535th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 535th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 381st Bombardment Group, stationed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota
. It was inactivated on 28 August 1945
for training. Trained primarily in Texas
and Colorado
. Received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations
(ETO) in May 1943.
Deployed to England
in April 1943, being assigned to VIII Bomber Command
. Engaged in very long range bombardment of enemy enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
. Participated in Big Week
attacks on German aircraft factories 20–25 February 1944, and often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment. Continued attacks until German capitulation in May 1945.
Returned to the United States in June 1945, most combat veterans being demobilized upon return. Small cadre of unit reformed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field in July, being programmed for B-29 Superfortress
conversion and deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations
(PTO). Unit inactivated after Japanese Capitulation in August 1945, assigned personnel either reassigned to other units or demobilized.
Reactivated as a reserve B-29 Superfortress
unit in Nebraska
during 1947. Trained until 1949 when budget reductions led to the units inactivation.
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 381st Bombardment Group, stationed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota
South Dakota
South 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...
. It was inactivated on 28 August 1945
History
Established in late 1942 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment unit, assigned to II Bomber CommandII Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
for training. Trained primarily in 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...
and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
(ETO) in May 1943.
Deployed to 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 April 1943, 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...
. Engaged in very long range bombardment of enemy enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Participated in Big Week
Big Week
Between February 20–25, 1944, as part of the European strategic bombing campaign, the United States Strategic Air Forces launched Operation Argument, a series of missions against the Third Reich that became known as Big Week. The planners intended to lure the Luftwaffe into a decisive battle by...
attacks on German aircraft factories 20–25 February 1944, and often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment. Continued attacks until German capitulation in May 1945.
Returned to the United States in June 1945, most combat veterans being demobilized upon return. Small cadre of unit reformed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field in July, being programmed for 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...
conversion and deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
(PTO). Unit inactivated after Japanese Capitulation in August 1945, assigned personnel either reassigned to other units or demobilized.
Reactivated as a reserve 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...
unit in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
during 1947. Trained until 1949 when budget reductions led to the units inactivation.
Lineage
- Constituted 535th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942
- Activated on 3 Nov 1942
- Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
- Redesignated 535th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 25 Aug 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 15 Sep 1947
- Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
Stations
- Gowen FieldBoise AirportBoise Airport , also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is a joint civil-military, commercial and general aviation airport located three nautical miles south of downtown Boise in Ada County, Idaho, USA...
, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 3 November 1942 - Ephrata AAFEphrata Municipal AirportEphrata Municipal Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of Ephrata, a city in Grant County, Washington, USA. The airport covers and has two runways.-History:...
, Washington, c. 1 December 1942 - Pyote AABPyote Air Force BasePyote Air Force Base was a World War II United States Army Air Forces training airbase. It was on a mile from the town of Pyote, Texas on Interstate 20, twenty miles west of Monahans and just south of U.S...
, Texas, c. 3 January 1943 - Pueblo AABPueblo Memorial AirportPueblo Memorial Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles east of the central business district of Pueblo, a city in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline. The Pueblo Airport is a popular...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, c. 5 April – c. 9 May 1943 - RAF RidgewellRAF RidgewellRAF Ridgewell is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 7½ miles NW of Halstead in Essex. During the war, the airfield was used by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force.-Overview:...
(USAAF Station 167), England, June 1943-June 1945 - Sioux Falls AAFSioux Falls Regional AirportSioux Falls Regional Airport , also known as Joe Foss Field, is a joint civil and military use airport located three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Sioux Falls, a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States...
, 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...
, July – 28 August 1945 - Offutt Field, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 15 Sep 1947 - Lincoln Municipal Airport, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 12 Feb 1948-27 Jun 1949