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==History==
==History==
Established in late 1942 as a [[B-24 Liberator]] heavy bomb squadron; trained under [[Second Air Force]] in [[Texas]], and later in [[Colorado]]. Deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area (SPA) in April 1943, being assigned to [[Fifth Air Force]] in [[Australia]].

From airfields in Australia, the squadron reached out to the Japanese installations in the [[Netherlands East Indies]]. Moved to the [[Philippines]] where the squadron operated in early 1945, then to [[Okinawa]] where combat operations ended after the Japanese Capitulation in August. After the war, squadron personnel were demobilized and returned to the United States, the B-24s sent to reclamation in the Philippines. Inactivated as a paper unit in early 1946.

In 1947, the squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit of the [[Strategic Air Command]] at [[MacDill Field]], [[Florida]]. The squadron remained an inactive reserve unit until 1951 when the squadron was inactivated.

Activated as a [[B-29 Superfortress]] squadron in the reserves, 1947. Not manned or equipped, inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

The squadron was activated in 1959 as a result of the [[Strategic Air Command]] "One-Third Alert program", a 1950s combat readiness scheme under which at any one time one-third of the nation's bomber and tanker force was on 15-minute ground alert status and armed, ready to take off within fifteen minutes’ warning for retaliatory nuclear strikes.

This was in response to the [[Soviet Union]] developing [[ICBM]]s, and the expected alert time from launch to impact in the United States meant the warning time for an attack would soon be measured not in hours, but within minutes. This was critical to United States national defense, as in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the United States had not yet developed reliable ICBMs. This required the host wing to be augmented from a standard three operational squadrons to four.

In addition to the nuclear alert duties, when not on alert, the squadron acted as a combat crew training squadron after the inactivation of [[Air Training Command]] Combat Crew Training, by providing lead-in flying training for new pilots assigned to the wing and bring all pilots to a common flight training base line.

By 1962 the missile gap had been closed with the [[SM-65 Atlas]] and [[HGM-25A Titan I]] ICBMs going on operational alert status. In addition, SAC began basing it's [[B-52 Stratofortress]] bomb wings in the northern tier of the country, closer to the Soviet Union when flying over the [[Arctic Circle]], and away from heavily populated areas which precluded the need for B-47, which by the late 1950s was vulnerable to Soviet air defenses.

In 1962 with the phaseout of the B-47 the training aircraft sent to storage at Davis-Monthan and the squadron was inactivated.

===Lineage===
===Lineage===
* Constituted '''531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''' on 28 October 1942
* Constituted '''531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''' on 28 October 1942

Revision as of 00:33, 6 July 2010

531st Bombardment Squadron, Medium
File:531st Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png
Emblem of the 531st Bombardment Squadron
Active1942-1962
2010
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeSquadron
RoleBomber
Part ofUnited States Air Force/Strategic Air Command
Garrison/HQPlattsburg Air Force Base

It was last assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing, based at Plattsburgh AFB, New York. It was inactivated on 1 January 1962.

History

Established in late 1942 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force in Texas, and later in Colorado. Deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area (SPA) in April 1943, being assigned to Fifth Air Force in Australia.

From airfields in Australia, the squadron reached out to the Japanese installations in the Netherlands East Indies. Moved to the Philippines where the squadron operated in early 1945, then to Okinawa where combat operations ended after the Japanese Capitulation in August. After the war, squadron personnel were demobilized and returned to the United States, the B-24s sent to reclamation in the Philippines. Inactivated as a paper unit in early 1946.

In 1947, the squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit of the Strategic Air Command at MacDill Field, Florida. The squadron remained an inactive reserve unit until 1951 when the squadron was inactivated.

Activated as a B-29 Superfortress squadron in the reserves, 1947. Not manned or equipped, inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

The squadron was activated in 1959 as a result of the Strategic Air Command "One-Third Alert program", a 1950s combat readiness scheme under which at any one time one-third of the nation's bomber and tanker force was on 15-minute ground alert status and armed, ready to take off within fifteen minutes’ warning for retaliatory nuclear strikes.

This was in response to the Soviet Union developing ICBMs, and the expected alert time from launch to impact in the United States meant the warning time for an attack would soon be measured not in hours, but within minutes. This was critical to United States national defense, as in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the United States had not yet developed reliable ICBMs. This required the host wing to be augmented from a standard three operational squadrons to four.

In addition to the nuclear alert duties, when not on alert, the squadron acted as a combat crew training squadron after the inactivation of Air Training Command Combat Crew Training, by providing lead-in flying training for new pilots assigned to the wing and bring all pilots to a common flight training base line.

By 1962 the missile gap had been closed with the SM-65 Atlas and HGM-25A Titan I ICBMs going on operational alert status. In addition, SAC began basing it's B-52 Stratofortress bomb wings in the northern tier of the country, closer to the Soviet Union when flying over the Arctic Circle, and away from heavily populated areas which precluded the need for B-47, which by the late 1950s was vulnerable to Soviet air defenses.

In 1962 with the phaseout of the B-47 the training aircraft sent to storage at Davis-Monthan and the squadron was inactivated.

Lineage

  • Constituted 531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 October 1942
Activated on 3 November 1942
Inactivated on 20 February 1946
  • Redesignated 531st Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Redesignated 531st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 26 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 16 May 1951
  • Activated on 1 May 1959
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 January 1962.

Assignments

Attached to: Royal Australian Air Force, 28 April 1943 - 1 March 1945

Stations

Aircraft

Operational history

Combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, c. 21 May 1943-24 July 1945. Reserve B-29 squadron, activated during Korean War. Aircraft and personnel reassigned to other active duty squadrons then squadron inactivated w/o/p/e. SAC Medium bomber (B-47) squadron (1959–1962).

See also

References

Public Domain 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
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