347th Bombardment Squadron

347th Bombardment Squadron
B-52D Stratofortress as flown by the squadron [lower-alpha 1]
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1963
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Heavy bomber
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
Patch with 347th Bombardment Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 2] [1]
347th Bombardment Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 3] [2]

The 347th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4047th Strategic Wing, and was inactivated at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida on 1 April 1963.

The squadron was first activated in 1942. After training in the United States, it moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations in operations against the Axis Powers. After V-E Day, the squadron remained in Italy until November 1945, when it was inactivated. The squadron was activated in the reserves from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped.

In 1953, the squadron was activated as the 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron as part of Strategic Air Command. It returned to the bombardment mission two years later, and served in this role until inactivating in 1963.

History

World War II

Squadron B-17F Flying Fortress

The squadron was activated in June 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 99th Bombardment Group, at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, moving on paper the same day to MacDill Field, Florida. However, the Army Air Forces had decided to concentrate all heavy bomber training under Second Air Force, and before the end of the month, the squadron moved to Pendleton Field, Oregon to begin its training in Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. It continued training with the B-17 until January 1943, when it began deploying to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. ^[1]

The squadron's ground echelon went by ship from New York City to Marrakech, Morocco; the air echelon flew to Morrison Field, Florida, then along the South Atlantic Route.^{[ citation needed ]} The ground and air echelons of the squadron were reunited at Navarin Airfield, Algeria in March 1943. It moved forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia after the Allies drove Axis forces from North Africa in May 1943. The squadron concentrated on targets such as airfields, harbor facilities, shipping, viaducts and bridges in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. ^[3] In early June 1943, the squadron participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. ^[4]

The squadron helped neutralize enemy fighter aircraft opposition to Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, penetrating enemy air defenses by bombing airplanes, hangars and fuel and ammunition storage sites at Gerbini Airfield. For these actions, it was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). ^[3]

In November 1943, the 347th became part of Fifteenth Air Force, which focused on the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The following month it moved to Tortorella Airfield, Italy. From this base, it engaged in the bombardment of enemy targets in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Yugoslavia; attacking oil refineries, marshaling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. On 23 April 1944, the squadron participated in an attack on aircraft factories in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, despite heavy enemy interceptor opposition. For this action, it was awarded a second DUC. ^[3]

Following V-E Day, the squadron became part of the occupation forces in Italy, until inactivating in November 1945. ^{[1] [3]}

Air Force reserve

The squadron was again activated under Air Defense Command (ADC) in the reserve at Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, on 19 May 1947 and again assigned to the 99th Group. ^[1] Its training was supervised by ADC's 477th AAF Base Unit (later the 2587th Air Force Reserve Training Center). ^[5] Although it was nominally a very heavy bomber unit, it is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with combat aircraft. ^[6] In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. ^[7] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, however, required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, ^[8] ConAC also reorganized its reserve units under the Wing Base Organization, and the 19th Air Division and other reserve units at Birmingham Municipal Airport, including the squadron, were inactivated and replaced by the 514th Troop Carrier Wing in June 1949. ^{[1] [5]}

Strategic Air Command

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

The squadron was reactivated in January 1953 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington when the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, an Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War, was returned to state control. The squadron assumed the mission, personnel, and Convair RB-36 Peacemaker strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the 111th Wing's 129th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, a regular unit assigned to the 111th Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated. Engaged in worldwide strategic bombardment training and stood nuclear alert until 1956 when the B-36 was retired. In 1956, it moved to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was equipped with Boeing B-52D Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers.

In 1961 it moved to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida and was assigned to SAC's 4047th Strategic Wing as SAC dispersed its heavy bomber force. The squadron conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. It was finally inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its strategic wings, replacing them with permanent Air Force Wings. The squadron was inactivated and its aircraft, personnel, and equipment transferred to the 367th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 347th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 1 June 1942

Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 29 September 1944

Inactivated on 8 November 1945

• Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947

Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Redesignated 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated on 1 January 1953.

Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955

Discontinued and inactivated on 1 April 1963 ^[1]

Assignments

• 99th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1942 – 8 November 1945
• 99th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 27 Jun 1949
• 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later 99th Bombardment Wing), 1 January 1953
• 4047th Strategic Wing, 1 September 1961 – 1 April 1963 ^[1]

Stations

Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 1 June 1942 MacDill Field, Florida, 1 June 1942 Pendleton Field, Oregon, 29 June 1942 Gowen Field, Idaho, 28 August 1942 Walla Walla Army Air Field, Washington, 30 September 1942 Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 18 November 1942 – 3 January 1943 Navarin Airfield, Algeria 22 February 1943 – 25 March 1943

Oudna Airfield, Tunisia, 4 August 1943 Tortorella Airfield, Italy, 11 December 1943 Marcianise Airfield, Italy, c. 27 October – 8 November 1945 Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949 Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 1 January 1953 Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 4 September 1956 McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, 1 September 1961 – 1 April 1963 [1]

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
• Convair B-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
• Convair RB-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
• Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, 1956–1963 ^[1]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	5 July 1943	Sicily [1]
	Distinguished Unit Citation	23 April 1944	Austria [1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	16 March 1943 – 5 June 1944	[1]
	Tunisia	16 March 1943 – 13 May 1943	[1]
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	16 March 1943 – 11 May 1945	[1]
	Sicily	14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943	[1]
	Naples-Foggia	18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944	[1]
	Anzio	22 January 1944 – 24 May 1944	[1]
	Rome-Arno	22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944	[1]
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	[1]
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	[1]
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	[1]
	Southern France	15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944	[1]
	North Apennines	10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945	[1]
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	[1]
	Po Valley	3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945	[1]

See also

• World War II portal

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Aircraft is Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress, serial 56-591, Tommy's Tigator.
2. Approved 11 May 1954. Description: On a disc white, outlined Air Force blue, the stylized aperture of a camera green, all outlined of the second [color mentioned], over the upper right (dexter) part of the disc a globe, light blue, shaded, land markings of Air Force blue, over all in saltire a stylized futuramic aircraft proper and a bolt of lightning red.
3. Approved 18 February 1944.
4. Aircraft is Douglas Aircraft built Boeing B-17F-50-DL Flying Fortress, serial 42-3389, Rangy Lil Photo taken in August 1943. It is seen wearing the 99th Group's distinctive diamond marking on the tail, along with the Roman numeral II associated with the squadron. The aircraft was passed on to the 340th Bombardment Squadron on 14 November 1943, but was ditched in the Mediterranean after a mission to Toulon, France on 20 November. Baugher, Joe (2 June 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 23 October 2023.

Citations

1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 430-431
2. Watkins, pp. 76–77
3. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 170-171
4. Rodgers, pp. 16, 29
5. Ravenstein, pp. 281-283
6. See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 431 (no aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
7. "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
8. Knaack, p. 25

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-02-1. LCCN   61060979 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-405-12194-6. LCCN   70605402. OCLC   72556 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 . Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Rodgers, Edith C. (May 1947). "The Reduction of Pantelleria and Adjacent Islands, USAF Historical Study No. 52 8 May – 14 June 1943" (PDF). Air Historica Offic, Headquarters, Army Air Forces. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
• Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN   978-0-7643-3401-6.