12th Missile Squadron
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| 12th Missile Squadron | |
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 12th Missile Squadron emblem |
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| Active | 1939- 1961-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | 341st Missile Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Malmstrom AFB, Montana |
| Engagements | World War II |
The United States Air Force's 12th Missile Squadron is a missile unit located at Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces. [1]
[edit] History
[edit] Heraldry
On a disc of Light Blue sky spattered with White stars, the top of the globe issuing from base, Black, grid lines White; over all a Dark Gray mailed hand issuing from sinister chief, outlines and highlights White, details Light Blue, grasping a sword in pale, point to base, hilt and pommel AF Golden Yellow, blade White, shaded Light Blue, outlines and details Dark Gray, a Red oval spot on pommel, all between a Red lightning flash edged White and a Green Olive branch, details AF Golden Yellow, pilewise. Approved on 5 Aug 1957 (K 2568).
[edit] Lineage
- Constituted 12th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Dec 1939
- Activated on 1 Feb 1940
- Redesignated: 12th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 7 May 1942
- Redesignated: 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 21 Sep 1943
- Disbanded on 20 Jun 1944
- Reconstituted, and redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 10 Mar 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 24 Jul 1947
- Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
- Redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 7 Jun 1955
- Activated on 1 Sep 1955
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1961
- Redesignated 12th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman), and activated, on 22 Sep 1961
- Organized on 1 Mar 1962
- Redesignated 12th Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
[edit] Assignments
- 25th Bombardment Group, 1 Feb 1940-20 Jun 1944
- Under operational control of Antilles Air Task Force and VI Bomber Command, 1 Nov 1942-20 Jun 1944
- 341st Bombardment Group, 24 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949
- 341st Bombardment Wing, 1 Sep 1955-25 Jun 1961
- Strategic Air Command, 22 Sep 1961
- 341st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Mar 1962
- 341st Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991-Present
[edit] Stations
- Langley Field, Virginia, 1 Feb-26 Oct 1940
- Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, 1 Nov 1940
- Benedict Field, St Croix, c. 8 Nov 1941
- Dakota Field, Aruba, c. 10 Oct 1942
- Detachment operated from Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, c. Nov 1942-23 Nov 1943
- Coolidge Field, Antigua, 23 Nov 1943-24 Mar 1944
- Alamogordo AAF, New Mexico, 6 Apr-20 Jun 1944
- Westover Field (later, AFB), Massachusetts, 24 Jul 1947
- Hartford, Connecticut, 24 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949
- Abilene (later, Dyess) AFB, Texas, 1 Sep 1955-25 Jun 1961
- Deployed at: Andersen AFB, Guam, 9 Jan-c. 4 Apr 1958
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 Mar 1962-Present
[edit] Aircraft and Missiles
- B-18 Bolo, 1940-1944
- B-25 Mitchell, 1943-1944
- AT-6 Texan, 1947-1949
- AT-11 Kansan, 1947-1949
- B-47 Stratojet, 1956-1961
- LGM-30 Minuteman I, 1962-1968
- LGM-30 Minuteman II, 1967-Present
[edit] Operational History
12th Strategic Missile Squadron’s heritage can be traced back to 1940 at Langley Field, Virginia, when the defense build-up in the Caribbean area occurred at an accelerated rate. In November of that year, the squadron's B-18s landed at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. Throughout World War II, the 12th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, was located at St. Croix, St. Nicholas, and Antigua. Using at first B-18s and later B-25s in an anti-submarine role, the 12th protected vulnerable shipping lanes in the Caribbean area, allowing strategic materials to pass safely through to European destinations. On June 20, 1944, the victorious 12th Bombardment Squadron was disbanded.
Eleven years later, on September 1, 1955, the 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, was activated at Abilene Air Force Base, Texas. Before being disbanded once more in 1961, the 12th’s B-47s engaged in training that made it a powerful element of the nation’s strategic air power.
In less than three months, the unit was redesignated as the 12th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS). At the same time, it was assigned to the Strategic Air Command for organization at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Upon organization, it became the second Minuteman ICBM squadron in the Air Force. During the mid-1960s the 12th replaced it’s 50 Minuteman I missiles with Minuteman IIs. The 12th SMS was the first squadron at Malmstrom to undergo weapon system upgrade to Minuteman Mod; and on April 22, 1967, it was the first squadron to become fully operational with the new Minuteman II missiles under this program. The 12th SMS was also the first squadron in the wing to undergo silo upgrade. By 1978, the Improved Launch Control System (ILCS) had replaced the Minuteman Mod system and the 12th SMS once again had the state-of-the-art weapon system. The 12th Missile Squadron (MS) led the way in removing Minuteman II missiles and replacing them with Minuteman III's. The new missile enhances capability, increases flexibility, and marks yet another system upgrade.
In 1994, the 12 MS reorganized under the objective squadron concept. This reorganization took the three combat disciplines, ICBM Operations, Security Police, and Electro- mechanical Maintenance, and combined them under the "one hat" of the missile squadron commander. In early June 1995, Electro-mechanical Maintenance returned to the Logistics Group. In February 1996, Missile Field Chefs became part of the 12 MS team.[2]
[edit] References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
- ^ http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4671
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/agency/12ms.htm
[edit] External links
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