445th Bombardment Squadron
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|---|---|
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| Active | 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1961 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Strategic Air 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
World War II
Activated in mid-1942 as a North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron, trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in early 1943. In North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa.
The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March–May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusain islands during June, the invasion of Sicily in July, the landing at Salerno in September, the Allied advance toward Rome during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945.
Reserve
Reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 and equipped with Douglas B-26 Invader medium bombers, then inactivated in 1949 due to budget cuts.
Strategic Air Command
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
- 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
- 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
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Aircraft
- North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942-1945
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1953-1961[1]
References
- Notes
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. 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.
This page was last edited on 11 February 2022, at 11:30