2nd Bombardment Squadron


The 2nd Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment as a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress squadron was with the Strategic Air Command 22nd Bombardment Wing stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 October 1982. The unit was redesignated as the 2nd Strategic Squadron as a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker rotational squadron with the 306th Strategic Wing and was last active at RAF Mildenhall, England in 1992.

History

World War II

Established as a medium bombardment squadron in 1940 under the Northeast Air District; equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolos and stationed at Langley Field, Virginia. Received early production Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft in late 1941. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, deployed to California] and flew antisubmarine patrols over the central and southern California coast.
Deployed to the new Fifth Air Force in Australia during February 1942, carrying out combat operations over Papua New Guinea in support of Allied ground forces engaging the invading Japanese beginning in April. Engaged in combat throughout the Southwest Pacific Area, being re-equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells in 1943, and long range Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers in 1944. Fought in the 1944–1945 Philippines Campaign, continuing raids on Japanese forces on Okinawa in 1945.
Squadron demobilized after the Japanese Capitulation, however carried as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber unit and assigned to Twentieth Air Force in 1946 but not manned or equipped.

Strategic Air Command bombardment operations

Returned to the United States and assigned to Strategic Air Command at March Air Force Base in 1948, operating B-29s. Deployed to Okinawa and flew combat operations over North Korea after the breakout of the Korean War in 1950, remaining attached to Far East Air Force Bomber Command until returning to the United States in October. Operated B-29s under SAC until 1953, upgraded to Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bombers. Engaged in worldwide training exercises throughout the 1950s and early 1960s until the B-47 was phased out of the inventory.
Equipped with Boeing B-52B Stratofortresses for training in 1963 and thru 1965 operational on Alert as nuclear deterrent at March AFB and Anderson AFB on Guam, also Chrome Dome flights; then operational B-52Ds in 1966. Deployed to Western Pacific bases during the Vietnam War and conducted combat operations over Indochina, engaging in Operation Arc Light, Linebacker I and Linebacker II raids over North Vietnam until 1973. Returned to the United States and stood nuclear alert until being inactivated in 1982.

Control of deployed Strategic Air Command aircraft

Reactivated with the 306th Strategic Wing in 1989 and operated the European Tanker Task Force rotational Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft operating from RAF Mildenhall.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 2d Bombardment Squadron on 1 January 1938
  • Redesignated 2d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 March 1963 and activated

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft