864th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 864th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the 494th Bombardment Wing, based at Sheppard AFB, Texas
. It was inactivated on 2 April 1966.
heavy bomb squadron under II Bomber Command
at Wendover Field, Utah
; later moving to Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho
to complete its final phase of training. At Mountain Home, the squadron received new very long range B-24J aircraft in early May.
Deployed to Hawaii Territory and assigned to VII Bomber Command
. Remained in Hawaii with aircraft undergoing modifications while training for long range flights over the Pacific Ocean. Deployed to Angaur
in the Palau Islands in October, flying very long range combat missions against Japanese airfields on Yap
and Koror
. Conducted strikes on other bypassed enemy installations in the Pacific and against the Japanese in the Philippines
. Late in 1944 hit gun emplacements, personnel areas, ant storage depots on Corregidor
and Caballo at the entrance to Manila Bay
; bombed radio installations and power plants at Japanese bases in the Philippines; and attacked enemy-held airfields, including Clark Field on Luzon. Early in 1945 struck airfields on Mindanao
and ammunition and supply dumps in the Davao Gulf and Illana Bay areas.
Moved to Okinawa in June 1945. Engaged primarily in attacks against enemy airfields on Kyūshū
until V-J Day. Also participated in incendiary raids, dropped propaganda leaflets over urban areas of Kyūshū and struck airfields in China
, in southern Korea
, and around the Inland Sea of Japan.
After the war's end in September, the unit remained on Okinawa as older units began to demobilize. The squadron was engaged in transporting personnel and supplies in the Southwest Pacific, and moving necessary occupation support elements from Manila
to Tokyo
. Began to demobilize in November and December, with personnel returning to the United States; inactivated as a paper unit in the United States on January 4, 1946.
Reactivated by Strategic Air Command in 1958 as Missile Training squadron at Redstone Arsenal
, Alabama. Provided training for Italian Air Force
personnel in the operation and launching of the PGM-19 Jupiter Intermediate-Range Missie. Inactivated 1 June 1960.
Reactivated under Strategic Air Command
in 1963, being a redesignation of the provisional 717th Bombardment Squadron
, consisting of 15 B-52D Stratofortresses at Sheppard AFB, Texas
. Performed intercontinental training and deployments, also standing nuclear alert. By 1966, Intercontinental ballistic missile
s (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina
. The squadron was inactivated on 1 April 1966 and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units.
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. Its last assignment was with the 494th Bombardment Wing, based at Sheppard AFB, 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 2 April 1966.
History
Established in late 1943 as a B-24 LiberatorB-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bomb squadron under II Bomber Command
II 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....
at Wendover Field, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
; later moving to Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
to complete its final phase of training. At Mountain Home, the squadron received new very long range B-24J aircraft in early May.
Deployed to Hawaii Territory and assigned to VII Bomber Command
VII Bomber Command
The VII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Seventh Air Force, based on Okinawa. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946.-Lineage:...
. Remained in Hawaii with aircraft undergoing modifications while training for long range flights over the Pacific Ocean. Deployed to Angaur
Angaur
Angaur or Ngeaur is an island in the island nation of Palau. The island, which forms its own state, has an area of 8 km² . Its population is 188 . State capital is the village of Ngeremasch on the western side...
in the Palau Islands in October, flying very long range combat missions against Japanese airfields on Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
and Koror
Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. Conducted strikes on other bypassed enemy installations in the Pacific and against the Japanese in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Late in 1944 hit gun emplacements, personnel areas, ant storage depots on Corregidor
Corregidor
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
and Caballo at the entrance to Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
; bombed radio installations and power plants at Japanese bases in the Philippines; and attacked enemy-held airfields, including Clark Field on Luzon. Early in 1945 struck airfields on Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and ammunition and supply dumps in the Davao Gulf and Illana Bay areas.
Moved to Okinawa in June 1945. Engaged primarily in attacks against enemy airfields on Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
until V-J Day. Also participated in incendiary raids, dropped propaganda leaflets over urban areas of Kyūshū and struck airfields in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in southern Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and around the Inland Sea of Japan.
After the war's end in September, the unit remained on Okinawa as older units began to demobilize. The squadron was engaged in transporting personnel and supplies in the Southwest Pacific, and moving necessary occupation support elements from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Began to demobilize in November and December, with personnel returning to the United States; inactivated as a paper unit in the United States on January 4, 1946.
Reactivated by Strategic Air Command in 1958 as Missile Training squadron at Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, Alabama. Provided training for Italian Air Force
Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force has gone under different names in different periods:*Regia Aeronautica , from 1923 to June 1946*Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II...
personnel in the operation and launching of the PGM-19 Jupiter Intermediate-Range Missie. Inactivated 1 June 1960.
Reactivated under Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
in 1963, being a redesignation of the provisional 717th Bombardment Squadron
717th Bombardment Squadron
The 717th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 4245th Strategic Wing, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 February 1963.-History:...
, consisting of 15 B-52D Stratofortresses at Sheppard AFB, 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...
. Performed intercontinental training and deployments, also standing nuclear alert. By 1966, Intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. The squadron was inactivated on 1 April 1966 and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units.
Lineage
- Constituted 864th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
- Activated on 1 December 1943
- Inactivated on 6 January 1946
- Redesignated as: 864th Strategic Missile Squadron (IRBM-Jupiter) on 7 January 1958
- Activated on 15 January 1958
- Redesignated as: 864th Technical Training Squadron on 15 April 1959
- Discontinued on 1 June 1960
- Redesignated as: 864th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 November 1962
- Organized on 1 February 1963; receiving personnel/aircraft/equipment from 717th Bombardment Squadron717th Bombardment SquadronThe 717th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 4245th Strategic Wing, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 February 1963.-History:...
(Inactivated) - Inactivated on 2 April 1966.
Assignments
- 494th Bombardment Group494th Bombardment GroupThe 494th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 19th Air Division, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 2 April 1966...
, 1 December 1943 – 4 January 1946 - 1st Missile Division1st Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 1st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California...
, 15 January 1958 - 704th Strategic Missile Wing704th Strategic Missile WingThe 404th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. It is attached to Seventeenth Air Force [Air Forces Africa], stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 23 February 1958
- Attached to 1st Missile Division1st Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 1st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California...
, 1 November 1958- 1st Missile Division1st Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 1st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California...
, 1 July 1959 - Department of the Air ForceDepartment of the Air ForceThe Department of the Air Force is one of the three Military Departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America...
, 1 June 1960 - Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 15 November 1962 - 494th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1963 – 2 April 1966
- 1st Missile Division
Stations
- Wendover Field, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 1 December 1943 – 15 April 1944 - Mountain Home Army Air Field, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 14 April 1944 – 15 June 1944 - Barking Sands Army Airfield, Hawaii Territory, 15 June 1944 – 30 September 1944
- Angaur AirstripAngaur AirstripAngaur Airstrip is a small airstrip on Angaur, one of the islands of Palau. It also served as an airfield during World War II.-History:The day the island was declared secured on September 20, 1944, construction of the airstrip began. American forces built a 7000' x 150' coral strip later surfaced...
, AngaurAngaurAngaur or Ngeaur is an island in the island nation of Palau. The island, which forms its own state, has an area of 8 km² . Its population is 188 . State capital is the village of Ngeremasch on the western side...
, Palau Islands, 30 September 1944 – 24 June 1945 - Yontan AirfieldYontan AirfieldYontan Airfield is a former military airfield on Okinawa, located near the village of Sobe on the Okinawa western coast. It was closed and turned over to the Japanese government in 1972...
, Okinawa, 24 June 1945 – 13 December 1945 - Redstone ArsenalRedstone ArsenalRedstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
. Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, 15 January 1958 – 1 June 1960 - Sheppard 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...
, 1 February 1963 – 1 April 1966
See also
- List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
- List of United States Air Force missile squadrons