93rd Bomb Squadron

93rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress[note 1]
Active	1917–1919; 1935–1936; 1939–1944; 1944–1963; 1993–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Bombardment
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
Nickname(s)	Indian Outlaws
Engagements	World War I World War II – Asia-Pacific Theater Korean War[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (9x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2x) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
93rd Bomb Squadron emblem[1]
93rd Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 24 April 1942)[2]
93rd Aero Squadron fuselage marking (approved by AEF 18 November 1918)[3]
Tail Code	BD

The 93rd Bomb Squadron, sometimes written as 93d Bomb Squadron, is a

It is one of two reserve bomber squadrons in the United States Air Force.^[1] The 93rd is one of the oldest and most decorated units in the United States Air Force.

History

World War I

Established as the 93d Aero Squadron in the Air Service during the summer of 1917 in Texas during

The squadron deployed to the Philippines as the 93rd Bombardment Squadron in 1941, engaging in combat during the

On 8 December 1941 nearly half of the 19th Group's bombers were destroyed on the ground during an air raid at Clark. The survivors at Del Monte engaged in combat from secondary airfields against the invading Japanese forces until the situation in the Philippines became untenable and they were withdrawn to Australia. The survivors of the ground echelon fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia and some presumably fought on as unorganized guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation.

In Australia, the escaped airmen and aircraft of the squadron reformed into a combat unit; engaging in combat during the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea Campaigns flying heavy bomber combat missions from Australia.

In late 1942, the B-17C/D and a few F models in Australia were replaced by long-range Consolidated B-24 Liberators, and the unit was returned to the United States and became an operational training unit with Second Air Force for replacement B-17 personnel.

Harl Pease Medal of Honor

On 7 August 1942, Captain Harl Pease led an all-volunteer crew from the 93d in a B-17 with a makeshift, hand-pumped fuel system on a mission over Rabaul, New Britain. While the crew was successful in bombing their target, Pease and his crew were shot down, captured and beheaded by Japanese forces. Pease posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his bravery, and Pease Air Force Base (now Pease Air National Guard Base) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire was named in his honor in 1957.

B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan

It was redesignated on 1 April 1944 as a

Its groups flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Caroline Islands and Marianas. The squadron began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo. The squadron continued to participate in wide area firebombing attack, but the first ten-day blitz resulting in the Army Air Forces running out of incendiary bombs. Until then the squadron flew conventional strategic bombing missions using high explosive bombs.

The squadron continued attacking urban areas until the end of the war in August 1945, its subordinate units conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and other targets in Japan. The squadron flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended. Afterwards, its B-29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria.

it remained on Guam after the war conducted sea-search, photographic mapping, and training missions in the western Pacific.

Korean War

Deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in June 1950 as a result of the Korean War. Flew strategic bombing missions over North Korea; targets included an oil refinery and port facilities at Wonsan, a railroad bridge at Pyongyang, and Yonpo Airfield. After United Nations ground forces pushed the communists out of South Korea, the squadron turned to strategic objectives in North Korea, including industrial and hydroelectric facilities. It also continued to attack bridges, marshalling yards, supply centers, artillery and troop positions, barracks, port facilities, and airfields.

During the Cold War it carried out B-29 bombardment missions over North Korea during the Korean War, later being a Boeing B-47 Stratojet and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress squadron as part of Strategic Air Command.^[2]

Continued bombardment operations until the June 1953 armistice in Korea; returned to the United States in May 1954; the squadrons B-29s being sent to reclamation.

Strategic Air Command

Re-equipped with

Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1993, conducting bombardment training. It won the B-52 category of the 1995 Gunsmoke competition and participated in training exercises through the 1990s.

In September 2001 deployed in support of

On 3 March 2017, Lt. Col. Steven R. Smith became the first WSO to reach 10,000 hours on the B-52. As an flight instructor with the 93rd Bomb Squadron, Lt. Col.Smith had 496 combat hours and over 30 Years on B-52.^[6]

B-52 Formal Training Unit

In March 2009 the unit assigned the responsibility of being Air Force's Formal Training Unit and will train and prepare Air Combat Command and AFRC B-52 aircrews for worldwide missions. The squadron's aircraft complement grew from eight to 16, with the new assets transferring over from Barksdale's active duty 2nd Bomb Wing. The 2nd BW's 11th BS, the current B-52 FTU, became an active associate to the 93rd BS. The squadron will provide aircraft and produce sorties for the 340th Weapons School and the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, a B-52 test organization, at Barksdale AFB.^[4]

Although the 93rd BS will no longer be an operational squadron once the FTU stands up, a small classic association comprised four crews will maintain combat proficiency with the 2nd BW.^[4]

Lineage

93d Aero Squadron

• Organized as the 93d Aero Squadron on 21 August 1917

Redesignated 93d Aero Squadron (Pursuit) on 26 July 1918^[5]

Demobilized on 31 March 1919

Reconstituted and consolidated with the 93d Bombardment Squadron as the 93d Bombardment Squadron on 14 October 1936^[7]

93d Bomb Squadron

• Constituted as the 93d Attack Squadron on 8 May 1929^[8]

Redesignated 93d Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1935^{[note 3]}

Organized as a Regular Army Inactive unit on 23 August 1935^{[8][note 4]}

Consolidated with the 93d Aero Squadron on 14 October 1936

Inactivated on 31 October 1936^[8]

• Activated on 20 October 1939

Redesignated 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 December 1939

Redesignated 93d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 March 1944

Inactivated on 1 April 1944

• Activated on 1 April 1944

Redesignated 93d Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 10 August 1948

Redesignated 93d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 July 1961

Discontinued and inactivated on 1 April 1963

• Redesignated 93d Bomb Squadron and activated in the reserve on 1 October 1993^[7]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft operated

See also

• Leslie Rummell
• Chester Wright^[9]
• Charles R. d'Olive^[10]
• List of American Aero Squadrons
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

Explanatory notes