532d Training Squadron

532d Training Squadron
Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, runs a procedural checklist during a launch simulation at the 532d Training Squadron simulator
Active	1942-1945; 1947–1949; 1962-1986; 1994-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Engagements	World War II (EAME Theater)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
532d Training Squadron emblem (approved 23 April 1963)
532d Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 4 October 1943)

The 532d Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 381st Training Group, stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The squadron was first activated in 1942 as the 532d Bombardment Squadron and engaged in combat with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in the European Theater of Operations, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. It returned to the United States after the war and was inactivated. The squadron was activated briefly in the reserves from 1947-1949, but was not fully manned or equipped.

From 1963 to 1986, the squadron stood alert with intercontinental ballistic missiles as the 532d Strategic Missile Squadron. It assumed its current training mission in 1994.

Mission

The mission of the unit is to conduct training for the nation's space and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) operations and ICBM and Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) maintenance forces. It trains electronic, electro- and missile-mechanical, facility, and spacelift maintenance technicians. It also produces six career development courses in support of the maintenance and management of the nation’s ALCM, ICBM, and spacelift systems.

History

B-17s of the 532d Bombardment Squadron, Boeing B-17G-70-BO Fortress 43-37675 (*Patches/Flak Magnet/Trudie's Terror*) in foreground failed to return from raid on Berlin Mar 1, 1945. Later regained. Retired to Kingman, AZ Dec 17, 1945.

The 532d was constituted as the 532d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 28 October 1942, and then activated as a part of the 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy on 3 November 1942 at Gowen Field, Idaho Soon after, the 532d trained under II Bomber Command and took station at Pyote Army Air Field, Texas where the first two phases of unit training took place. The rest of the training was conducted at Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado and in the simulations throughout the country. Received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in May 1943.

During the three years before its inactivation, the 532d Bombardment Squadron was part of the rapid buildup of the Army Air Forces in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). At that time, the Eighth Air Force and the Royal Air Force Bomber Command were engaged in a combined bomber offensive against strategic targets in Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe. Armed with B-17 Flying Fortresses, the 532d was a part of many bombardment raids. These included the campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. The 532d also bombed targets in support of the Battle of the Bulge.

After V-E Day, the unit returned to Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in July 1945, although many combat personnel were demobilized upon return to the United States. A small cadre of personnel were formed with replacement personnel assigned. The unit was programmed for conversion to B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombers however no aircraft were assigned. The Japanese Capitulation in early August led to the units inactivation on 28 August, with personnel either reassigned to other units or demobilized.

Effective 20 December 1946, the squadron was activated at Offutt Field, Nebraska. Having been allotted to the organized reserves, with assignment to Second Air Force, Air Defense Command, it was redesigned as a very heavy bombardment unit on 27 December 1946. Late in September 1947, the squadron was assigned to the 381st Bombardment Group, Very Heavy. In July 1948, the group was reassigned from the Second Air Force to the Tenth Air Force, which in December, became a part of the Continental Air Command. The 532d Squadron was inactivated at Offutt Air Force Base on 27 June 1949 due to budget restrictions.

Effective 29 November 1961, the unit was redesigned the 532d Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan), Strategic Air Command (SAC) and organized on 8 March 1962 as a part of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing. Operated nine Titan II underground silos constructed beginning in 1960; the first site going operationally ready in October 1963 The 9 missile silos remained on alert for over 20 years during the Cold War.

In October 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced that as part of the strategic modernization program, Titan II systems were to be retired by October 1, 1987. Inactivation of the sites began in September 1984, with the last being closed in March 1986; the squadron being inactivated on 8 August.

After removal from service, the silos had reusable equipment removed by Air Force personnel, and contractors retrieved salvageable metals before destroying the silos with explosives and filling them in. Access to the vacated control centers was blocked off. Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization. Today the remains of the sites are still visible in aerial imagery, in various states of use or abandonment.

Redesignated and activated on 30 September 1994 as the 532d Training Squadron, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the 532nd serves Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFSPC) by providing initial and advanced maintenance training in LGM-30G Minuteman III, and AGM-86 ALCM air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) systems as well as spacelift maintenance training.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 532d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 October 1942

Activated on 3 November 1942

Redesignated 532d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 28 August 1945.

• Redesignated 532d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 20 December 1946

Activated in the reserve on 27 February 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949.

• Redesignated 532d Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan) and activated on 26 February 1962

Organized on 1 August 1962

Inactivated on 8 August 1986

• Redesignated 532d Training Squadron on 4 August 1994
• Activated on 1 October 1994

Assignments

• 381st Bombardment Group, 3 November 1942 – 28 August 1945
• 381st Bombardment Group, 15 September 1947– 27 June 1949
• Strategic Air Command, 26 February 1962 (not organized)
• 381st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 August 1962 – 8 August 1986
• 381st Training Group, 1 April 1994 – present

Stations

• Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov 1942
• Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 Dec 1942
• Pyote Army Air Field, Texas, 27 Dec 1942
• Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, 6 Apr-10 May 1943
• RAF Ridgewell (AAF-167), England, 2 Jun 1943-24 Jun 1945
• Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, 3 Jul-28 Aug 1945
• Offutt Field, Nebraska, 27 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949
• McConnell AFB, Kansas, 1 Aug 1962-8 Aug 1986
• Vandenberg AFB, California, 1 Apr 1994–Present

Aircraft and missiles

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
• B-29 Superfortress, 1947–1949
• LGM-25C Titan II Missile, 1962–1986

Operated nine missile sites:

LGM-25C Titan II Sites

532-1 (21 Nov 1963-8 Jan 1985), 2.2 mi NN of Rome, KS 37°11′04″N 097°24′31″W

532-2 (29 Nov 1963-16 Nov 1985), 0.6 mi ESE of Mayfield, KS 37°15′16″N 097°32′03″W

532-3 (4 Dec 1963-17 Sep 1984), 1.9 mi SSE of Conway Springs, KS 37°21′48″N 097°37′59″W

532-4 (13 Nov 1963-20 Feb 1986), 3.9 mi WSW of Viola, KS 37°28′04″N 097°42′41″W

532-5 (10 Nov 1963-10 Aug 1984), 3.5 mi W of Norwich, KS 37°27′51″N 097°54′40″W

532-6 (31 Oct 1963-16 Jan 1986), 8.8 mi WSW of Belmont, KS 37°25′31″N 098°04′08″W

532-7 (14 Nov 1963-29 Oct 1984), 1.6 mi ENE of Murdock, KS 37°37′17″N 097°54′13″W

532-8 (23 Oct 1963-29 Jan 1986), 2.3 mi SW of Varner, KS 37°41′47″N 098°04′03″W

532-9 (15 Oct 1963-25 Mar 1986), 1.9 mi W of Saint Joe, KS 37°45′08″N 097°45′55″W

See also

• List of United States Air Force missile squadrons

References

Bibliography

 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.
• 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 December 17, 2016.