341st Bombardment Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in Florida. While training flew antisubmarine patrols over Gulf of Mexico and over Florida Atlantic coastline. Deployed to European Theater of Operations in June 1942, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England with B-17E aircrft. |
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Combat operations by the group began on August 17, 1942, when the squadron participated in the the first Eighth Air Force heavy bomber mission of the war, attacking the Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yards in France. Continued long range strategic bombardment of occupied Europe, attacking airfields, marshalling yards, industries, naval installations, and other targets in France and the Low Countries. |
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Deployed to Algeria in November 1942, assigned to Twelfth Air Force. Raided shipping in the Mediterranean Sea and airfields, docks, harbors, and marshalling yards in north Africa, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily, and the southern Italian mainland in a campaign to cut supply lines to German forces in north Africa. Helped force the capitulation of Pantelleria Island in June 1943. Bombed in preparation for and in support of the invasions of Sicily and southern Italy in the summer and fall of 1943. |
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Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy, November 1943. From Southern Italy engaged in very long range strategic bombardment missions, attacking targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, attacking oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. Participated in first shuttle-bombing mission to Russia (Operation Frantic) in June 1944. |
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Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945, prepared for transition to B-29 Superfortress aircraft and deployment to Twentieth Air Force. Japanese Capitulation in August ended training activities, squadron was demobilized and inactivated in October. |
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Reactivated in 1946 under Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-29 Superfortresses and participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, and overseas deployments. Became part of SAC nuclear deterrent force, being upgraded to B-50 Superfortresses in 1950. As crews trained and became qualified in the B-50, the squadron transferred some of its B-29s to other units. Received B-47 Stratojets in 1955, deployed frquently to North Africa and England for REFLEX exercises. |
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In 1960 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4038th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52D Stratofortress intercontinental bombers. Was reassigned to Dow AFB, Maine by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. Conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. Was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. Squadron was inactivated with aircraft/personnel/equipment being redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer. |
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=== Lineage=== |
=== Lineage=== |
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Revision as of 12:57, 25 June 2010
| 341st Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 341st Bombardment Squadron | |
| Active | 1942-1961 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment |
The 341st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4038th Strategic Wing. It was last stationed at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and was inactivated on 1 February 1963.
History
Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in Florida. While training flew antisubmarine patrols over Gulf of Mexico and over Florida Atlantic coastline. Deployed to European Theater of Operations in June 1942, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England with B-17E aircrft.
Combat operations by the group began on August 17, 1942, when the squadron participated in the the first Eighth Air Force heavy bomber mission of the war, attacking the Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yards in France. Continued long range strategic bombardment of occupied Europe, attacking airfields, marshalling yards, industries, naval installations, and other targets in France and the Low Countries.
Deployed to Algeria in November 1942, assigned to Twelfth Air Force. Raided shipping in the Mediterranean Sea and airfields, docks, harbors, and marshalling yards in north Africa, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily, and the southern Italian mainland in a campaign to cut supply lines to German forces in north Africa. Helped force the capitulation of Pantelleria Island in June 1943. Bombed in preparation for and in support of the invasions of Sicily and southern Italy in the summer and fall of 1943.
Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy, November 1943. From Southern Italy engaged in very long range strategic bombardment missions, attacking targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, attacking oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. Participated in first shuttle-bombing mission to Russia (Operation Frantic) in June 1944.
Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945, prepared for transition to B-29 Superfortress aircraft and deployment to Twentieth Air Force. Japanese Capitulation in August ended training activities, squadron was demobilized and inactivated in October.
Reactivated in 1946 under Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-29 Superfortresses and participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, and overseas deployments. Became part of SAC nuclear deterrent force, being upgraded to B-50 Superfortresses in 1950. As crews trained and became qualified in the B-50, the squadron transferred some of its B-29s to other units. Received B-47 Stratojets in 1955, deployed frquently to North Africa and England for REFLEX exercises.
In 1960 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4038th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52D Stratofortress intercontinental bombers. Was reassigned to Dow AFB, Maine by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. Conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. Was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. Squadron was inactivated with aircraft/personnel/equipment being redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.
Lineage
- Constituted 34ist Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942
- Activated on 3 Feb 1942
- Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945
- Redesignated 34ist Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 15 Jul 1946
- Activated on 4 Aug 1946
- Redesignated: 34ist Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 28 May 1948
- Redesignated:34ist Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Oct 1959
- Discontinued and inactivated on 1 Feb 1963; aircraft/personnel/equipment redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron
Assignments
- 97th Bombardment Group, 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946
- 97th Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952
- 4038th Strategic Wing, 15 Feb 1960-1Feb 1963
Stations
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Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942-1945
- B-29 Superfortress, 1946-1950
- B-50 Superfortress, 1950-1955
- B-47 Stratojet, 1955-1959
- B-52 Stratofortress, 1960-1963
See also
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
External links
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