71st Tactical Missile Squadron
71st Tactical Missile Squadron | |
---|---|
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation | |
Insignia | |
patch with 71st Tactical Missile Squadron emblem[note 1][2] | ![]() |
71st Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[1] | ![]() |
The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive
The squadron was first activated as the 71st Bombardment Squadron in 1941 as the United States built up its military forces prior to
The squadron was again activated in France in 1953, when it replaced an
The squadron briefly trained pilots for the Air Force as the 71st Pilot Training Squadron in the 1970s, but returned to the
History
World War II
Initial organization and training
The
Shortly after the
Combat in the Pacific
The air echelon arrived at its first combat station,
The squadron moved to
In January 1945, the squadron moved to
The squadron moved to
Tactical bomber operations
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/B-57b-ma-52-1560-71lbs-laon-1957.jpg/220px-B-57b-ma-52-1560-71lbs-laon-1957.jpg)
The
In January 1955, the squadron's pilots began flying missions in jet
Starting in January 1956, the squadron, along with the other squadrons of the 38th Wing, began to rotate aircrews and aircraft to
At the start of 1958, the squadron began transferring its B-57s back to the United States. By 18 June, the squadron's operations at Laon had ceased.[11]
Matador and Mace missiles
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/71st_Tactical_Missile_Squadron_-_TM-76_Mace_Missile.png/220px-71st_Tactical_Missile_Squadron_-_TM-76_Mace_Missile.png)
The end of the B-57 bomber mission in Europe did not, however, result in the inactivation of the squadron. On 18 June, the 38th Wing moved to Germany, where it replaced the
The wing's missiles at Bitburg were located at two remote missile launch sites. The squadron operated Site VII "Chargirl", which was located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) NW of Bitburg, 49°59′05″N 006°28′50″E / 49.98472°N 6.48056°E, near .[14] It also operated Site VIII, which was located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) SSW of Bitburg, 49°53′21″N 006°33′30″E / 49.88917°N 6.55833°E, near.
In September 1962, the 38th Wing reorganized, eliminating its groups. As a result, the squadron was now assigned directly to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing. At the same time, the wing completed its upgrade from Matadors to the
In 1966, the A model of the Mace was retired and the missiles were shipped to
Pilot training
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Cessna_T-37B_87999_12_FTW_Rand_17.10.75_edited-3.jpg/220px-Cessna_T-37B_87999_12_FTW_Rand_17.10.75_edited-3.jpg)
The squadron was reactivated in August 1972 as the 71st Flying Training Squadron, when the 38th Wing replaced the 3640th Pilot Training Wing at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.[17] The squadron operated Cessna T-37 Tweets in the primary phase of Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT).[citation needed] However, with the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam, pilot training requirements of the Air Force were diminishing, and Laredo was scheduled to close. The squadron was inactivated along with the wing on 30 September 1973 as Laredo closed.[18]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Moody-t38a-1963.jpg/220px-Moody-t38a-1963.jpg)
However, the squadron's inactive period was short. It was again activated when the 38th Wing replaced the 3550th Pilot Training Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia on 1 December 1973.[17][19] At Moody, the squadron provided instruction in the basic phase of UPT with Northrop T-38 Talons.[citation needed] The Air Force's pilot requirements continued to drop, and the squadron ended operations in November 1975. The squadron was inactivated on 1 December 1975 along with the 38th Wing[18][19] when Moody became a tactical tighter base after the Vietnam War ended.[20]
Ground launched cruise missile operations
The squadron returned to its missile mission and 71st Tactical Missile Squadron designation as a
By the time the Gryphons were fully deployed in 1987, talks between the United States and the Soviet Union had begun that led to the signing of the
Lineage
- Constituted as the 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated 71st Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 1944
- Redesignated 71st Bombardment Squadron, Light on 6 May 1946
- Inactivated on 1 April 1949
- Activated on 1 January 1953
- Redesignated 71st Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 1 October 1955
- Redesignated 71st Tactical Missile Squadron on 18 June 1958[23]
- Inactivated on 30 April 1969[24]
- Redesignated 71st Flying Training Squadron on 22 March 1972
- Activated 1 December 1973[25]
- Inactivated 1 December 1975[25]
- Redesignated 71st Tactical Missile Squadron
- Activated on 1 August 1984
- Inactivated 30 April 1989
Assignments
- 38th Bombardment Group, 15 January 1941 – 1 April 1949
- 38th Bombardment Group, 1 January 1953
- 38th Bombardment Wing, 8 December 1957
- 585th Tactical Missile Group, 18 June 1958
- 38th Tactical Missile Wing, 25 September 1962[23] – 1 October 1965
- 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 October 1965 – 30 April 1969[16]
- 38th Flying Training Wing, 1 August 1972 – 30 September 1973[17]
- 38th Flying Training Wing, 1 December 1973 – 1 December 1975[17]
- 485th Tactical Missile Wing, 1 August 1984 to 30 April 1989
Stations
|
|
Aircraft and missiles
|
|
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
23 July 1942–23 January 1943 | Papua New Guinea 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 24–26 December 1943 | New Britain 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 16-17 June 1944 | New Guinea 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 10 November 1944 | Leyte 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
![]() |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
1 April 1956–1 March 1958 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] |
![]() |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1959–30 January 1961 | 71st Tactical Missile Squadron[2] |
![]() |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1964–30 Sep 1965 | 71st Tactical Missile Squadron[28] |
![]() |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1966–31 December 1967 | 71st Tactical Missile Squadron[28] |
![]() |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1966–31 December 1967 | 71st Tactical Missile Squadron[29] |
![]() |
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 30 January 1945–4 July 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Air Offensive, Japan | 17 April 1942 – 2 September 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
East Indies | 17 April 1942 – 22 July 1942 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
China Defensive | 4 July 1942 – 4 May 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Papua | 23 July 1942 – 23 January 1943 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
New Guinea | 24 January 1943 – 31 December 1944 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Northern Solomons | 23 February 1943 – 21 November 1944 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Bismarck Archipelago | 15 December 1943 – 27 November 1944 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Leyte | 17 October 1944 – 1 July 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Luzon | 15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Southern Philippines | 27 February 1945 – 4 July 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Western Pacific | 17 April 1945 – 2 September 1945 | 71st Bombardment Squadron[2] |
See also
- List of United States Air Force missile squadrons
- List of B-57 units of the United States Air Force
- List of A-26 Invader operators
- List of Martin B-26 Marauder operators
- United States Army Air Forces in Australia
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Approved 21 June 1956. The official version of this emblem places the helmet atop the shield, rather than in front of it and the motto on a scroll beneath the emblem disc. Description :On a white disc, edged red, over a winged escutcheon Air Force blue, outline and detail black, two lances in saltire, of the last [color] and red, tipped with red streamers; above the escutcheon a knight's helmet black, visor and ornamentation of the first, crested red.
- ^ Aircraft is Martin B-57B-MA, serial 52-1560, taken in 1957. This aircraft was also one of the "Black Knights" aerial acrobatic team.
- Citations
- ^ a b Watkins, pp. 78-79
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 261
- ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 93-95
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ McAuliffe, pp. 331-333
- ^ McAuliffe, p. 340
- ^ McAuliffe, pp. 340–342
- ^ McAuliffe, p. 342
- ^ McAuliffe, p. 344
- ^ McAuliffe, pp. 346–347
- ^ McAuliffe, pp. 347–348
- ^ See Fletcher, [page needed]
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 769–770
- ^ Mindling, George (2018). "Site I Mehlingen: 822nd Tactical Missile Squadron". U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ a b Mindling, George (2018). "Sembach Air Base, Germany: Headquarters 38th Tactical Missile Wing 18 June 1958-25 September 1966". U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp.63-65
- ^ a b c d Ravenstein, pp. 66-67
- ^ a b See Ravenstein, pp. 66-67. (inactivation of 38th Wing and end of squadron assignment).
- ^ a b c d See Muelller, p. 426. (dates at Moody).
- ^ Mueller, p. 425
- ^ Grier, p. 73
- ^ Grier, p. 74
- ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments and stations, through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 261.
- ^ See Ravenstein, pp. 63-65. (end of assignment to 36th Wing).
- ^ a b c d See Ravenstein, pp. 66-67 (assignment to 38t Wing).
- ^ Muelller, p. 426
- ^ Ravenstein, pp.63-65 (dates Mace operated by 36th Wing
- ^ a b AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 369
- ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 16 February 2023. (search)
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Grier, Peter (2002). "The Short, Happy Life of the Glick-Em" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- 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. 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.
- McAuliffe, Lt Col Jerome J. (2005). U.S. Air Force in France 1950-1967. San Diego, CA: Milspec Press. ISBN 978-0-9770371-1-7.
- Mindling, George; Bolton, Robert (2008). U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969: The Pioneers. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-557-00029-6.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- 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.
- Watkins, Robert A. (2013). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. V, Pacific Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-4346-9.