Established in 1939 as a prewar bombardment squadron, it was equipped with a mixture of Douglas B-18 Bolo medium and early-model Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers. It trained over the US east coast flying training missions. It also had some second-line Northrop A-17 Nomad dive bombers assigned. After the outbreak of World War II in Europe it flew patrols over the Atlantic Coast searching for German U-boat activity.
With the Navy taking over the antisubmarine mission, the squadron moved to France Field, Canal Zone in December 1943, where it became an element of the VI Bomber Command. The Squadron carried on patrols up and down the Atlantic coast of Panama and into neighboring Colombian waters until relieved from assignment to Sixth Air Force and returned to the United States. on 2 May 1944. It moved to Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska where it became a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber replacement training unit under Second Air Force. Inactivated June 1944.
The squadron was activated at Abilene Air Force Base, Texas on 1 September 1955, as the Air Force reopened it as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base for Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers.[1][9] The squadron trained in strategic bombardment operations with the B-47 and participated in SAC exercises and operations.[10] From January through April 1958, the squadron deployed with the 341st Bombardment Wing to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.[11] Shortly thereafter, its planes went through Project Milk Bottle to strengthen their wings for low level operations.[12] The squadron also participated in Operation Reflex alert operations. Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments.[13]
Starting in 1958, SAC's B-47 wings of began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. General Thomas S. Power’s initial goal was to maintain one third of SAC's planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[14] Its last Reflex deployment ended on 15 July 1959.[15][c] In April 1961, the squadron began drawing down in preparation for inactivation and was inactivated on 25 June 1961,[1] transferring its aircraft to other SAC wings.[11][16]
Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska, 25 May – 17 June 1944
Westover Field (later Westover Air Force Base), Massachusetts, 18 June 1947– 27 June 1949
Abilene Air Force Base (later Dyess Air Force Base), Texas, 1 September 1955– 25 June 1961 (deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, 9 January – c. 3 April 1958)
Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, 1 December 1961 – present[1]
↑ Approved 21 June 1963. Description: On an Air Force blue disc, an Air Force golden yellow demi lion rampant shaded golden brown, his tongue red, emerging from a hole dark brown rimmed red, fimbriated white five red lightning flashes radiating upward from the hole, fimbriated white.
↑ Approved 27 September 1940. Description: In front of a yellow crescent moon and star, a black lion sejant erect on a red aerial bomb and placed at a downward angle.
↑ However, a later wing history indicated that the 341st Wing continued to deploy some B-47s to the United Kingdom as late as April 1960. No byline (1 April 1960). "Abstract, 341 Bombardment Wing Maintenance Analysis Report". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
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