596th Bomb Squadron

596th Bombardment Squadron
Emblem of the 596th Bombardment Squadron
Active	1943-1945; 1962-1991
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Bombardment

World War II squadron emblem

The 596th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 2d Bombardment Wing. It was inactivated at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana on 1 September 1991.

History

Established in early 1943 as a B-26 Marauder medium bomber group. Initially was an Operational Training Unit under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Realigned as an operational squadron and deployed to European Theater of Operations, and assigned to Ninth Air Force in England in early 1944.

Engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy targets in France and the Low Countries in the spring of 1944, also participated in the extensive bombardment of the D-Day invasion area in preparation for the Operation Overlord landings in France. After D-Day, moved from England to Advance Landing Grounds in France, providing tactical bombardment of enemy strong points as well as bridges, railroads and other targets in support of Allied ground forces during the Northern France Campaign. Supported the Allied Invasion of Germany during the spring of 1945, continuing combat operations against enemy targets in Germany until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Squadron demobilized in France during the summer of 1945, returning personnel and equipment to the United States. Inactivated as a paper unit during December 1945.

Reactivated as a Strategic Air Command B-52G Stratofortress intercontinental strategic bombardment squadron in 1963 as part of SAC program to provide provisional units with a combat lineage. Carried out operational training missions with the 397th Bomb Wing at Dow AFB, Maine. Reassigned to Barksdale AFB in April 1968 with the closure of Dow. An equipment change occurred in 1992 when the 596th Bomb Squadron retired it's B-52Gs and replaced them with B-52Hs from inactivating squadrons at other former SAC bases…. The 596th itself was inactivated when it was replaced by the 96th Bomb Squadron on 1 October 1991

Lineage

• Constituted 596th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 Mar 1943

Activated on 20 Apr 1943

Inactivated on 31 Dec 1945

• Redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 15 Nov 1962

Organized on 1 Feb 1963; receiving personnel/aircraft/equipment from 341st Bombardment Squadron (Inactivated)

• Inactivated on 1 Sep 1991

Assignments

• 397th Bombardment Group, 20 Apr 1943-31 Dec 1945
• Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962
• 397th Bombardment Wing, 1 Feb 1963
• 2d Bombardment Wing, 25 Apr 1968-1 Sep 1991

Stations

• MacDill Field, Florida, 20 Apr 1943
• Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, 14 Oct 1943
• Hunter Field, Georgia, 1 Nov 1943-13 Mar 1944
• RAF Gosfield (AAF-154), England, 5 Apr 1944
• RAF Rivenhall (AAF-168), England, 15 April 1944
• RAF Hurn (AAF-492), England, 4 Aug 1944
• Gorges Airfield (A-26), France, 30 Aug 1944

• Dreux/Vernouillet Airfield (A-41), France, c. 16 Sep 1944
• Peronne Airfield (A-72), France, c. 8 Oct 1944
• Venlo Airfield (Y-55), Netherlands, 25 Apr 1945
• Peronne Airfield (A-72), France, 30 May-c. Dec 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 30-31 Dec 1945
• Dow AFB, Maine, 1 Feb 1963
• Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 25 Apr 1968-1 Sep 1991

Aircraft

• B-26 Marauder, 1943-1945
• B-52 Stratofortress, 1963-1991

See also

• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

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