707th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 707th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Lubbock Air Force Base, Texas
. It was inactivated on 28 March 1950.
for training. Trained in Arizona and Colorado for overseas duty. Deployed to European Theater of Operations
(ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command
in England
in November 1943
Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
, attacking transportation, industrial, Oil Industry and other targets as directed. Also engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy forces in France
in support of the Operation Overlord
landings in Normandy
, and the subsequent breakout at St-Lo in July 1944. Attacked enemy formations and armor during the Battle of the Bulge
, January 1945. Continued bombardment of strategic targets until the German Capitulation in May.
Largely demobilized in England during June 1945; small cadre of personnel reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota
in July to begin transition training on B-29 Superfortress
es. Training canceled after Japanese Capitulation and general demobilization of the AAF led to the squadron's inactivation in August.
Reactivated as an Air Force Reserve squadron in April 1948, scheduled to be equipped with B-29 Superfortress aircraft at Lubbock AFB, Texas, but never fully manned or equipped. Inactivated in 1950 due to budget reductions.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Lubbock Air Force Base, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was inactivated on 28 March 1950.
History
Established in early 1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron, assigned to II Bomber CommandII Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
for training. Trained in Arizona and Colorado for overseas duty. Deployed to European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
(ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in November 1943
Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, attacking transportation, industrial, Oil Industry and other targets as directed. Also engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy forces in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in support of the Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
landings in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and the subsequent breakout at St-Lo in July 1944. Attacked enemy formations and armor during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, January 1945. Continued bombardment of strategic targets until the German Capitulation in May.
Largely demobilized in England during June 1945; small cadre of personnel reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
in July to begin transition training on B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
es. Training canceled after Japanese Capitulation and general demobilization of the AAF led to the squadron's inactivation in August.
Reactivated as an Air Force Reserve squadron in April 1948, scheduled to be equipped with B-29 Superfortress aircraft at Lubbock AFB, Texas, but never fully manned or equipped. Inactivated in 1950 due to budget reductions.
Lineage
- Constituted 707th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943
- Activated on 1 Apr 1943
- Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
- Redesignated 707th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 7 Apr 1948
- Activated in the reserve on 22 Apr 1948
- Inactivated on 28 Mar 1950
Assignments
- 446th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1943-28 Aug 1945; 22 Apr 1948
- Twelfth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949-28 Mar 1950
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 1 Apr 1943 - Lowry Field, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 8 Jun-c. 24 Oct 1943 - RAF Flixton (AAF-125), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 4 Nov 1943-5 Jul 1945 - Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 15 Jul-28 Aug 1945 - Lubbock AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 22 Apr 1948-28 Mar 1950