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===Operations===
===Operations===
The 25th flew combat missions during [[World War I]] as a pursuit unit with the [[Second United States Army|Second Army]] from 10-11 November 1918. It was demobilized after the 1918 armistice.
The 25th flew combat missions as a pursuit unit with the [[Second United States Army|Second Army]] from 10-11 November 1918. It participated with the Good-will flights to [[El Salvador]] and [[Nicaragua]], 13-19 May 1935, to [[Guatemala]], 8-11 Feb 1938, and to El Salvador, 19-22 Apr 1938. THe squadron aldo flew mercy mission to [[Chile]] following the devastating [[1939 Chillán earthquake]], 28 Jan-13 Feb 1939. During World War II the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols from, Dec 1941—May 1943 then went on to participate in combat operations in the [[China Burma India Theater of World War II|China-Burma-India Theater]] from, 5 June 1944-29 March 1945, and [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Western Pacific]] from, 5 May-14 August 1945.

The squadron was reactivated in April 1922 at [[France Field]] the [[Panama Canal Zone]], as part of the [[6th Air Mobility Wing|6th Composite Group]], flying various biplane bombers to defend the [[Panama Canal]]. During the 1920s and early 1930s, It participated in various goodwill missions in [[Latin America]], including the Goodwill flights to [[El Salvador]] and [[Nicaragua]], 13-19 May 1935, to [[Guatemala]], 8-11 Feb 1938, and to El Salvador, 19-22 Apr 1938. The squadron aldo flew mercy mission to [[Chile]] following the devastating [[1939 Chillán earthquake]], 28 Jan-13 Feb 1939.

The 25th Bombardment Squadron eventually became the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939 and then, on 20 November 1940, the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). Equipped with the Douglas [[B-18 Bolo]] the squadron had opportunity to put its new, long-legged aircraft to the test in October 1939, when two Peruvian flyers, enroute from the United States to [[Lima, Peru]] on a long-distance flight, were reported missing between the Canal Zone and Peru. Although eventually found to have made an emergency forced landing in [[Ecuador]], three B-18's of the squadron conducted extensive searches of the area along the 80th meridian some 250 miles to sea. The aircraft carried enough fuel for a flight of 11 hours duration, a capability which would place them in good stead in the Command in the years to come.

By 25 August 1941, with its pre-war strength at but five B-18's, the Squadron was reequipped with [[B-17|B-17E Flying Fortresses]]. After the United States entered World War II, the Squadron had deployed to [[Salinas, Ecuador]] and the [[Galapagos Islands]] (shuttling patrols hack and forth) with four of the B-17E's, flying antisubmarine patrols over the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. These aircraft being joined by a B-18 by February. The main body of the Squadron left Salinas by 15 February and returned to [[Howard Field]] in early 1943, although a detachment was still in Ecuador as late as 30 June.

Assignment to the 6th Bomb Group ended on 12 May 1943. With the diminished need for a Caribbean defense, the squadron was transferred to the [[40th Bombardment Group]] and, the following month, the main body of the squadron ended its 21 years of service in the Canal Zone, when it was reassigned back to the United States. The squadron left its B-17s in the Canal Zone and was reassigned to [[Pratt Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]] and was one of the first operational squadrons to train to fly the [[B-29 Superfortress]].

The B-29s were still undergoing development problems and it took almost a year to become operationally ready enough to be deployed to [[India]] and [[XX Bomber Command]]. In India, the squadron engaged in [[Operation Matterhorn]] missions which were to bomb [[Japan]] from forward bases in [[China]]. On 15 June 1944 the squadron participated in the first American Air Force attack on the [[Japanese home islands]] since the [[Doolittle Raid]] in 1942.

The squadron was reassigned to [[Tinian International Airport|West Field]], [[Tinian]] in the [[Marianas]] in February 1945, for further operations against Japan with the [[XXI Bomber Command]]. The squadron made daylight attacks from high altitude on strategic targets, participated in incendiary raids on urban areas, and dropped mines in Japanese shipping lanes.

With the end of the war, the 25th was inactivated on 1 Oct 1946.

During the [[Cold War]], the 25th Bomb Squadron was reactivated and reassigned to the [[Strategic Air Command]] [[40th Bombardment Wing]] at [[Shilling Air Force Base]], [[Kansas]] as a [[B-47 Stratojet]] medium bomber squadron. It deployed routinely to SAC bases in [[England]] to fly training missions as part of the [[7th Air Division]] until its B-47s were retired in 1965.


== References==
== References==

Revision as of 18:45, 19 April 2009

25th Space Range Squadron
25th Space Range Squadron emblem
Active1917-1946
1988-1995
2004-Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeSpace Control
Part of595th Space Group
Garrison/HQSchriever AFB, Colorado
Nickname(s)"Executioners"
Mascot(s)Hatchet Man
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
Decorations AFOUA
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Col J. Christopher Moss

The United States Air Force's 25th Space Range Squadron (25 SRS) is a space control unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado. 25 SRS operates the Space Test and Training Range (STTR).

Mission

To operate the Space Test and Training Range to provide a safe and secure environment in support of counterspace technique development and space test, training, and exercise activities.[1]

History

Lineage

  • Organized as 20th Aero Squadron On 13 Jun 1917
Redesignated 25th Aero Squadron on 22 Jun 1917
Demobilized on 17 Jun 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1924) with 25th Squadron which was authorized on 30 Aug 1921.
  • Organized on 1 Oct 1921
Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Squadron on 25 Jan 1923
Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 Dec 1939
Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940
Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 20 Nov 1943
Inactivated on 1 Oct 1946.
  • Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 May 1952
Activated on 28 May 1952
Inactivated on 1 Sep 1964
  • Redesignated and activated: 25th Strategic Training Squadron on 21 June 1988
Inactivated on 21 September 1995
  • Redesignated and activated: 25th Space Control Tactics Squadron on 1 July 2004
Redesignated: 25th Space Range Squadron on 11 November 2007

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Operations

The 25th flew combat missions during World War I as a pursuit unit with the Second Army from 10-11 November 1918. It was demobilized after the 1918 armistice.

The squadron was reactivated in April 1922 at France Field the Panama Canal Zone, as part of the 6th Composite Group, flying various biplane bombers to defend the Panama Canal. During the 1920s and early 1930s, It participated in various goodwill missions in Latin America, including the Goodwill flights to El Salvador and Nicaragua, 13-19 May 1935, to Guatemala, 8-11 Feb 1938, and to El Salvador, 19-22 Apr 1938. The squadron aldo flew mercy mission to Chile following the devastating 1939 Chillán earthquake, 28 Jan-13 Feb 1939.

The 25th Bombardment Squadron eventually became the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939 and then, on 20 November 1940, the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). Equipped with the Douglas B-18 Bolo the squadron had opportunity to put its new, long-legged aircraft to the test in October 1939, when two Peruvian flyers, enroute from the United States to Lima, Peru on a long-distance flight, were reported missing between the Canal Zone and Peru. Although eventually found to have made an emergency forced landing in Ecuador, three B-18's of the squadron conducted extensive searches of the area along the 80th meridian some 250 miles to sea. The aircraft carried enough fuel for a flight of 11 hours duration, a capability which would place them in good stead in the Command in the years to come.

By 25 August 1941, with its pre-war strength at but five B-18's, the Squadron was reequipped with B-17E Flying Fortresses. After the United States entered World War II, the Squadron had deployed to Salinas, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands (shuttling patrols hack and forth) with four of the B-17E's, flying antisubmarine patrols over the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. These aircraft being joined by a B-18 by February. The main body of the Squadron left Salinas by 15 February and returned to Howard Field in early 1943, although a detachment was still in Ecuador as late as 30 June.

Assignment to the 6th Bomb Group ended on 12 May 1943. With the diminished need for a Caribbean defense, the squadron was transferred to the 40th Bombardment Group and, the following month, the main body of the squadron ended its 21 years of service in the Canal Zone, when it was reassigned back to the United States. The squadron left its B-17s in the Canal Zone and was reassigned to Pratt Army Airfield, Kansas and was one of the first operational squadrons to train to fly the B-29 Superfortress.

The B-29s were still undergoing development problems and it took almost a year to become operationally ready enough to be deployed to India and XX Bomber Command. In India, the squadron engaged in Operation Matterhorn missions which were to bomb Japan from forward bases in China. On 15 June 1944 the squadron participated in the first American Air Force attack on the Japanese home islands since the Doolittle Raid in 1942.

The squadron was reassigned to West Field, Tinian in the Marianas in February 1945, for further operations against Japan with the XXI Bomber Command. The squadron made daylight attacks from high altitude on strategic targets, participated in incendiary raids on urban areas, and dropped mines in Japanese shipping lanes.

With the end of the war, the 25th was inactivated on 1 Oct 1946.

During the Cold War, the 25th Bomb Squadron was reactivated and reassigned to the Strategic Air Command 40th Bombardment Wing at Shilling Air Force Base, Kansas as a B-47 Stratojet medium bomber squadron. It deployed routinely to SAC bases in England to fly training missions as part of the 7th Air Division until its B-47s were retired in 1965.

References

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

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  1. ^ 25 SRS Capabilities Handout, dated 2008

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=25th_Space_Range_Squadron&oldid=284851978"