436th Training Squadron

436th Training Squadron
436th Training Squadron
	Emblem of the 436th Training Squadron
Active	1917–1993, 2005 Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Bombardment
Part of	Far East Air Force

The 436th Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It assigned to the Air Combat Command 7th Bomb Wing, based at Dyess AFB, Texas.

Overview

The 436th Training Squadron provides formal training to Air Combat Command using 15 schools at Dyess and 38 other programs exported directly to units for local training needs.

Training includes command and control, air, ground and weapons safety, Air Force Operations Resource Management System, classroom instructor training, Air Force Mission Support System administration, mission planning cell training, life support and survival, and computer software use and development. The 436th Training Squadron also develops multimedia and formal presentations used in training program development and formal presentations. Multimedia personnel are based at Dyess, and deploy worldwide to perform their mission. Unit products and services are used throughout the DOD.

History

Activated in the summer of 1917 as the Air Service 88th Aero Squadron; deployed to France during World War I and served on the Western Front. Engaged in combat as a corps observation squadron with I, III, IV, and V Army Corps, May 30 – November 10, 1918. After the armistice subsequently served with VII Army Corps in occupation force, November 1918 – May 1919 when the squadron returned to the United States

Redesignated as the 88th Squadron in 1921 and assigned to Langley Field, Virginia. Participated in demonstrations of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships, June–September 1921. Deployed for service in connection with civil disorders arising from West Virginia coal strike, September 1921. Redesignated 88th Observation Squadron in 1921 the squadron moved from Langley to support Army ground forces at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; then to Texas in 1927 at Brooks Field to patrol the Mexican Border; to Oklahoma in 1928 to support Fort Sill, then back to Brooks Field in 1931.

Squadron moved to California in 1935 and was assigned to the new Hamilton Field near San Francisco, as part of the 12th Observation Group. Became a coastal patrol squadron operating amphibian aircraft, then began to operate modern Martin B-10 bombers in 1936 in the reconnaissance mission when attached as the fourth squadron of the 7th Bombardment Group, 1st Wing, General Headquarters Air Force. The squadron dropped food and supplies and flew photographic missions in connection with flood-relief operations in central California, December 12–13, 1937; upgraded to the B-18 Bolo in 1938, and in 1939 to early-model Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress for long range reconnaissance patrols. Moved to Fort Douglas, Utah in 1940 when the short runways at Hamilton proved inadequate for B-17 operations, with a secondary move to Salt Lake City Army Air Base in January 1941 where it was upgraded to the B-17E.

In early December 1941, was ordered to Clark Field, Philippines Commonwealth to build up forces there due to increased tensions between the United States and the Japanese Empire. Departed on 5 December from Salt Lake City; then left Hamilton Field on 6 December bound for Hickam Field, Hawaii Territory. Air echelon under attack during its arrival at Hickam on 7 December. Some of the planes managed to land at Haleiwa Fighter Strip, one set down on a golf course, and the remainder landed at Hickam under the strafing of Japanese planes.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the surviving aircraft operated from Hawaii until February 1942, becoming part of the air defense forces of the Territory. Moved to Australia with the 7th Bomb Group where the squadron reformed in northern Queensland in late February. Became part of the new Fifth Air Force. Moved to Java in the Dutch East Indies an attempt to stop the Japanese advance, however the small force of B-17s could do very little to stem the tide of the Japanese advance, launching valiant but futile attacks against the masses of Japanese shipping and returned to RAAF Townsville in early March.

Redesignated as the 436th Bombardment Squadron in April 1942 and left its B-17Es in Australia, being reassigned to the new Tenth Air Force in India where it was re-equipped with long-range Consolidated B-24D Liberators. For the balance of the war, carried out long distance heavy bomb raids over Japanese targets primarily in Burma, Thailand and Indochina; although also attacked Japanese targets in Southeastern China attacking airfields, fuel and supply dumps, locomotive works, railways, bridges, docks, warehouses, shipping, and troop concentrations in Burma and struck oil refineries in Thailand, power plants in China and enemy shipping in the Andaman Sea. Ceased bombing operations in late May 1945 and was attached to the Air Transport Command to haul gasoline from India over the Himalayas to China. Squadron demobilized in India, leaving B-24s to Indian Colonial forces, inactivated as a paper unit in the United States in early 1946.

Reactivated in 1946 as a B-29 Superfortress bombardment squadron and trained in global bombardment operations flying simulated bombing missions over various cities, as well as performing intercontinental training missions over the Pacific and later to Europe. In June 1948 the first Consolidated B-36A Peacekeeper was delivered. Operated B-36s until 1958 when the squadron began conversion to the B-52 Stratoforterss.

In 1959 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4238th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52F Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. Was reassigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, Mississippi by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. Conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. Was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. Squadron was inactivated with aircraft/personnel/equipment being redesignated 20th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.

Reactivated in 1986 as the 436th Strategic Training Squadron (436 STS) at Carswell AFB, Texas. The squadron supported the SAC mission through classroom instruction, multimedia production, and training aid fabrication. Due to a realignment of major commands in the Air Force in 1992, the 436 STS became the 436th Training Squadron as a Direct Reporting Unit under Air Combat Command. In 1993, the squadron was moved to Dyess AFB with the realignment of Carswell as a Joint Reserve Base. The squadron continues to function for Air Combat Command providing classroom instruction for over 10 courses to students from every major command and multimedia productions used throughout the DOD.

Lineage

Organized: 88th Aero Squadron August 18, 1917

Redesignated: 88th Squadron March 14, 1921

Redesignated: 88th Observation Squadron' January 25, 1923

Inactivated: August 1, 1927

Activated: June 1, 1928

Redesignated: 88th Observation Squadron (Long-range, Amphibian) March 1, 1935

Redesignated: 88th Reconnaissance Squadron September 1, 1936

Redesignated: 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range) December 6, 1939

Redesignated: 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) November 20, 1940

Redesignated: 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) April 22, 1942

Inactivated: January 6, 1946

Redesignated: 436th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) October 1, 1946

Activated: October 1, 1946

Redesignated: 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) July 20, 1948

Discontinued, and inactivated on: April 1, 1963; personnel/aircraft/equipment redesignated as 20th Bombardment Squadron

Redesignated: 436th Strategic Training Squadron February 14, 1986

Activated: July 1, 1986

Redesignated 436th Training Squadron 1992

Assignments

Unknown August 18, 1917 – May 1, 1918
I Corps Observation Group, May 1, 1918 – August 1, 1918
III Corps Observation Group, August 1, 1918 – November 1, 1918

Attached to V Corps Observation Group, 12 - 17 September 1918

Unknown 1 November 1918 – 1 September 1919
2d Wing 1 September 1919 – 23 March 1920

Attached to 1st Army Observation Group, October 1919

lst Army Observation Group (later, 7th Bomb Group), 24 March 1920 – 9 February 1921
Air Service Field Officer's School, 10 February 1921 – 14 October 1921

School attached to lst Provisional Air Brigade for operations, 6 May - 3 October, 1921

Fifth Corps Area 15 October 1921 – 30 April 1927
Air Corps Training Center 1 May 1927 – 1 August 1927

Eighth Corps Area 1 June 1928 – 29 June 1931

Attached to Field Artillery School November 1931

12th Observation Group 30 June 1931 – 31 August 1936
7th Bombardment Group 1 September 1936 – 24 February 1942

Associated with: 1st Photographic Group, 10 Jun 1941-22 Apr 1942 (training)

Air echelon attached to: 31st Bombardment Squadron, 10 December 1941 – 8 February 1942

Air echelon attached to: United States Navy, 8 February 1942 – 14 March 1942

7th Bombardment Group 25 February 1942 – 6 January 1946; 1 October 1946 – 15 June 1952
7th Bombardment Wing 16 June 1952 – 31 July 1958
4238th Strategic Wing 1 August 1958 – 1 April 1963
Strategic Air Command 1 July 1986 - 30 May 1992
Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – 1 Oct 1993
7th Operations Group 1 October 1993 - Present

Stations

Kelly Field, Texas, August 18, 1917
Garden City, New York, October 11–27, 1917
Colombey-les-Belles, France, November 16, 1917
Amanty, France, February 1, 1918
Ourches, France, May 28, 1918
Francheville, France, July 7, 1918
Ferme-de-Greves, France, August 4, 1918
Goussancourt, France, September 4, 1918
Ferme-de-Greves, France, September 9, 1918
Souilly, France, September 12, 1918
Pretz-en¬Argonne, France, September 14, 1918
Souilly, France, September 20, 1918
Bethelainville, France, November 4, 1918
Villers-la-Chevre, France, November 29, 1918
Trier, Germany, December 6, 1918
Le Mans, France, June 1–10, 1919
Mitchel Field, New York, June 27, 1919
Scott Field, Illinois, 1 July 1919
Langley Field, Virginia, September 5, 1919

Operated from Charleston, West Virginia, September 3–8, 1921

Detachment remained at Charleston until October 1921

Godman Field, Kentucky, October 15, 1921
Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio, October 11, 1922
Brooks Field, Texas, May 7 – August 1, 1927
Post Field, Oklahoma, June 1, 1928
Brooks Field, Texas, November 5, 1931
Hamilton Field, California, September 28, 1935

Fort Douglas, Utah, September 7, 1940
Salt Lake City Airport, Utah, c. January 15 – November 11, 1941
Archerfield Airport (Brisbane), Australia, December 22, 1941 – February 4, 1942

Air echelon operated from: Hickam Field, Hawaii (Territory), December 7, 1941 – February 10, 1942

Air echelon operated from: Nandi Airport, Fiji Islands, February 12–17, 1942

Air echelon operated from: RAAF Base Townsville, Australia, February 20 – c. March 14, 1942

Karachi, India, March 12, 1942
Allahabad, India, June 1, 1942
Gaya, India, November 14, 1942
Bishnupur, India, February 25, 1943
Panagarh, India, September 25, 1943
Madhaiganj, India, December 13, 1943
Tezgaon, India, June 14, 1944
Madhaiganj, India, October 6, 1944

Detachment based at Luliang, China, ferrying gasoline to Suichwan, China, December 1944 – January 1945

Tezpur, India, June 1 – December 7, 1945
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, January 5–6, 1946
Ft Worth AAF1d (later Carswell AFB), Texas, 1 October 1946
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, August 1, 1958 – April 1, 1963.
Carswell AFB, Texas July 1, 1986 – 5 March 1993
Dyess AFB, Texas 5 March 1993 - Present

Aircraft

AR type, 1918
Sopwith 1, 1918
Salmson 2, 1918-1919
Included DH-4 (US Built) and 0-2 during period 1919-1927
0-2, 1928-1930
In addition to 0-19, 1930-1935
Included 0-31 and C-1 during period 1930-1933
0-43, 1934-1935
In addition to 0-35, 1935-1937, and B-12, 1936-c. 1937

Included 0-27, OA-4, Y1OA-8, B-7, and B-10 during period 1935-1938
B-18, 1937-1940
B-17, 1939-1942
B-24, 1942-1945
B-29, 1946-1948
B-36, 1948-1958
XC-99, 1949 (SN 43-52436) – Administered Test Flight Program
B-52 1958-1963

References

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

Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975

External links