at Site 579-1, destroying the silo.[20] The blast blew the silo blast doors more than 50 yards from the silo, according to contemporary news accounts. According to an Air Force spokesman, Site 1 was used for training only.[21] On 13 February 1964, during a propellant loading exercise, an explosion occurred at Site 579-5, destroying the silo. An almost identical accident occurred on 9 March at Site 579-2[22]
On 19 November 1964, Secretary of Defense
Lineage
- Constituted as the 579th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 January 1943
- Activated on 26 January 1943
- Redesignated 579th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 13 September 1945
- Redesignated 579th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 9 September 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 26 September 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 579th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas) and activated on 25 January 1961 (not organized)
Assignments
- 392nd Bombardment Group, 26 January 1943 – 13 September 1945
- 392nd Bombardment Group, 26 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
- Strategic Air Command, 25 January 1961 (not organized)
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 26 January 1943
- Biggs Field, Texas, 1 March 1943
- Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 18 April – 18 July 1943
- RAF Wendling (AAF-118),[26] England, 1 August 1943 – c. 7 June 1945
- Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina, 25 June – 13 September 1945
- Selman Field, Louisiana, 26 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
- Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1 September 1961 – 25 March 1965[27][28]
Aircraft and missiles
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
24 February 1944 | 579th Bombardment Squadron Gotha, Germany[1] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
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Air Offensive, Europe | 31 July 1943 – 5 June 1944 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 31 July 1943 – 11 May 1945 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
![]() |
Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 579th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
See also
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Missile is Convair SM-65F Atlas No. 102 at Site 579-11 on 14 October 1962.
- ; the missile charged with a sword palewise pointing upward, the blade Air Force golden yellow shaded golden brown, the pommel red shaded Air Force blue, and the hilt Air Force blue.
- ^ Aircraft is Ford built Consolidated B-24H-1-FO Liberator, serial 42-7479, War Horse. This aircraft was lost on a 4 January 1944 mission to Kiel, Germany over the North Sea and the entire crew was killed in action. Baugher, Joe (3 April 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 29 April 2023., Missing Air Crew Report 1909.
- ^ In February 1963, Strategic Air Command bombardment wings that operated both bombers and missiles were redesignated strategic aerospace wings.
- ^ Degraded sorties included missiles withdrawn from alert for modifications and those being used for operational readiness training. Kipp, et al., p. 62.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 671
- ^ Watkins, p. 82
- ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 279-280
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons. pp. 670-671
- ^ a b c Freeman, p. 256
- ^ Freeman, pp. 90-91
- ^ Freeman, pp. 110-111
- ^ Freeman, p. 230
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 671 (no aircraft listed as assigned during this period).
- ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 17
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 24
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 31
- ^ Kipp, et al., pp. 62-63
- ^ a b Kipp, et al., p. 70
- ^ Kipp, et al., pp. 64-65
- ^ Kipp, et al., p.69
- ^ Kipp, et al., p. 66
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 40
- ^ Staff writer, no byline. "Atlas Missile Sit Blaze Brought Under Control". SiloWorld.net. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ SAC Missile Chronology, p. 43
- ^ a b c SAC Missile Chronology, p. 47
- ^ a b c Lineage information through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 671.
- ^ Ravenstein, p. 16
- ^ Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
- ^ Station information through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 671, except as noted.
- ^ See SAC Missile Chronology, p. 47 (inactivation)
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20070914081528/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4581
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- SAC Missile Chronology 1939-1988 (PDF). Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. 1990. ISBN 978-1521159439. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force In World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-1987-6.