353d Bombardment Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Established as a [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] heavy bombardment squadron in early 1942; trained under Second Air Force. Flew [[Anti-submarine warfare|antisubmarine]] patrols off the [[California coast]] from, late May-early June 1942, then over the Mid-Adlantic coast during June-July 1942. |
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Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO) in August 1942, being assigned to [[VIII Bomber Command]], one of the first B-17 heavy bomb squadrons assigned to [[England]]. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe attacking enemy military and industrial targets. Reassigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as part of Operation Torch invasion of North Africa. Operated from desert airfields in Algeria and Tunisia during North African and Tunisian campaign. Assigned to Northwest African Strategic Air Force during Invasion of Sicily and later Italy in 1943. Allocated to Fifteenth Air Force for strategic bombing of Nazi Germany and occupied Euorpe. Attacked enemy targets primarily in the Balkans; Southern France; Southern Germany and Austria from southern Italy; engaged in shuttle bombing missions to airfields in the Soviet Union during the summer of 1944. |
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Personnel largely demobilized after German capitulation in May 1945; squadron reassigned to the United States and was programmed for conversion to B-29 Superfortess operations and deployment to Pacific Theater, plans canceled after Japanese capitulation in August 1945. Aircraft sent to storage and unit inactivated largely as a paper unit in October 1945. |
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Reactivated in 1946 as a Strategic Air Command B-29 squadron. Deployed to Furstenfeldbruck AB, Germany, Jul-Aug 1948; to RAF Station Scrampton, England, Oct 1948-Jan 1949; and to RAF Stations Lakenheath and Sculthorpe, May-Nov 1950 for "show of force" missions in Europe as a result of the Berlin Blockade by the Soviet Union and rising Cold War tensions in Europe. Squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces in Feburary 1951, flying combat missions over North Korea; attacking strategic industrial and military targets during the Korean War. |
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Returned to the United States in June 1952, being equipped with YRB-47B Stratojet long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Used for strategic reconnaissance missions until 1953 when production RB-47E aircraft received. Flew reconnaissance missions on a worldwide basis. Operations of unit still classified; suspected that squadron deployed frequently to Thule AB, Greenland and flew missions deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, taking a photographic and radar recording of the routes attacking SAC bombers would follow to reach their targets. Inactivated in 1964 with phaseout of the B-47 from the inventory. |
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=== Lineage=== |
=== Lineage=== |
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* YRB-47B Stratojet, 1952-1953 |
* YRB-47B Stratojet, 1952-1953 |
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* RB-47E Stratojet, 1953-1964 |
* RB-47E Stratojet, 1953-1964 |
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== References== |
== References== |
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{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}} |
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}} |
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Revision as of 16:27, 14 May 2010
| 353d Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 353d Bombardment Squadron | |
| Active | 1942-1964 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment |
The 353d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 301st Bombardment Wing, stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 8 June 1964
History
Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron in early 1942; trained under Second Air Force. Flew antisubmarine patrols off the California coast from, late May-early June 1942, then over the Mid-Adlantic coast during June-July 1942.
Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO) in August 1942, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command, one of the first B-17 heavy bomb squadrons assigned to England. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe attacking enemy military and industrial targets. Reassigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as part of Operation Torch invasion of North Africa. Operated from desert airfields in Algeria and Tunisia during North African and Tunisian campaign. Assigned to Northwest African Strategic Air Force during Invasion of Sicily and later Italy in 1943. Allocated to Fifteenth Air Force for strategic bombing of Nazi Germany and occupied Euorpe. Attacked enemy targets primarily in the Balkans; Southern France; Southern Germany and Austria from southern Italy; engaged in shuttle bombing missions to airfields in the Soviet Union during the summer of 1944.
Personnel largely demobilized after German capitulation in May 1945; squadron reassigned to the United States and was programmed for conversion to B-29 Superfortess operations and deployment to Pacific Theater, plans canceled after Japanese capitulation in August 1945. Aircraft sent to storage and unit inactivated largely as a paper unit in October 1945.
Reactivated in 1946 as a Strategic Air Command B-29 squadron. Deployed to Furstenfeldbruck AB, Germany, Jul-Aug 1948; to RAF Station Scrampton, England, Oct 1948-Jan 1949; and to RAF Stations Lakenheath and Sculthorpe, May-Nov 1950 for "show of force" missions in Europe as a result of the Berlin Blockade by the Soviet Union and rising Cold War tensions in Europe. Squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces in Feburary 1951, flying combat missions over North Korea; attacking strategic industrial and military targets during the Korean War.
Returned to the United States in June 1952, being equipped with YRB-47B Stratojet long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Used for strategic reconnaissance missions until 1953 when production RB-47E aircraft received. Flew reconnaissance missions on a worldwide basis. Operations of unit still classified; suspected that squadron deployed frequently to Thule AB, Greenland and flew missions deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, taking a photographic and radar recording of the routes attacking SAC bombers would follow to reach their targets. Inactivated in 1964 with phaseout of the B-47 from the inventory.
Lineage
- Constituted 353d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942
- Activated on 3 Feb 1942.
- Redesignated 353d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945
- Inactivated on 15 Oct 1945
- Activated on 4 Aug 1946
- Redesignated 353d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 28 May 1948
- Inactivated on 16 Jun 1964
Assignments
- 30ist Bombardment Group, 3 Feb 1942-15 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946 (detached 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952)
- 301st Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-8 June 1964
Stations
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Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942-1945
- B-29 Superfortress 1946-1952
- YRB-47B Stratojet, 1952-1953
- RB-47E Stratojet, 1953-1964
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN: 0892010975