823rd Tactical Missile Squadron

823rd Tactical Missile Squadron
823rd Tactical Missile Squadron
	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
823rd Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 823rd Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive

Sembach Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 September 1966, as the A model of the MGM-13 Mace

was phased out of operation.

The

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat actions. After serving briefly with the occupation forces

in Japan, it was inactivated in September 1946.

The squadron was activated in 1962 as a tactical missile unit, when the 38th Tactical Missile Wing reorganized to have a separate squadron operating each of its missile sites near Sembach.

History

World War II

In the spring of 1943, the

70th Bombardment Squadrons were transferred to the group from the 38th Bombardment Group to bring it up to full strength.^[4]^[5]

To replace the lost squadrons, the

airfields, harbors and shipping in New Guinea.^[6]

The squadron moved from New Guinea to the

Lingayen Airfield on Luzon, from which it continued to support ground forces in the Philippines, but also mounted attacks on industrial targets in Taiwan and struck shipping along the coast of China. It temporarily moved to Palawan to attack enemy installations in preparation for the planned invasion of Borneo.^[6]

The following month, the 823rd moved to

Itazuke Airfield, Japan, where it served as part of the occupation forces until inactivating in September 1946, when the 38th Group was reduced to two squadrons in post war reductions in military forces.^[2]^[6]

European missile unit

In September 1962, the

822nd Tactical Missile Squadron, which was already at Sembach.^[7]

The squadron's missiles were located at Site 2 "Invent" at

Enkenbach 3.0 miles (4.8 km) SSE of Sembach at 49°28′0.62″N 007°53′53.38″E / 49.4668389°N 7.8981611°E.^[8] It remained as a tactical missile unit until 25 September 1966, when USAFE withdrew its missiles from Sembach and the 38th Wing and its squadrons at Sembach were inactivated,^[9]^[10] as the A model of the Mace was retired and the last missiles were shipped to Eglin Air Force Base. Florida to be used as targets.^[11]^[b]

Lineage

Constituted as the 823rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 29 March 1943

Activated on 20 April 1943

Redesignated 823rd Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 1944

Inactivated on 12 April 1946

Redesignated 823rd Tactical Missile Squadron and activated on 10 September 1962 (not organized)

Organized on 25 September 1962 [12]

Inactivated on 25 September 1966^[13]

Assignments

38th Bombardment Group, 20 April 1943 – 12 April 1946
United States Air Forces in Europe
, 10 September 1962 (not organized)
38th Tactical Missile Wing, 25 September 1962^[12] – 25 September 1966^[13]

Stations

Townsville Airport, Australia, 20 April 1943
Durand Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, c. 20 June 1943
Nadzab Airfield Complex
, New Guinea, 7 March 1944
Mokmer Airfield, Biak
, Netherlands East Indies, 26 August 1944

Pitoe Airfield, Morotai
, Netherlands East Indies, 15 October 1944

Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 1 February 1945

Motobu Airfield,^{[citation needed]} Okinawa, 24 July 1945
Itazuke Airfield, Japan, 21 November 1945 – 25 September 1946
Sembach Air Base, Germany, 25 September 1962^[14] – 25 September 1966^[13]

North American B-25 Mitchell, 1943–1946^[2]
Martin MGM-13A Mace, 1962–1966^[13]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ Missile is Martin TM-76B Mace, serial 58-1415.
^ One squadron of the 38th Wing, the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, operated the B model of the Mace with an inertial guidance system and longer range, and remained active.

Citations

^ ^a ^b Watkins, p. 78
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 120–121, 496–497
^ Haulman, Daniel L. (23 June 2018). "Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 256–259
^ ^a ^b ^c Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 93–95
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 769–770
^ Mindling, George (2018). "Site II Enkenbach: 823rd Tactical Missile Squadron". U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
^ Ravenstein, pp. 66–67
^ Fletcher, pp. 160–161
^ 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 Lineage information, including assignments, through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d See Fletcher, pp. 160–161 (dates at Sembach)
^ Station information through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770, except as noted. Maurer does not incoude specific airdromes in New Guinea. But see Watkins, pp. 78-79.

Bibliography

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.

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
.

Mindling, George; Bolton, Robert (2008). U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969: The Pioneers. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press, Inc.
LCCN 2008908364
.

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.

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
.

[1] Missile is Martin TM-76B Mace, serial 58-1415.

[13] One squadron of the 38th Wing, the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, operated the B model of the Mace with an inertial guidance system and longer range, and remained active.

[Watkins-2] Watkins, p. 78

[Maurer823BS-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770

[4] Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 120–121, 496–497

[5] Haulman, Daniel L. (23 June 2018). "Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.

[6] Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 256–259

[Maurer38BG-7] Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 93–95

[Maurer822BS-8] Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 769–770

[9] Mindling, George (2018). "Site II Enkenbach: 823rd Tactical Missile Squadron". U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles. Retrieved 9 August 2020.

[10] Ravenstein, pp. 66–67

[11] Fletcher, pp. 160–161

[Sembach-12] 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.

[Maurer823BS2-14] Lineage information, including assignments, through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770

[Fletcher-15] See Fletcher, pp. 160–161 (dates at Sembach)

[16] Station information through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 770, except as noted. Maurer does not incoude specific airdromes in New Guinea. But see Watkins, pp. 78-79.

[2]

[1]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[b]

[13]

[12]

[14]