487th Bombardment Squadron

487th Bombardment Squadron
B-47 Stratojet as flown by the squadron
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1952–1963
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Medium bomber
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations [1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation [1]
Insignia
487th Bombardment Squadron emblem [a] [2]
487th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II) [3]

The 487th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where it was inactivated on 1 September 1963. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it flew North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, primarily on air support and air interdiction missions, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.

The group was again active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft during this period. It was again activated in October 1952, as the Air Force reopened Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It flew Boeing B-47 Stratojets at Whiteman until September 1963, as the B-47 began to be withdrawn from Strategic Air Command operations. It was inactivated with the withdrawal of its Stratojets.

History

World War II

340th Bombardment Group B-25 approaching Alesani Airfield Corsica early 1944

Established as a North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron in mid-1942, trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Deployed to IX Bomber Command in Egypt initially in March 1943 via the South Atlantic Route through the Caribbean, Brazil, Liberia, Central Africa and Sudan, then reassigned to XII Bomber Command in Tunisia. Supported Allied ground forces in Tunisian Campaign; participated in Invasions of Sicily and Italy during 1943, supporting Allied ground forces with tactical bombing of enemy targets. Participated in liberation of Corsica during the spring of 1944, then returned to Italy engaging in attacks on enemy ground forces and targets in the Po Valley during the spring of 1945.

Personnel demobilized in Italy during summer of 1945; squadron returned to the United States, being prepared for deployment to Pacific Theater for use as a tactical bomb squadron in programmed Invasion of Japan. Japanese capitulation led to squadron's inactivation in November 1945.

Air Force reserve

The 487th Bombardment Squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Tulsa Municipal Airport, Oklahoma on 31 October 1947. ^[1] It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft. ^[4] In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing air reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. ^[5] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, ^[6] and the 486th was inactivated in August 1949 ^[1] and not replaced as reserve flying operations at the Tulsa airport ceased.

Strategic Air Command operations

In July 1951, Strategic Air Command (SAC) reopened Sedalia Air Force Base, Missouri, which had served as an air transport base during World War II. On 1 August, it activated the 4224th Air Base Squadron to expand the field to accommodate strategic bombers, and on 1 October 1952, the 340th Bombardment Wing, including the 487th Squadron, was activated to replace the 4224th. ^[7] However, the wing initially concentrated is activities on bringing Sedalia to operational status and the squadron was only nominally manned, and did not become operational until 1954, when it began to receive Boeing B-47 Stratojets. ^[8]

From 13 September to 3 November 1955, the squadron deployed to the United Kingdom along with the other operational elements of the 340th Wing, which was attached to SAC's 7th Air Division. ^[8] Starting in 1957, deployments of entire wings was replaced by Operation Reflex, which placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s on alert at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments ^[9] After 1958, SAC's Stratojet units 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. ^[10] The SAC alert commitment was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962. ^[11]

Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, SAC brought all degraded and adjusted alert sorties up to full capability. ^[12] It dispersed its B-47s on 22 October 1962. ^[13] Most dispersal bases were civilian airfields with Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard units. B-47s were configured for execution of the Emergency War Order as soon as possible after dispersal. On 15 November 1/6 of the dispersed B-47s were recalled to their home bases. ^[14] On 21 November SAC went to DEFCON 3. Dispersed B-47s and supporting tankers were recalled on 24 November. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture. ^[15]

In the summer of 1963, the squadron began phasing down its operations at what was now Whiteman Air Force Base in preparation for Whiteman becoming a base for LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles and the transfer of the base to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing. ^{[8] [16] [17]} The squadron was inactivated on 1 September 1963 ^[18]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 487th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 10 August 1942

Activated on 20 August 1942

Redesignated 487th Bombardment Squadron, Medium 20 August 1943 ^[19]

Inactivated on 7 November 1945

• Redesignated 487th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 8 October 1947

Activated in the reserve on 31 October 1947

Inactivated on 19 August 1949

• Redesignated 487th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 3 October 1952

Activated on 20 October 1952

Inactivated on 1 September 1963 ^{[20] [18]}

Assignments

• 340th Bombardment Group, 20 August 1942 – 7 November 1945 ^[1]
• 340th Bombardment Group, 31 October 1947 – 19 August 1949 ^[1]
• 340th Bombardment Wing, 20 October 1952 – 1 September 1963 ^[21]

Stations

Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, 20 August 1942 Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina 30 November 1942 – 30 January 1943 RAF Kabrit, Egypt March 1943 Medenine Airfield, Tunisia March 1943 Sfax Airfield, Tunisia April 1943 Hergla Airfield, Tunisia 2 June 1943 Comiso Airfield, Sicily c. 2 August 1943 Catania Airport, Sicily 27 August 1943 San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy c. 15 October 1943

Foggia Airfield, Italy 19 November 1943 Pompeii Airfield, Italy c. 2 January 1944 Gaudo Airfield, Italy 23 March 1944 Alesan, Corsica, France c. 15 April 1944 Rimini Airfield, Italy c. 7 April-16 July 1945 Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina 9 August 1945 Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina 2 October – 7 November 1945 Tulsa Municipal Airport, Oklahoma, 31 October 1947 – 19 August 1949 Sedalia Air Force Base (later Whiteman Air Force Base), Missouri, 20 October 1952 – 1 September 1963 [22] [23]

Aircraft

• North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1945
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1955–1963 ^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 15 May 1959. Description: On a white diamond-shaped background edged black, a red and white checkerboard of nine squadres, five white, and four red surmounted by a black chess knight in profile, highlights and details white; the checkerboard edged black.

Citations

1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 585
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 585.
3. Watkins, pp. 87-88
4. See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 585 (no operational aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
5. "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
6. Knaack, p. 25
7. Mueller, p. 589
8. Ravenstein, pp. 179-80
9. Narducci, p. 2
10. Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
11. "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
12. Kipp, et al., p. 30.
13. Kipp, et al., p. 49
14. Kipp. ‘’et al.’’, p. 53
15. Kipp, et al., p. 61
16. Ravenstein, p. 186
17. Mueller, p. 589
18. See Ravenstein, p. 179 (end of assignment to 340th Wing); Mueller, p. 589 (end of stationing at Whiteman).
19. SeeHaulman, Daniel (1 November 2016). "Factsheet 340 Flying Training Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2021. (redesignation of 340th Group).
20. Lineage information through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 585, except as noted
21. Ravenstein, p. 179
22. Station information through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 585
23. Mueller, p. 589

Bibliography

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

• Kipp, Robert; Peake, Lynn; Wolk, Herman. "Strategic Air Command Operations in the Cuban Crisis of 1962, SAC Historical Study No. 90 (Top Secret NOFORN, FRD, redacted and declassified)". Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-59-5 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• 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.
• Narducci, Henry M. (1988). Strategic Air Command and the Alert Program: A Brief History. Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
• 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.
• Schake, Col Kurt W. (1998). Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950-1960 (PDF). Trondheim, Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ISBN   978-8277650241 . Retrieved 27 July 2015.
• 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.