851st Strategic Missile Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 851st Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the 456th Strategic Missile Wing, based at Beale Air Force Base
, California
. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965
as a medium bombardment squadron equipped with A-20 Havocs, and later B-18 Bolo
s. The unit was assigned to the 45th Bombardment Group
at Savannah AAB
, Georgia
, then moving to Grenier Field, New Hampshire
.
After the United States entered World War II
the group was ordered to search for German U-Boat
s and to fly aerial coverage of friendly convoys off the northeast coast, then being reassigned to Langley Field, Virginia
, then to Jacksonville AAF
, Florida
flying missions along the mid-atlantic and southeast coastline. In May 1942, the squadron was redesignated as the 7th Antisubmarine Squadron and assigned to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing
of the AAF Antisubmarine Command.
The squadron was deployed to the Caribbean
and attached to the Sixth Air Force 25th Bombardment Group
on Trinidad
, flying antisubmarine patrols over the Caribbean as part of the Antilles Task Force
during the spring and summer of 1943.
In September 1943 due to the pending turnover of aerial antisubmarine patrolling to the Navy, the squadron was redesignated as the 851st Bombardment Squadron and returned to the role of a heavy B-17 Flying Fortress squadron and deployed to RAF Eye
, England
as part of the VIII Bomber Command
490th Bombardment Group
. From England, the squadron flew combat missions over Europe until the end of the war. The squadron returned to Drew Field, Florida
on 3 September 1945, then was deactivated on 7 November 1945.
Reactivated in 1960 as a Strategic Air Command
HGM-25A Titan I ICBM launch squadron. On April 1,1961, SAC placed the 851st Strategic Missile Squadron on operational status. Squadron was deployed in a 3x3 configuration, which meant a total of nine missiles were divided into three bases. Each missile base had three ICBM missiles ready to launch at any given time.
On May 24, 1962, during a contractor checkout, a terrific blast rocked launcher 1 at complex 4C at Chico (851-C), destroying a Titan I and causing heavy damage to the silo. After the investigation, the Air Force concluded that the two separate explosions occurred because of a blocked vent and blocked valve. After damages were repaired, the Chico complex became operational on March 9, 1963.
On November 19, 1964, Defense Secretary McNamara announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation SM-65 Atlas and Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. Consequently, the Titan Is of the 851st SMS were removed from alert status on January 4th, 1965. The last missile was shipped out on February 10th. The Air Force subsequently deactivated the squadron on 25 March.
Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization. Today the remains of the sites are still visible in aerial imagery, in various states of use or abandonment.
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. Its last assignment was with the 456th Strategic Missile Wing, based at Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965
History
The squadron was organized in early 1941 as the 78th Bombardment Squadron assigned to First Air ForceFirst Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
as a medium bombardment squadron equipped with A-20 Havocs, and later B-18 Bolo
B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
s. The unit was assigned to the 45th Bombardment Group
45th Bombardment Group
The 45th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.-Overview:...
at Savannah AAB
Hunter Army Airfield
Hunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, then moving to Grenier Field, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
After the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the group was ordered to search for German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s and to fly aerial coverage of friendly convoys off the northeast coast, then being reassigned to Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, then to Jacksonville AAF
Imeson Field
Imeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
flying missions along the mid-atlantic and southeast coastline. In May 1942, the squadron was redesignated as the 7th Antisubmarine Squadron and assigned to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing
25th Antisubmarine Wing
The 25th Anti-Submarine Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, based in New York City, New York. It was inactivated on 15 October 1943-History:...
of the AAF Antisubmarine Command.
The squadron was deployed to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and attached to the Sixth Air Force 25th Bombardment Group
25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
on Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, flying antisubmarine patrols over the Caribbean as part of the Antilles Task Force
Antilles Air Command
The Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico...
during the spring and summer of 1943.
In September 1943 due to the pending turnover of aerial antisubmarine patrolling to the Navy, the squadron was redesignated as the 851st Bombardment Squadron and returned to the role of a heavy B-17 Flying Fortress squadron and deployed to RAF Eye
RAF Eye
RAF Eye is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 11 miles NE of Stowmarket in Suffolk.- USAAF use:Eye airfield was constructed by the 827th and 859th U S Army Engineer Battalions during 1943, with additional work by British contractors. It was completed early in 1944 and...
, 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...
as part of the 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...
490th Bombardment Group
490th Bombardment Group
The 490th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the III Bomber Command, being stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945....
. From England, the squadron flew combat missions over Europe until the end of the war. The squadron returned to Drew Field, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on 3 September 1945, then was deactivated on 7 November 1945.
Reactivated in 1960 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...
HGM-25A Titan I ICBM launch squadron. On April 1,1961, SAC placed the 851st Strategic Missile Squadron on operational status. Squadron was deployed in a 3x3 configuration, which meant a total of nine missiles were divided into three bases. Each missile base had three ICBM missiles ready to launch at any given time.
On May 24, 1962, during a contractor checkout, a terrific blast rocked launcher 1 at complex 4C at Chico (851-C), destroying a Titan I and causing heavy damage to the silo. After the investigation, the Air Force concluded that the two separate explosions occurred because of a blocked vent and blocked valve. After damages were repaired, the Chico complex became operational on March 9, 1963.
On November 19, 1964, Defense Secretary McNamara announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation SM-65 Atlas and Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. Consequently, the Titan Is of the 851st SMS were removed from alert status on January 4th, 1965. The last missile was shipped out on February 10th. The Air Force subsequently deactivated the squadron on 25 March.
Missile sites were later sold off to private ownership after demilitarization. Today the remains of the sites are still visible in aerial imagery, in various states of use or abandonment.
Lineage
- Constituted 78th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 30 December 1941
- Redesignated: 7th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 29 November 1942
- Redesignated: 851st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 27 September 1943
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945
- Redesignated 851st Strategic Missile Squadron, and activated, on 25 August 1960
- Organized on February 1961
- Inactivated 25 March 1965
Assignments
- 45th Bombardment Group45th Bombardment GroupThe 45th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.-Overview:...
, 15 January 1941 - 26th Antisubmarine Wing26th Antisubmarine WingThe 26th Anti-Submarine Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, based at Miami Airport, Florida. It was deactivated on 15 October 1943-History:...
, 8 December 1942
- Attached to: 25th Antisubmarine Wing25th Antisubmarine WingThe 25th Anti-Submarine Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, based in New York City, New York. It was inactivated on 15 October 1943-History:...
, c. 16 December 1942 - Attached to: 25th Bombardment Group25th Tactical Reconnaissance WingThe 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
, 4 April-20 July 1943- 490th Bombardment Group490th Bombardment GroupThe 490th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the III Bomber Command, being stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945....
, October 1943-7 November 1945 - Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe 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...
, 25 August 1960 - 4126th Strategic Wing, 1 February 1961
- 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing, 1 February 1963-25 March 1965
- 490th Bombardment Group
Stations
- Savannah AABHunter Army AirfieldHunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 15 January 1941 - Grenier Field, New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, 20 June 1941 - Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 9 April 1942 - Jacksonville AAFImeson FieldImeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 16 May 1942
- Operated from Edinburgh FieldCarlsen Air Force BaseCarlsen Air Force Base is a former United States Army Air Forces World War II airbase on Trinidad, consisting of two landing strips, "Edinburgh" and "Xeres"...
, TrinidadTrinidadTrinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, 20 April 1943-20 July 1943- Mountain Home AAF, 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....
, 27 September 1943-9 April 1944 - RAF EyeRAF EyeRAF Eye is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 11 miles NE of Stowmarket in Suffolk.- USAAF use:Eye airfield was constructed by the 827th and 859th U S Army Engineer Battalions during 1943, with additional work by British contractors. It was completed early in 1944 and...
, EnglandEnglandEngland 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...
, 28 April 1944-c. 26 August 1945 - Drew Field, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 3 September 1945-7 November 1945 - Beale AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 1 February 1961-25 March 1965
- Mountain Home AAF, Idaho
Aircraft and missiles
- A-20, DB-7 Havoc, 1941–1942
- B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
, 1942–1943 - B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1944 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1944–1945
- HGM-25A Titan I, 1962–1965
- Operated three missile sites: (1 Feb 1961-25 Mar 1965)
- 851-A, 2 miles ESE of Lincoln, California 38°52′54"N 121°15′56"W
- 851-B, 4 miles NNE of Sutter Buttes, California 39°16′33"N 121°49′26"W
- 851-C, 6 miles N of Chico, California 39°49′05"N 121°51′10"W