Jump to content

446th 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)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 446th Bombardment Squadron)

446th Missile Squadron
LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenberg AFB, California
Active1942-1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1961; 1965-1998
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSquadron
RoleIntercontinental ballistic missile
Motto(s)Semper Summatum (Latin for 'Always the Highest')[1]
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
446th Missile Squadron emblem[2][a]
446th Bombardment Squadron emblem (SAC)[b][1]
446th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[3][c]

The 446th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 321st Missile Group, stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 446th was equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War, the 446th was inactivated on 30 September 1998.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 446th Bombardment Squadron, a medium bomber unit. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it engaged in combat until April 1945. It was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations for its actions over Athens, Greece in 1944 and Toulon, France in 1944. Following V-E Day, it remained in Italy, until it was inactivated in September 1945.

The squadron was briefly activated in the [[military reserve force}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 Jul 1965 as the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron.

History[edit]

World War II[edit]

Initial organization and training[edit]

The squadron was first organized as a medium bomber unit at Barksdale Field, Louisiana in late June 1942. It was one of the original four squadrons of the 321st Bombardment Group, which were equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells.[2][4][5] 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[6]

After five months of training, the ground echelon of the squadron departed for the Port of Embarkation at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 21 January 1943.[2][6] It boarded the USS Elizabeth C. Stanton on 7 February.[7] The air echelon of the squadron remained at DeRidder Army Air Base until 12 February, when it flew to Morrison Field, Florida for staging via the South Atlantic ferry route.[6] It departed Morrison for overseas on 15 February 1943.[8]

Combat in the Mediterranean Theater[edit]

B-25J of the 446th Bombardment Squadron taking off from Pomigliano

The ground echelon landed at Oran, Algeria on 21 February 1943.[9] The air echelon arrived in Algeria at Oujda Airfield on 2 March 43.[10] On 9 March most of the ground and air echelon was united at Oujda.[11] The squadron arrived at its first combat station, Ain M'lila Airfield, Algeria, in March 1943, with the air echelon established there on 12 March.[12] The squadron flew its first combat mission, an attack on a landing ground near Mezzouna Tunisia on 15 March.[13] It initially engaged primarily in air support and interdiction missions, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, 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.[5]

Until May 1943, it participated in Allied operations against the Axis in Algeria and Tunisia. In June, it moved forward to bases in Tunisia, from which it participated in Operation Corkscrew, the projected invasion of and reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. The following month, it supported Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily and in September, Operation Avalanche the invasion of mainland Italy near Salerno. On 8 October 1943, the squadron completed a raid on Eleusis Airfield near Athens, despite intense flak and attacks by numerous enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 interceptor aircraft. For this action it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[5][14]

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.[5] 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.[15]

After September 1944, it supported Allied operations in northern Italy, including Operation Strangle, the effort to choke off supplies for Axis military in Italy through air interdiction and Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. It remained in Italy after V-E Day, reducing in size as individuals returned to the United States, being reduced to a mere cadre by August 1945[16] and was inactivated at Pomigliano Airfield on 12 September 1945.[2][5]

Reserve operations[edit]

The squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) on 30 March 1947 at Johnstown Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania. It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft during this period. [17] In July 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[18] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[19] and the 445th was inactivated[20] and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Johnstown Municipal Airport ceased.

Strategic Air Command[edit]

The squadron was reactivated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 Stratojet squadron. It trained in aerial refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. The squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational as part of that aircraft's phaseout in 1961.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron[edit]

On 1 November 1963 the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron was organized as a SAC LGM-30F Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile wing. Activated on 1 Jul 1965, it was made operational on 7 December 1966, with a complement of 50 missiles. It participated in "Project Long Life II," a unique reliability test in which modified Minuteman missiles were fueled to travel a few hundred yards. The first launch from a silo occurred on 19 October 1966 and was declared unsuccessful. Nine days later, a second attempt also failed. A third attempt under "Project Giant Boost" occurred in August 1968 and again proved unsuccessful.

From December 1971 to March 1973, the squadron converted to the LGM-30G Minuteman III. These missiles represented a significant technological advancement, having multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Coordinating the missile changeover required complex planning and execution.

With the restructuring of the Air Force and the disestablishment of Strategic Air Command in the early 1990s, it was reassigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) in 1992 and then came under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) in 1993.

In March 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission selected the 321st Strategic Missile Wing for inactivation. The squadron was ordered to securely transfer its alert responsibilities to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. It maintained nuclear alert until inactivated in 1998, nearly 40 years after it first went on alert.

Lineage[edit]

  • Constituted as the 446th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 26 June 1942
  • Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 6 March 1944
Inactivated on 12 September 1945
  • Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 5 March 1947
Activated in the reserve on 30 March 1947
Inactivated on 22 June 1949
  • Redesignated 446th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 25 November 1953
Activated on 15 December 1953
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 October 1961
  • Redesignated 446th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 November 1963 and activated (not organized)
Organized on 1 July 1965
Redesignated 446th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991[21]
Inactivated on 30 September 1998

Assignments[edit]

  • 321st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 12 September 1945
  • Eleventh Air Force,[d]30 March 1947
  • 321st Bombardment Group, 30 September 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 (later 321st Missile Wing), 1 July 1965
  • 321st Missile Group, 1 July 1994[21] – 30 September 1998

Stations[edit]

Aircraft and missiles[edit]

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Alert and Launch Facilities

446th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Missile Alert Facilities (A-E flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
A-00 6.7 mi SE of Wales ND, 48°49′17″N 098°30′48″W / 48.82139°N 98.51333°W / 48.82139; -98.51333 (A-00)
B-00 6.8 mi NxNW of Osnabrock ND, 48°45′49″N 098°11′36″W / 48.76361°N 98.19333°W / 48.76361; -98.19333 (B-00)
C-00 5.7 mi NW of Edinburg ND, 48°32′43″N 097°57′50″W / 48.54528°N 97.96389°W / 48.54528; -97.96389 (C-00)
D-00 1.7 mi SxSW of Nekoma ND, 48°33′14″N 098°22′50″W / 48.55389°N 98.38056°W / 48.55389; -98.38056 (D-00)
E-00 4.3 mi SxSW of Hampden ND, 48°29′01″N 098°41′46″W / 48.48361°N 98.69611°W / 48.48361; -98.69611 (E-00)

See also[edit]

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[edit]

Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ The 1956 emblem was placed on a disc to comply with USAF standards for squadron emblems. The horizontal dividing line was lowered as well. USAF Fact Sheet.
  2. ^ Approved 4 May 1956. Description: A shield quartered: The per fess division line enhanced; first and fourth quarters azure; second and third quarters argent; superimposed over all a sphere, land areas green, water areas light blue; encircling the sphere a modernistic wing with speed lines of the first and second colors; above the demisphere [sic] a tiger, in his proper colors, resting his paws on the top of the sphere.
  3. ^ Apparently, this emblem never received official approval, although it was used by the squadron. Watkins, p. 86.
  4. ^ This headquarters is not related to Eleventh Air Force, but was briefly active at 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 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 551-552
  2. ^ a b c d Staff historian. "U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet 446 Missile Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  3. ^ Watkins, pp. 86-87
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 550-554
  5. ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp 201-202
  6. ^ a b c "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, 1 August 1942-31 January 1943" (PDF). p. 38. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  9. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 45. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  10. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  11. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  12. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  13. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, October 1943" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  15. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, August 1944" (PDF). pp. 156, 15, 164. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  16. ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, July - September 1945" (PDF). p. 54. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  17. ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 551-52 (no operational aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949).
  18. ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. ^ Knaack, p. 25
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference 445AESfacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments, stations and missiles through July 1994 in USAF Fact Sheet.

Bibliography[edit]

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

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=446th_Missile_Squadron&oldid=1227995095"