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===Lineage===
===Lineage===
* Organized as '''93 Aero Squadron''' on 21 Aug 1917
* Organized as '''93d Aero Squadron''' on 21 Aug 1917
: Demobilized on 31 Mar 1919
: Demobilized on 31 Mar 1919
* Reconstituted, and consolidated (14 Oct 1936) with '''93 Bombardment Squadron''' which was constituted on 1 Mar 1935.
* Reconstituted, and consolidated (14 Oct 1936) with '''93d Bombardment Squadron''' which was constituted on 1 Mar 1935.
: Activated on 20 Oct 1939
: Activated on 20 Oct 1939
: Redesignated: '''93 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''' on 6 Dec 1939
: Redesignated: '''93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''' on 6 Dec 1939
: Redesignated: '''93 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy''' on 28 Mar 1944
: Redesignated: '''93d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy''' on 28 Mar 1944
: Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944
: Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944
* Activated on 1 Apr 1944
* Activated on 1 Apr 1944
: Redesignated: '''93 Bombardment Squadron, Medium''' on 10 Aug 1948
: Redesignated: '''93d Bombardment Squadron, Medium''' on 10 Aug 1948
: Redesignated: '''93 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy''' on 1 Jul 1961
: Redesignated: '''93d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy''' on 1 Jul 1961
: Discontinued, and inactivated on: 1 Apr 1963; personnel/aircraft/equipment redesignated as [[716th Bombardment Squadron]]
: Discontinued, and inactivated on: 1 Apr 1963; personnel/aircraft/equipment redesignated as [[716th Bombardment Squadron]]
* Redesignated '''93 Bomb Squadron''', and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Oct 1993.
* Redesignated '''93d Bomb Squadron''', and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Oct 1993.


===Assignments===
===Assignments===

Revision as of 01:58, 26 March 2012

93d Bomb Squadron
93d Bomb Squadron Patch
Active21 August 1917 - 31 March 1919
20 October 1939 - 1 February 1963
1 October 1993 - Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeStrategic Bombing
Part ofAir Force Reserve Command
Tenth Air Force
307th Bomb Wing
Garrison/HQBarksdale Air Force Base
EngagementsBattle of the Philippines
Decorations DCU
AFOUA
PPUC
ROK PUC
SAC squadron emblem (1954)
World War II squadron emblem
Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2489, "Suzy-Q" was one of the most famous Flying Fortresses of the Pacific War. It was assigned to the 93d Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group on 7 February 1942 and took part in all of the early Pacific battles except Midway, and is gunners claimed no less than 26 Japanese aircraft destroyed. It was named after the wife of the pilot, Major Felix Hardison, Commander of the 93d BS. Deployed to the Pacific, the aircraft operated from airfields in Australia and New Guinea before being returned to the United States in July 1944 and was operated from Hamilton Field, California until the end of the war. It was scrapped sometime after July 1946.
Two 93rd BS B-29s on a mission over Korea, 1950, "No Sweat" in the foreground.

The 93d Bomb Squadron (93 BS) is part of the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operates B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing strategic bombing capability. It is one of two reserve bomber units in the United States Air Force.

Mission

Employ the bomber in support of Air Force worldwide conventional commitments.

History

World War I

Established as the 93d Aero Squadron in the Air Service during the summer of 1917 in Texas during World War I. Deployed to France in October 1917 and trained for aerial combat with the French Air Force. Deployed to the Western Front and the squadron flew combat missions in France as a pursuit unit from 11 August 1918 – 10 November 1918. Remained in France until March 1919 when the squadron returned to the United States and inactivated.

Was reactivated in 1939 as part of the General Headquarters Air Force as the 93d Bombardment Squadron, assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group at March Field, California. Initially equipped with Martin B-10s, later B-18 Bolos, receiving early model B-17C Flying Fortresses in 1939.

Battle of the Philippines (1942)

Deployed to the Philippines Air Force at Clark Field, Philippine Commonwealth in October 1941 as a reinforcement unit when tensions were escalating between the United States and the Japanese Empire. On 8 December 1941 many of the squadrons aircraft were destroyed during an air raid at Clark in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor Attack; the survivors engaging on combat from secondary airfields against the invading Japanese forces until the situation in the Philippines became untenable and withdrew to Australia. The survivors of the ground echelon fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia and some presumably fought on as unorganized guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation.

In Australia, the escaped airmen and aircraft of the squadron reformed into a combat unit; engaging in combat during the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea Campaigns flying heavy bomber combat missions from Australia. In late 1942, the B-17C/D and a few F models in Australia were replaced by long-range B-24 Liberators, and the unit was returned to the United States and became an operational training unit with Second Air Force for replacement B-17 personnel.

B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan

Re-designated on 1 April 1944 as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron. When training was completed moved to North Field Guam in the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area in January 1945 and assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. It's mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability.

Its groups flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. The squadron began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo. The squadron continued to participate in wide area firebombing attack, but the first ten day blitz resulting in the Army Air Forces running out of incendiary bombs. Until then the squadron flew conventional strategic bombing missions using high explosive bombs.

The squadron continued attacking urban areas until the end of the war in August 1945, its subordinate units conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and other targets in Japan. The squadron flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended. Afterwards, its B 29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria

Remained on Guam after the war conducted sea-search, photographic mapping, and training missions in the western Pacific.

Korean War

Deployed to Kadena AB, Okiniwa in June 1950 as a result of the Korean War. Flew strategic bombing missions over North Korea; targets included an oil refinery and port facilities at Wonsan, a railroad bridge at Pyongyang, and an airfield at Yonpo. After United Nations ground forces pushed the communists out of South Korea, the squadron turned to strategic objectives in North Korea, including industrial and hydroelectric facilities. It also continued to attack bridges, marshalling yards, supply centers, artillery and troop positions, barracks, port facilities, and airfields.

Continued bombardment operations until the June 1953 armistice in Korea; returned to the United States in May 1954; the squadrons B-29s being sent to reclamation.

Strategic Air Command

Re-equipped with B-47 Stratojets in 1954 as part of Strategic Air Command. Flew strategic bombardment training missions until 1962 when B-47s were being phased out of the inventory. In 1960 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4133d Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52H Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. Was reassigned to Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota 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 46th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.

Modern era

Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1993, conducting bombardment training. It won the B-52 category of the 1995 Gunsmoke competition and participated in training exercises through the 1990s.

In September 2001 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where it flew 88 combat missions before redeploying to Barskdale AFB in January 2002. It deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan again from May-September 2002. In March 2003 the 93d deployed to RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Between March and August 2003 the 93d flew more than 100 combat sorties and dropped over 1 million pounds of munitions. From January-March 2005 the squadron deployed to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam as part of an ongoing bomber rotation to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the Asian-Pacific region by the U.S. Pacific Command.

Operations and Decorations

  • Combat Operations: Combat in France as a pursuit unit, 11 Aug-10 Nov 1918. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 7 Dec 1941-c. 24 Oct 1942; ground echelon fought with infantry units in Philippine Islands, c.19 Dec 1941-May 1942; replacement training unit, 1 Feb 1943-1 Apr 1944. Combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Feb-15 Aug 1945. Combat in Korea, 28 Jun 1950-25 Jul 1953.
  • Campaigns: World War I: Lorraine; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; Guadalcanal; Western Pacific; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer 1953; Operation Tandem Thrust; Operation Cope Thunder; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-10 May 1942; Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippines and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan-1 Mar 1942; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul-[c. 10 Nov 19421; New Britain, 7-12 Aug 1942; Japan, 9-19 Mar 1945; Kobe, Japan, 5 Jun 1945; Korea, 28 Jun-15 Sep 1950. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. [[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[[: 7 Ju1 1950-27 Jul 1953.

Lineage

  • Organized as 93d Aero Squadron on 21 Aug 1917
Demobilized on 31 Mar 1919
  • Reconstituted, and consolidated (14 Oct 1936) with 93d Bombardment Squadron which was constituted on 1 Mar 1935.
Activated on 20 Oct 1939
Redesignated: 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1939
Redesignated: 93d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 Mar 1944
Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944
  • Activated on 1 Apr 1944
Redesignated: 93d Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 10 Aug 1948
Redesignated: 93d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 Jul 1961
Discontinued, and inactivated on: 1 Apr 1963; personnel/aircraft/equipment redesignated as 716th Bombardment Squadron
  • Redesignated 93d Bomb Squadron, and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Oct 1993.

Assignments

  • 3d Pursuit Group, by 28 Jul 1918
  • 1st Air Depot, 11 Dec 1918-4 Mar 1919
  • Unknown 13-31 Mar 1919
  • 19th Bombardment Group, 20 Oct 1939-1 Apr 1944; 1 Apr 1944
Ground echelon attached to V Interceptor Command, c. 19 Dec 1941-May 1942

Bases stationed

Aircraft Operated

See also

References

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

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
  • American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.
  1. ^ American Aces of World War I. p. 86.
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/usa/93ps.php Retrieved on 22 June 2010.
  3. ^ American Aces of World War I. p. 79–80.
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