The squadron's second predecessor was established as the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Squadron, which conducted guided missile testing for the Army Air Forces and United States Air Force from bases in Florida from 1946 through 1950. It was reactivated the following year and tested cruise missiles, then trained for deployment to Europe with Martin B-61 Matador missiles. It stood alert with its missiles in Germany until it was inactivated in 1958 and transferred its personnel and missiles to the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron
History
World War II
B-29 Superfortresses of the 500th Bombardment Group dropping incendiaries on Japan
The first predecessor of the unit, the 881st Bombardment Squadron, was activated at Gowen Field, Idaho on 20 November 1943 as one of the four original squadrons of the 500th Bombardment Group. It initially flew Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in New Mexico, then trained in Kansas with early model Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, with frequent delays in training due to modifications of the aircraft correcting production deficiencies.[citation needed]. It departed for its combat station in the Pacific in July 1944 after completing training.[2][3]
The squadron arrived at its combat station, Isely Field, on Saipan in the Mariana Islands in September 1944. It flew its first combat mission against a submarine base in the Truk Islands on 11 November. Thirteen days later it participated in the first attack on the Japanese homeland from the Marianas. Initially, the squadron flew high altitude daylight raids against industrial targets in Japan. In January 1945, it carried out an attack on the Mitsubishi engine manufacturing plant in Nagoya, for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[3]
The squadron was briefly diverted from its strategic mission when it struck airfields in Kyushu to support Operation Iceberg, the landings on Okinawa in April 1945. Beginning in March 1945, Twentieth Air Force changed both its tactics and strategy and the squadron began carrying out nighttime attacks with incendiaries against area targets. It received its second DUC for attacks on the urban and industrial section of Osaka, feeder industries at Hamamatsu and shipping and rail targets on Kyushu in June 1945. During the closing days of the war, the squadron also dropped propaganda leaflets over the Japanese home islands.[3]
Following V-J Day, the squadron dropped food and supply to prisoners of war in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. The squadron returned to the United States in the fall of 1945 and was inactivated at March Field, California on 17 January 1946.[2][3]
The squadron was redesignated the 1st Bombardment Squadron, Missile (Light), but was again redesignated the 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron[a] before being reactivated at Patrick in October 1951. The unit again experimented with missiles, but this time with cruise missiles, including the Republic-Ford JB-2 and Martin B-61 Matador. The squadron developed procedures and methods for deployment of tactical nuclear missiles until 1954, when it was transferred to Tactical Air Command.
As additional Matador squadrons deployed to Germany, USAFE formed the 7382d Guided Missile Group, headquartered at Hahn Air Base.[8] The 1st Tactical Missile Squadron was detached from the 36th Wing,[7] and attached to the new group. when the 7382d Group was inactivated on 15 September 1956, the 1st Squadron was reassigned to the newly formed 585th Tactical Missile Group at Bitburg, as part of the newly formed 701st Tactical Missile Wing, headquartered at Hahn. The unit converted from the TM-61A to the TM-61C during that time.[citation needed] The 1st was inactivated and replaced by the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, which was simultaneously activated on 18 Jun 1958.[9][10]
In 1985 the World War II881st Bombardment Squadron was consolidated with the squadron, but it was not activated.[11][e]
Lineage
881st Bombardment Squadron
Constituted as the 881st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 19 November 1943
Twelfth Air Force: 31 March 1954 (attached to 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 36th Fighter-Day Wing) 31 March 1954,[7] 7382d Guided Missile Group 15 April 1956 – 15 September 1956)
585th Tactical Missile Group, 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958
↑ The Air Force had a 1st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy that was active at the time that would have duplicated the unit designation.
↑ An underground concrete launch facility, closed in 1969. The site is abandoned and largely overgrown.[citation needed]
↑ An underground concrete launch facility. After closure the site was transferred to the Bundeswehr and converted into a MIM-104 Patriotair defense missile site. It closed in 2001 and is now abandoned and overgrown with vegetation.[citation needed]
↑ The B-61A Matador was renamed the TM-61A Matador, reflecting that it was a tactical missile, not a bomber.
↑ The United States Air Force planned to reactivate the squadron as a BGM-109G ground launched cruise missile squadron under the 550th Tactical Missile Wing at RAF Molesworth, but elected to activate a World War II bombardment wing and squadron instead.
1 2 3 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
1 2 3 881st Bombardment Squadron lineage, including stations and aircraft, through 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 796
Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Volume VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-5273-7.
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