533rd Training Squadron

533d Training Squadron
Active	1942-1945; 1962-1986; 1994-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	ICBM Training

The 533d Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 381st Training Group, stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Mission

The mission of the unit is to conduct training for the nation's space and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) operations and ICBM and Air Launched Missile (ALM) maintenance forces. It trains electronic, electro- and missile-mechanical, facility, and spacelift maintenance technicians. It also produces six career development courses in support of the maintenance and management of the nation’s ALCM, ICBM, and spacelift systems.

History

The 533d was constituted as the 533d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 28 October 1942, and then activated as a part of the 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy on 3 November 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, ID. Soon after, the 533d took station at Army Air Field, Pyote, TX where the first two phases of unit training took place. The rest of the training was conducted at Army Air Base, Pueblo, CO and in the simulations throughout the country.

During the three years before its inactivation, the 533d Bombardment Squadron was part of the rapid buildup of the Army Air Forces in the European Theater of Operations. At that time, the Eighth Air Force and the Royal Air Force Bomber Command were engaged in a combined bomber offensive against strategic targets in Germany and German-held territory in Europe. Armed with B-17 Flying Fortresses, the 533d was a part of many bombardment raids. These included the campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. The 533d also bombed targets in support of the Battle of the Bulge.

Following the close of the war in Europe, the 533d Bombardment Squadron returned to the United States and took station in Sioux Falls Air Field, SD. The squadron was inactivated at Sioux Falls on 28 August 1945.

Effective 20 December 1946, the squadron was activated at Offutt Field, NE. Having been allotted to the organized reserves, with assignment to Second Air Force, Air Defense Command, it was redesigned as a very heavy bombardment unit on 27 December 1946. Late in September 1947, the squadron was assigned to the 381st Bombardment Group, Very Heavy. In July 1948, the group was reassigned from the Second Air Force to the Tenth Air Force, which in December, became a part of the Continental Air Command. The 533d Squadron was inactivated at Offutt Air Force Base on 27 June 1949.

Effective 29 November 1961, the unit was redesigned the 533d Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan), Strategic Air Command (SAC) and organized on 8 March 1962 as a part of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing. The 532nd Strategic Missile Squadron remained operational until its inactivation on 8 August 1986.

Redesignated and activated on 30 September 1994 as the 533d Training Squadron, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the 532nd serves Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) by providing initial and advanced maintenance training in Minuteman, Peacekeeper and Cruise missile weapon systems as well as spacelift maintenance training.

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