445th Air Expeditionary Squadron
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2012) |
| 445th Bombardment Squadron (Currently 445th Air Expeditionary Squadron)  | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1961 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Medium bomber |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 445th Bombardment Squadron emblem[2] |  |
The 445th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned as a regular Air Force unit to the 321st Bombardment Wing at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1961.
History[edit]
World War II[edit]
Initial organization and training[edit]
The squadron was first organized as a medium bomber unit at Barksdale Field, Louisiana in late June 1942. It was one of the original four squadrons of the 321st Bombardment Group, which were equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells.[1][3][4] However, it was not until the squadron moved on paper to Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, that the initial cadre was assigned in August 1942[5]
After five months of training, the ground echelon of the squadron departed for the Port of Embarkation at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 21 January 1943.[1],[5] It boarded the USS Elizabeth C. Stanton on 7 February.[6] The air echelon of the squadron remained at DeRidder Army Air Base until 12 February, when it flew to Morrison Field, Florida for staging via the South Atlantic ferry route.[5] It departed Morrison for overseas on 15 February 1943.[7]
Combat in the Mediterranean Theater[edit]
The ground echelon landed at Oran, Algeria on 21 February 1943.[8] The air echelon arrived in Algeria at Oujda Airfield on 2 March 43.[9] On 9 March most of the ground and air echelon was united at Oujda.[10] The squadron arrived at its first combat station, Ain M'lila Airfield, Algeria, in March 1943, with the air echelon established there on 12 March.[11] The squadron flew its first combat mission, an attack on a landing ground near Mezzouna Tunisia on 15 March.[12] It initially engaged primarily in air support and interdiction missions, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa. Later, objectives spread into France, Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. It also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines.[4]
Until May 1943, it participated in Allied operations against the Axis in Algeria and Tunisia. In June, it moved forward to bases in Tunisia, from which it participated in Operation Corkscrew, the projected invasion of and reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. The following month, it supported Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily and in September, Operation Avalanche the invasion of mainland Italy near Salerno. On 8 October 1943, the squadron completed a raid on Eleusis Airfield near Athens, despite intense flak and attacks by numerous enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 interceptor aircraft, which resulted in the loss of two of the squadron's attacking aircraft. For this action it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4][13]
The squadron provided air support for the Allied advance toward Rome between January and June 1944 and Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. On 18 August, its attacks on Toulon harbor earned the squadron a second DUC.[4] The enemy had concentrated shipping in the harbor to augment harbor defense artillery. Adverse weather conditions caused other groups to turn back, but the 32ast Group continued to the target. The squadron pressed its attack despite "heavy, intense, accurate" flak on the bomb run. Post strike reconnaissance showed the 321st Group heavily damaged a battleship, and sunk a cruiser and a submarine.[14]
After September 1944, it supported Allied operations in northern Italy, including Operation Strangle, the effort to choke off supplies for Axis military in Italy through air interdiction and Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. It remained in Italy after V-E Day, reducing in size as individuals returned to the United States, being reduced to a mere cadre by August 1945[15] and was inactivated at Pomigliano Airfield on 12 September 1945.[1][4]
Reserve operations[edit]
The squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) on 29 June 1947 at Toledo Municipal Airport, Ohio. It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft during this perod. [16] In July 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[17] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of unita in the Air Force,[18] and the 445th was inactivated and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Toledo Municipal Airport ceased.
Strategic Air Command[edit]
Was reactivated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron. Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. in 1961, the squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational as part of the phaseout of the B-47.
Lineage[edit]
- Constituted as the 445th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
- Activated on 26 June 1942
- Redesignated 445th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 19 June 1942
- Inactivated on 12 September 1945
- Redesignated 445th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 29 June 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 445th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 25 November 1953
- Activated on 15 December 1953
- Discontinued and inactivated on 25 October 1961[1]
Assignments[edit]
- 321st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 12 September 1945
- 321st Bombardment Group, 29 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 321st Bombardment Wing, 15 December 1953 – 25 October 1961[1]
Stations[edit]
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Aircraft[edit]
- North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942-1945
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1953-1961[1]
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Aircraft is North American B-25C-1 Mitchell, serial 41-13207 "OH-7". The photo shows its six crew members at the bomber prior to the start of a combat mission. This plane was salvaged on 31 January 1944. Baugher, Joe (11 April 2023). "1941 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Robertson, Patsy (22 August 2011). "Factsheet 445 Air Expeditionary Squadrpn (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Watkins, pp. 86-87
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 550-554
- ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, pp 201-202
- ^ a b c "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, 1 August 1942-31 January 1943" (PDF). p. 38. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, February 1943" (PDF). p. 45. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, March 1943" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, October 1943" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, August 1944" (PDF). pp. 156, 15, 164. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "321st Bombardment Group and Squadron War Diaries, July - September 1945" (PDF). p. 54. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 530-31 (no operational aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949).
- ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
Bibliography[edit]
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.
- 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.
