375th Bombardment Squadron

375th Bombardment Squadron
Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojets as flown by the squadron
Active	1942–1946; 1947–1951; 1951–1961
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Bombardment
Engagements	China Burma India Theater [1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
375th Bombardment Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 1] [1]

The 375th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 308th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.

The squadron was first activated in April 1942. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to China in early 1943. It engaged in combat, primarily in China and Southeast Asia until June 1945, when it assumed a mainly transport role. It was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for its operations in China and its attacks on Japanese shipping. At the end of 1945 it returned to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron was redesignated the 375th Reconnaissance Squadron and activated in Alaska in 1947. It was inactivated in 1949. It returned to its bombardment designation in 1951 and operated Boeing B-47 Stratojets for Strategic Air Command. In 1959 it moved as part of a test of a "super wing" concept, but was not operational until in inactivated in 1961.

History

Initial organization and training

The squadron was activated at Gowen Field, Idaho on 15 April 1942 as the 375th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 308th Bombardment Group. ^{[2] [3]} As the squadron was forming and beginning its training in Consolidated B-24 Liberators, at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico in August 1942, almost all its personnel were transferred to the 330th Bombardment Group. ^[4]

The following month, a fresh cadre taken from the 39th Bombardment Group joined the group. In addition to its own training activities, at the beginning of October, the unit was briefly designated as an Operational Training Unit ^[4] The squadron began its movement to the China Burma India Theater in January 1943. ^[1] The air echelon ferried its Liberators across the Atlantic and Africa, leaving from Morrison Field, while the ground echelon moved by ship across the Pacific. ^{[3] [4]}

Combat operations

Squadron B-24 King's X over China on 16 September 1944

In late March 1943, the squadron arrived at Chengkung Airfield, China. In order to prepare for and sustain combat operations in China, the squadron had to conduct numerous flights over the Hump transporting gasoline, lubricants, ordnance, spare parts and the other items it needed. The 375th supported Chinese ground forces and attacked airfields, coal yards, docks, oil refineries and fuel dumps in French Indochina. It attacked shipping, mined rivers and ports and bombed maintenance shops and docks at Rangoon, Burma and attacked Japanese shipping in the East China Sea, Formosa Straits, South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin. On 21 August 1943, the squadron conducted an unescorted bombing attack on docks and warehouses at Hankow, China, pressing its attack despite heavy flak and fighter opposition. For this mission it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). Its operations interdicting Japanese shipping in 1944 and 1945 earned it a second (DUC). ^[3]

The squadron moved to Rupsi Airfield, Assam, India in June 1945. Its mission again was primarily air transport as it ferried gasoline and supplies from there back into China. The unit sailed for the United States in October 1945, and it was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 6 January 1946. ^{[1] [3]}

Weather reconnaissance

Boeing WB-29A

The squadron was reactivated at Ladd Field, Alaska on 15 October 1947 as the 375th Reconnaissance Squadron, an Air Weather Service weather reconnaissance squadron, ^[1] assuming the personnel and Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of the 59th Reconnaissance Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated. ^[5] The squadron performed weather reconnaissance. In March 1949, the squadron moved to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, where it was inactivated in February 1951 ^[1] and its personnel and equipment transferred to the 59th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. ^{[1] [5]}

Strategic Air Command

It was reactivated a few months later in October as the 375th Bombardment Squadron with new Boeing B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. In the early late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. B-47s began being sent to AMARC at Davis-Monthan in July 1959 and the squadron went non-operational. Was inactivated on 25 June 1961.^{[ citation needed ]}

Lineage

• Constituted as the 375th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 April 1942

Redesignated 375th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy in 1944

Inactivated on 6 January 1946

• Redesignated 375th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Weather) on 16 September 1947

Activated on 15 October 1947

Inactivated on 21 February 1951

• Redesignated 375th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 4 October 1951

Activated on 10 October 1951

Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1961 ^[1]

Assignments

• 308th Bombardment Group, 15 April 1942 – 6 January 1946
• 7th Weather Group (later 2107th Air Weather Group), 15 October 1947 – 21 February 1951
• 308th Bombardment Group, 10 October 1951 (attached to 21st Air Division until 17 April 1952)
• 308th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1961 ^[1]

Stations

Gowen Field, Idaho, 15 April 1942 Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 18 June 1942 Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 24 July 1942 Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 28 August 1942 Wendover Field, Utah, 1 October 1942 Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, 1 December 1942 – 2 January 1943 Chengkung Airfield, China, 20 March 1943 Hsinching Airfield, China, 18 February 1945 Rupsi Airfield, India, 27 June-14 October 1945

Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 5–6 January 1946 Ladd Field, Alaska, 15 October 1947 (one flight operated from Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Field, California, and later from Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska, 15 October 1947-15 May 1949) Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 6 March 1949 – 21 February 1951 Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas, 10 October 1951 Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, 17 April 1952 Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, 15 July 1959 – 25 June 1961 [1]

Aircraft

• Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1942
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1947–1951, 1951-1952
• Boeing RB-29 Superfortress, 1947–1951
• Boeing WB-29 Superfortress, 1947–1951
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1947–1951
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1953–1959 ^[1]

References

• World War II portal

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 11 January 1943. Description: Over and through a white disc, border black a skeleton in black cloak, wearing black aviator's helmet and white goggles, ear phones and chin strap trimmed black, holding in the right hand a yellow aerial bomb point down, and in the left hand a scythe white trimmed black, inner folds of sleeve magenta.
2. Aircraft is Consolidated B-24J-170-CO Liberator, serial 44-40584 King's X. This aircraft was severely damaged in a landing accident at Chengtu Airfield on 23 February 1945. Baugher, Joe (9 October 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

Citations

1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 464
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 461-464, 521-522
3. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 182-184
4. Strotman, Tony (2012). "308th Bombardment Group: China-Burma-India 1942-1945". Tony Strotman. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
5. Markus, et al., p. 148

Bibliography

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

• Markus, Rita M.; Halbersen, MSG Nicholas F.; Fuller, John F. (1987). Matthews, James K.; Gustin, Joylyn I. (eds.). Air Weather Service: Our Heritage 1937-1987 (PDF). Scott AFB, IL: Air Weather Service. OCLC   18406969 . Retrieved 10 June 2017.
• 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.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN   978-0-7643-5273-7.