334th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 334th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 95th Bombardment Wing. It was inactivated at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas
on 25 June 1966
before becoming an Operational Training Unit (OTU). Readied for combat operations in early and deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command
in England
in May 1943. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945.
Personnel and equipment returned to the United States in June 1945. Most personnel demobilized and squadron assigned to Second Air Force for training as a B-29 Superfortress
very heavy bomb squadron. Japanese Capitulation in August 1945 led to squadron being inactivated in August 1945 as an administrative unit.
Activated in the reserves in 1947, however unit never equipped or manned. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget restraints. Reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command
B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental strategic bombardment squadron. Trained with obsolete B-29s until equipped with B-36s in November 1952. Engaged in worldwide strategic bombardment training and stood nuclear alert until being re-equipped with B-52 Stratofortress
es in 1958. Continued training and nuclear alert status until being inactivated in 1966 with the inactivation of parent 95th Bombardment Wing and closure of Biggs AFB.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 95th Bombardment Wing. It was inactivated at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on 25 June 1966
History
Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb group in early 1942. Trained under Second Air ForceSecond Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
before becoming an Operational Training Unit (OTU). Readied for combat operations in early and deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in May 1943. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945.
Personnel and equipment returned to the United States in June 1945. Most personnel demobilized and squadron assigned to Second Air Force for training as a B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
very heavy bomb squadron. Japanese Capitulation in August 1945 led to squadron being inactivated in August 1945 as an administrative unit.
Activated in the reserves in 1947, however unit never equipped or manned. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget restraints. Reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental strategic bombardment squadron. Trained with obsolete B-29s until equipped with B-36s in November 1952. Engaged in worldwide strategic bombardment training and stood nuclear alert until being re-equipped with B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
es in 1958. Continued training and nuclear alert status until being inactivated in 1966 with the inactivation of parent 95th Bombardment Wing and closure of Biggs AFB.
Lineage
- Constituted 334th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942
- Activated on 15 Jun 1942
- Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
- Redesignated 334th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
- Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
- Redesignated 334th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 4 Jun 1952
- Activated on 16 Jun 1952.
- Redesignated 334th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 8 Nov 1952
- Inactivated on 25 Jun 1966.
Assignments
- 95th Bombardment Group, 15 Jun 1942-28 Aug 1945; 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949
- 95th Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1966
Stations
- Barksdale Field, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 15 June 1942 - Pendleton Field, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, 26 June 1942 - Geiger Field, Washington, 28 August 1942
- Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 31 October 1942
- Geiger Field, Washington, 24 November 1942
- Rapid City Army Air Base, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 17 December 1942-11 March 1943 - RAF FramlinghamRAF FramlinghamRAF Framlingham is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 3 miles SE of Framlingham in Suffolk.-USAAF use:...
(AAF-153), England, May 1943 - RAF HorhamRAF HorhamRAF Horham is a World War II era airfield in England. The field is located next to the village of Horham, England, and 4 miles SE of Eye in Suffolk. The large site straddled the parishes of Denham, Horham and Hoxne.-USAAF use:...
(AAF-119), England, 15 June 1943-19 June 1945 - Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, c. 14–28 August 1945 - Memphis Municipal AirportMemphis Municipal AirportMemphis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public use airport located one nautical mile northeast of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Hall County, Texas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 29 May 1947-27 June 1949 - Biggs AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 16 June 1952-25 June 1966
Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
- B-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1959
- B-52 StratofortressB-52 StratofortressThe Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
, 1959–1966