556th Strategic Missile Squadron
| 556th Strategic Missile Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron | |
| Active | 1942-1965 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Strategic Missile Launch Squadron |
The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division. It was inactivated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York on 25 June 1965.
History
Activated as a B-26 Marauder medium bombardment squadron in late 1942. Trained under Third Air Force and deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO) in July 1943. Initially being stationed in England and assigned to IX Bomber Command,
Engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe initially from stations in England, then after D-Day, moved to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and Belgium; advancing eastward as Allied ground forces advanced. Supported Eighth Air Force strategic bombardment missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe; striking enemy airfields to obtain maximum interference in Luftwaffe day interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations returning to England. Also participated in Western Allied Invasion of Germany, March-April 1945, combat ending with German Capitation in May 1945.
Became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe while squadron demobilized personnel in 1945. Squadron reassigned to the United States as a paper unit, inactivated in November 1945.
Reactivated in 1957 as a Strategic Air Command Strategic Missile Squadron, initially performing testing on the SM-62 Snark intercontinental cruise missile. Performed testing at the Atlantic Missile Range in Florida; moving to Presque Isle AFB, Maine for operational deployment in 1959. Reactivated after missile was brought into service.
Reactivated in 1961 as a Strategic Air Command SM-65F Atlas ICBM launch squadron, stationed at Plattsburgh AFB, New York and assigned to the 820th Air (later Strategic Aerospace) Division on 1 July 1961. The activation of the 556th SMA at Platsburgh AFB was the only Atlas ICBM squadron east of the Mississippi River. The first missile arrived in April 1962, and the silos were declared operational in December. During the Cuban missile crisis, the 556th received orders to maintain all 12 missiles on alert status.
The Atlas F was the final and most advanced version of the Atlas ICBM and was stored in a vertical position inside underground concrete and steel silos. When stored, the Atlas F sat atop an elevator. If a missile was placed on alert, it was fueled with RP-1 (kerosene) liquid fuel, which could be stored inside the missile for extended periods. If a decision was made to launch the missile, it was fueled with liquid oxygen. Once the liquid oxygen fueling was complete, the elevator raised the missile to the surface for launching.
On December 1, 1964, the first Atlas F missile at Shilling was removed from alert status in favor of the more advanced LGM-25C Titan II; squadron was inactivated on 25 June 1965. Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization.
Lineage
- Constituted 556 Bombardment Squadron (Medium), on 25 Nov 1942
- Activated on 1 Dec 1942
- Redesignated 556 Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 9 Oct 1944
- Inactivated on 12 Nov 1945
- Redesignated 556th Strategic Missile Squadron on 22 Nov 1957
- Activated on 15 Dec 1957
- Inactivated on 16 Jul 1959
- Activated on 26 Apr 1961
- Organized on 1 Oct 1961
- Inactivated on 25 June 1965
Assignments
- 387th Bombardment Group, 1 Dec 1942-12 Nov 1945
- Strategic Air Command, 15 Dec 1957
- 702d Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Apr-16 Jul 1959
- Strategic Air Command, 26 Apr 1961
- 820th Air (later Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 Oct 1961-25 June 1965
Stations
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Aircraft and missiles
- B-26 Marauder, 1942=1945
- SM-62 Snark, 1958–1959
- SM-65F Atlas, 1962–1965
- Operated twelve missile sites of one missile at each site (12 total):
