Jump to content

427th Reconnaissance Squadron: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
reformatted and expanded
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎History: edited and expanded
Line 31: Line 31:


==History==
==History==
Formed in Texas as the 38th Aero Squadron after the United States' entry into World War I. Not deployed to Europe, remained in the United States, being assigned to Chanute Field, Illinios, duties undetermined. Demobilized and inactivated in December 1918.
Flying training unit, 1917–1918. Reconnaissance patrols and photographic missions in support of flood-relief operations in Southern California, March 2–5, 1938. Air echelon, en route to Philippine Islands, arrived Hickam Field, TH, during Japanese attack of December 7, 1941; flew patrol and search missions in mid-Pacific under direction of Hawaiian Air Force from December 9, 1941 until echelon's identity lost through absorption by other units (c. February 1942). Training activities of new air echelon interspersed with emergency antisubmarine patrols off California coast, c. late May – early June 1942. Combat in ETO, November 17, 1942 – April 25, 1945. Activated as SAC B-47 medium bomber squadron, 1958. Inactivated 1961 as part of phaseout of B-47 from inventory.

Reactivated in 1933 as the 38th Pursuit Squadron, at Selfridge Field in 1933; reassigned to March Field, California in 1936, redesignated as a reconnaissance squadron and was equipped with a mixture of B-18 Bolo medium bombers; observation aircraft and Northrup A-17A attack dive bombers, all used for reconnaissance. Performed reconnaissance and photographic missions in support of flood-relief operations in Southern California, March 2–5, 1938.

Ordered to Fifth Air Force in the Phillpines in November 1941 to reinforce air defenses of the commonwealth due to rising tensions between the Japanese Empire and the United States. Air echelon departed on 6 November 1941 en route to Philippine Islands, arrived Hickam Field, TH, during Japanese attack of December 7, 1941; ground echelon departed San Francisco aboard ship, December 6, 1941, turned around and returned to March Field on December 9, 1941. In Hawaii, the remains of the air echelon flew patrol and search missions in mid-Pacific under direction of the Hawaiian (later Seventh) Air Force, later departing for Australia where the pilots were organized into other squadrons, the B-18s being used for non-combat duties. Ground personnel reassigned to other squadrons at March; the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron becoming a paper unit.

Assigned administratively to the 19th Bombardment Group at Gowen Field, Idaho in in late Feburary 1942. Reequipped and remanned on 13 Mar 1942, absorbing the personnel and B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron, which was inactivated. Received new designation as 427th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and deployed to Southern California flying antisubmarine patrols. Completed training in southwest June-August 1942; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) as one of the initial heavy bomber squadrons assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, September 1942.

Engaged in long-ranger strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, September 1942-May 1945. The 427th was one of the most highly decorated squadrons in the Eighth Air Force, attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. After the German Capitulation in May, 1945 was reassigned to Air Transport Command. Reassigned to Casablanca, French Morocco, the squadron used it's B-17 bombers as transports, ferrying military personnel from locations in France to Morocco, then south to Dakar in French West Africa or to the Azores for further transportation by other units. Inactivated in place in Morocco in late July 1945.

Reactivated in 1958 as a Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojet training squadron after Air Training Command discontinued Combat Crew Training. Trained pilots and aircrews on the B-47, its graduated being reassigned to operational squadrons. Inactivated in 1962 with the end of B-47 crew training prior to the phaseout of the weapons system in the mid-1960s.

===Lineage===
===Lineage===
* Organized as '''38th Aero Squadron''' on June 12, 1917
* Organized as '''38th Aero Squadron''' on June 12, 1917

Revision as of 13:36, 21 May 2010

427th Bombardment Squadron
Emblem of the 427th Bombardment Squadron
Active1917–1962
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeBombardment
Part ofStrategic Air Command
38th Reconnaissance Squadron Boeing B-17C Fortress 40-2070 was caught on approach to Hickam Field, Hawaii (Territory) on December 7, 1941 by strafing Japanese Fighters, who left it burned out on the Tarmac. The bomber's flare storage box had been struck by rounds fired by the Japanese fighers as the Fortress approached Hickam. The pilot managed to land the burning B-17 which broke in half upon hitting the runway and came to rest just short of the Hale Makai barracks. All of the crewmen but one survived the landing.

The 427th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 303d Bombardment Wing, based at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The unit was inactivated on January 1, 1962.

History

Formed in Texas as the 38th Aero Squadron after the United States' entry into World War I. Not deployed to Europe, remained in the United States, being assigned to Chanute Field, Illinios, duties undetermined. Demobilized and inactivated in December 1918.

Reactivated in 1933 as the 38th Pursuit Squadron, at Selfridge Field in 1933; reassigned to March Field, California in 1936, redesignated as a reconnaissance squadron and was equipped with a mixture of B-18 Bolo medium bombers; observation aircraft and Northrup A-17A attack dive bombers, all used for reconnaissance. Performed reconnaissance and photographic missions in support of flood-relief operations in Southern California, March 2–5, 1938.

Ordered to Fifth Air Force in the Phillpines in November 1941 to reinforce air defenses of the commonwealth due to rising tensions between the Japanese Empire and the United States. Air echelon departed on 6 November 1941 en route to Philippine Islands, arrived Hickam Field, TH, during Japanese attack of December 7, 1941; ground echelon departed San Francisco aboard ship, December 6, 1941, turned around and returned to March Field on December 9, 1941. In Hawaii, the remains of the air echelon flew patrol and search missions in mid-Pacific under direction of the Hawaiian (later Seventh) Air Force, later departing for Australia where the pilots were organized into other squadrons, the B-18s being used for non-combat duties. Ground personnel reassigned to other squadrons at March; the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron becoming a paper unit.

Assigned administratively to the 19th Bombardment Group at Gowen Field, Idaho in in late Feburary 1942. Reequipped and remanned on 13 Mar 1942, absorbing the personnel and B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron, which was inactivated. Received new designation as 427th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and deployed to Southern California flying antisubmarine patrols. Completed training in southwest June-August 1942; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) as one of the initial heavy bomber squadrons assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, September 1942.

Engaged in long-ranger strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, September 1942-May 1945. The 427th was one of the most highly decorated squadrons in the Eighth Air Force, attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. After the German Capitulation in May, 1945 was reassigned to Air Transport Command. Reassigned to Casablanca, French Morocco, the squadron used it's B-17 bombers as transports, ferrying military personnel from locations in France to Morocco, then south to Dakar in French West Africa or to the Azores for further transportation by other units. Inactivated in place in Morocco in late July 1945.

Reactivated in 1958 as a Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojet training squadron after Air Training Command discontinued Combat Crew Training. Trained pilots and aircrews on the B-47, its graduated being reassigned to operational squadrons. Inactivated in 1962 with the end of B-47 crew training prior to the phaseout of the weapons system in the mid-1960s.

Lineage

  • Organized as 38th Aero Squadron on June 12, 1917
Redesignated Squadron A, Chanute Field, Illinois, on July 13, 1918
Demobilized on December 1, 1918
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1933) with 38th Pursuit Squadron which was constituted on March 24, 1923
Activated on August 1, 1933
Redesignated: 38th Observation Squadron (Long Range, Light Bombardment), and inactivated, on March 1, 1935
  • Redesignated: 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, and activated, on September 1936
Redesignated: 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range) on December 6, 1939
Redesignated: 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on November 20, 1940
Redesignated: 427th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on April 22, 1942
Inactivated on July 25, 1945
  • Redesignated 427th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on August 20, 1958
Activated on December 1, 1958.
Discontinued, and inactivated, on January 1, 1962.

Assignments

Attached to 1st Pursuit Group, August 1, 1933 – March 1, 1935
  • 1st (later 1st Bombardment) Wing
Attached to 19th Bombardment Group, September 1, 1936
Attached to 19th Bombardment Group, 19 Sep 1941
Attached to IV Bomber Command, 26 Jan 1942 (Unmanned and unequipped)
Assumed personnel and equipment of 31st Reconnaissance Squadron (Inactivated), 13 Mar 1942
Attached to 303d Bombardment Group for training, 13 Mar 1942

Stations

Aircraft

  • Included JN-4, 1917–1918. Primarily P-26 during period 1933¬1935. In addition to B-10, B-17, and B-18, included OA-4, Y10A-8 and A-17 during period 1936–1941
  • B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
  • B-47 Stratojet, 1958–1961.

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
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=427th_Reconnaissance_Squadron&oldid=363385750"