The Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron is a unit of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where it reports directly to the

headquarters Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

Air Education and Training Command Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training ...

, evaluating training programs and systems. The squadron's first two predecessor units served in combat during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) flew

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models des ...

s in the Aleutian Campaign, where it participated in one of the earliest direct attacks against Japan. The 21st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy flew

Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fl ...

es in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan, earning a

Distinguished Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...

for attacks on the Japanese petroleum industry. The squadron's other predecessor, the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron served in combat in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

from spring 1965 until the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973, earning several combat decorations. One squadron member, Captain

Hilliard A. Wilbanks Hilliard Almond Wilbanks (July 26, 1933 – February 24, 1967) was a career officer and pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He Posthumous recognition, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life on F ...

, was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

for actions that helped rescue Vietnamese Rangers that had been ambushed by Viet Cong forces. The squadron served in the tactical air support role in the United States from 1973 through 1991. During this service, the three squadrons were consolidated as a single unit in September 1985. The squadron assumed its current role in 1992, when, as the 21st Test and Evaluation Squadron, it replaced the 3307th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Randolph.

Mission

The Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron mission is to minimize training costs while meeting Air Force mission goals. It evaluates the long-term impact of changes to training or curriculum of courses offered by Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and predicts Air Force resource requirements for more than five years into the future. It uses analytics to enhance command decision making that impacts numbers or categories of personnel, combining essential modeling, optimization and scheduling environments.

History

World War II

Antisubmarine and Alaskan service

The first predecessor of the

squadron Squadron may refer to: * Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies * Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, de ...

was activated at

March Field March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of Ma ...

, California in January 1941 as the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy),one of the original squadrons of the

30th Bombardment Group 030 may refer to: * Motorola 68030 * BR-030 * Geographical telephone calling prefixes ** Greater Accra area code, Ghana ** Utrecht, Netherlands ** Berlin, Germany ** Bar Municipality and Ulcinj Municipality of Montenegro ** Province of Brescia ...

. The 21st was equipped with a mix of

Douglas B-18 Bolo The Douglas B-18 Bolo is an American heavy bomber which served with the United States Army Air Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force (as the Digby) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company f ...

, Boeing YB-17 Flying Fortress, and Lockheed A-29 Hudson aircraft. In May, the squadron moved to New Orleans Airport, where it continued training as a bomber unit.Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 110Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 82-83 When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the squadron began antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico and dispatched a detachment to Savannah Army Air Base, GeorgiaRickard implies that the Savannah detachment conducted the squadron's first mission against submarines. to hunt for

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

s off the Atlantic Coast. By the end of the month, though, the squadron was patrolling the Pacific Coast with its Hudsons, the 30th Group having returned to March Field after a brief stay at Muroc Army Air Field, California. From May through June 1942, the squadron operated through detachments at

McChord Field McChord Field is a United States Air Force base in the northwest United States, in Pierce County, Washington. South of Tacoma, McChord Field is the home of the 62d Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, the field's primary mission being worldw ...

, Washington and Hamilton Field as well as at civilian airports in Southern California. 21st Bomb Squadron B-24 Liberator Amchitka Alaska Mar 1943

21st Bomb Squadron B-24 Liberator Amchitka Alaska Mar 1943

in June 1942, the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The squadron's air echelon moved to

Fort Glenn Army Air Base Cape Air Force Base also known as Fort Glenn Army Air Base, is a site significant for its role in World War II fighting, operating alongside Naval Air Facility Otter Point. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared ...

, on Umnak Island, Alaska to reinforce the

28th Composite Group 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...

in the Aleutian Islands, using the

and the LB-30 model of the Liberator. By September, the rest of the squadron had joined it in Alaska. The squadron frequently operated from advanced bases in the Aleutian Chain. On 14 September, along with the

404th Bombardment Squadron 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

of the 28th Group, it conducted the first raid from

Adak Army Air Field Naval Air Facility Adak , was a United States Navy airport located west of Adak, on Adak Island in the U.S. state of Alaska.. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010. After its closure in 1997, it was reopened as Adak Airpor ...

, an attack on Japanese naval forces at

Kiska Kiska ( ale, Qisxa, russian: Кыска) is one of the Rat Islands, a group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is about long and varies in width from . It is part of Aleutian Islands Wilderness and as such, special permission is required ...

. By February 1943, American forces had occupied Amchitka, and the squadron began operating from

Amchitka Army Air Field Amchitka Air Force Base is an abandoned Air Force Base located on Amchitka, in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. History Aleutians campaign The Aleutian Islands Campaign was not considered a priority by the Joint ...

. On 18 July, the squadron provided planes that, along with planes from the 36th and 404th Squadrons, attacked Shimushu and

Paramushiru russian: Парамушир ja, 幌筵島 , native_name_link = , nickname = , location = Pacific Ocean , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Island , total_islands = , major_islands = , area_km2 = 2053 , length_km = 100 , width_km = 20 ...

in the Kuril Islands. Although the attack caused little damage, it was the first attack on Japan itself after the Doolittle Raid. Although the squadron spent fifteen months operating under the control of the 28th Group in Alaska, it remained formally assigned to the 30th Group at March Field. By September 1943, when the Aleutian Campaign had ended and the squadron was released to return to the United States, the 30th Group and its remaining squadrons had departed for the Pacific, and the squadron was disbanded at

Smoky Hill Army Air Field Salina Regional Airport , formerly Salina Municipal Airport, is three miles southwest of Salina, Kansas, United States. The airport is owned by the Salina Airport Authority. It is used for general aviation, with service by one passenger airline, ...

, Kansas on 1 November.Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 80-81

Strategic bombing of Japan

501st Bombardment Group B-29 takeoff Northwest Field Guam 1945

The second predecessor of the squadron was the 21st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, which was activated at

Dalhart Army Air Field Dalhart Army Air Base is a former World War II military airfield complex near the city of Dalhart, Texas. It operated three training sites for the United States Army Air Forces from 1943 until 1945. The majority of the namesake city of Dalhart, ...

, Texas as one of the original four squadrons of the

16th Bombardment Group The United States Air Force's 16th Bombardment Group was a very heavy bombardment group that participated in combat in the Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II. History World War II The 16th Bombardment Group was activated on 1 April 1944 at Da ...

. However, before the squadron could be manned or equipped, groups flying the

were reorganized from four to three bombardment squadrons and the squadron was inactivated on 10 May 1944.Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 110-111 The squadron's inactivation lasted only three weeks, however, and on 1 June it was again activated at Dalhart, this time as a component of the

501st Bombardment Group 5 (five) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typ ...

. In August, the squadron moved to Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska, where it trained for combat with the Superfortress. It left Harvard in March 1945 after completing its training and arrived at its combat station,

Northwest Field (Guam) Northwest Field (historically Northwest Guam Air Force Base) is a military airfield in Guam. Built in 1945 during World War II, the airfield was used as a bomber base during and after the war until it was closed in 1949. Units deployed to the ...

on 14 April. The squadron flew its first combat mission against

Truk Island Chuuk Lagoon, previously Truk Atoll, is an atoll in the central Pacific. It lies about northeast of New Guinea, and is part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). A protective reef, around, encloses a natural harbou ...

on 19 June, and eight days later made its first attack on Japan. The unit's missions focused on Japan's petroleum facilities on

Honshu , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...

. In July 1945, it received a

for attacks on the Maruzen and Utsobo oil

refineries A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value. Types of refineries Different types of refineries ar ...

and storage facilities at Kawasaki.Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 367 After VJ Day, the squadron dropped food and supplies to

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold priso ...

in Japan, China, Korea and Manchuria. The squadron remained on Guam until it was inactivated in June 1946.

Vietnam War

The 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron was organized at

Pleiku Air Base Pleiku Air Base is a former air force base in Vietnam. It was established by the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) in 1962 at an undeveloped airstrip, and was used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War in the II Corps Tacti ...

, South Vietnam on 8 May 1965, as one of three squadrons activated to augment the

19th Tactical Air Support Squadron Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number), the natural number following 18 and preceding 20 * one of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (film), a 1987 science fiction film Music ...

, which had been operating in the

forward air control Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller (FAC). ...

mission in South Vietnam since 1963. It initially flew Cessna O-1 Bird Dog aircraft in the forward air control mission. However, it was not until August that the squadron became operational. The 21st operated primarily in the

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

Area, with its aircraft dispersed to support

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

, ARVN and Korean units. While initially organizing, it directed air strikes during the Battle of Duc CoInitial Historical Report, 505th Tactical Control Group, reprinted at The squadron performed visual reconnaissance with light aircraft, flying slowly at low altitude. By patrolling the same area regularly, squadron forward air controllers grew familiar with the terrain and learned to detect changes that could indicate enemy forces hiding below. The controller called in

fighter-bomber A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...

s and marked targets with smoke grenades or white phosphorus rockets. After the attacks, controllers flew low over the target to assess the damage. In September 1966, the 21st moved from the highlands of Pleiku to the coastal base of Nha Trang Air Base.Haulman, Daniel L., Lineage and Honors History of the Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron (AETC), Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 6, 1998 Cessna 02-A Bird Dog

On 27 February 1967, Captain

, one of the squadron's forward air controllers, was flying visual reconnaissance in his Cessna O-1 ahead of a South Vietnamese ranger battalion. He located a well-concealed numerically superior Viet Cong (VC) force poised to ambush the rangers. The enemy immediately fired on his plane and advanced on the ranger force, which was pinned down by devastating fire. Capt. Wilbanks recognized that

close air support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...

would not be able to arrive soon enough to help the rangers to withstand the advancing enemy. Flying through withering fire at treetop level, he flew over the VC and inflicted many casualties by firing his rifle out the side window of his Bird Dog. Despite increasingly intense antiaircraft fire, he made repeated low passes over the VC. His tactics interrupted the VC's advance and allowed the rangers to withdraw to safety. During his final attack, Capt. Wilbanks was mortally wounded and his aircraft crashed between the opposing forces. He saved numerous friendly personnel from certain injury or death. For his action that day, he was awarded the

. The single engine of the O-1 Bird Dog made it particularly vulnerable to ground fire and it lacked radio equipment that would permit it to communicate with ground troops and attacking aircraft at the same time. Its low speed and endurance, in addition to making it more vulnerable, sometimes delayed its arrival in areas of operation and the time it could operate. In 1968, the squadron began equipping with twin engined, faster Cessna O-2 Skymasters that had higher speed, greater endurance and better communications equipment, although the O-1 would not be completely phased out of squadron operations until 1971. The 21st moved to

Cam Ranh Bay Air Base Cam Ranh Air Force Base is located on Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. It was one of several air bases built and used by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War. Cam Ranh Air Force Base was part of the large Ca ...

, South Vietnam in September 1969, and to

Phan Rang Air Base Phan Rang Air Base (also called Thành Sơn Air Base) is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) ''(Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam)'' military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm in Ninh Thuận Provi ...

two years later. As the United States withdrew forces from Vietnam, the squadron moved to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in January 1972 and was inactivated there on 21 February 1973. Aircraft losses during the war included 41 O-1s, 16 O-2s and an OV-10, while 29 crewmembers lost their lives in combat.

Cold War

The squadron was again activated at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, at the end of August 1973.Mueller, p. 354 At MacDill, it was equipped with the Cessna OT-37 Tweet and was assigned to the 68th Tactical Air Support Group, which was located at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Little less than a year later, on 1 July 1974, it moved to Shaw, where it joined its parent

507th Tactical Air Control Group 5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on eac ...

, which assumed the mission of the 68th Group when the 68th was inactivated in June 1974.Mueller, p. 533 At Shaw, the squadron converted from the OT-37 to the OV-10 Bronco in 1988. It re-equipped with the Fairchild Republic OA-10 Thunderbolt II in 1991, shortly before being inactivated and transferring its mission, equipment and personnel to the

21st Tactical Fighter Squadron The 21st Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It is a United States Air Force squadron that operates Taiwanese-owned General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting fighter and mainten ...

in November 1991.

Testing, evaluation and analysis

The squadron was redesignated the 21st Test and Evaluation Squadron and activated on 15 September 1992 at Randolph Air Force Base, where it was assigned to the 12th Operations Group. It absorbed the resources of the 3307th Test and Evaluation Squadron, which had been activated on 15 September 1991 and assigned to the 3300th Training Support Group, and which was simultaneously inactivated. Air Training Command (ATC) had established the 3307th Squadron to perform tests and evaluations of new ATC systems including

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...

, simulators and

software Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. At the lowest programming level, executable code consists ...

to determine if these acquisitions met operational requirements. The squadron became the Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Flight at the end of March 1994. In April 1997, it added the resources of the 602d Training Support Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, which developed training programs for new

weapons systems A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...

as they were acquired by the Air Force and became a squadron again. Personnel at Edwards formed Detachment 1 of the squadron. The Edwards detachment later downgraded to Operating Location A in 2003, and its mission and personnel were absorbed by the squadron at Randolph in 2008. The squadron currently includes a technology innovation flight and a strategy analysis flight.

Lineage

; 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) * Constituted as the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940 : Activated on 15 January 1941 : Disbanded on 1 November 1943 : Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 21st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy and the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron as the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron ; 21st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy * Constituted as the 21st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 March 1944 : Activated on 1 April 1944 : Inactivated on 10 May 1944 * Activated on 1 June 1944 : Inactivated on 10 June 1946 : Consolidated with the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron as the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron on 19 September 1985 ; Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron * Constituted as the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) on 26 April 1965 and activated (not organized) : Organized on 8 May 1965 : Inactivated on 21 February 1973 * Redesignated 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron on 17 July 1973 : Activated on 31 August 1973 : Consolidated with the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and the 21st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 19 September 1985 : Inactivated on 1 November 1991 * Redesignated 21st Test and Evaluation Squadron on 1 September 1992 : Activated 15 September 1992 : Redesignated Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Flight on 31 March 1994 : Redesignated Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron on 1 April 1997

Assignments

* 30th Bombardment Group, 15 January 1941 (under operational control of 28th Composite Group, 9 January 1942–September 1943) *

Second Air Force The Second Air Force (2 AF; ''2d Air Force'' in 1942) is a USAF numbered air force responsible for conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and non-flying officers. In World War II the CONUS unit defended ...

, 18 October 1943 – 1 November 1943 * 16th Bombardment Group, 1 April 1944 – 10 May 1944 * 501st Bombardment Group, 1 June 1944 – 10 June 1946Assignments and stations through 1946 in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 110-111 *

Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (fo ...

, 28 April 1965 (not organized) *

2d Air Division The 2nd Air Division (2nd AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-Third Air Force, being stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It started operations on 7 N ...

, 8 May 1965 (attached to Tactical Air Support Group 6250th, Provisional after 1 August 65) * 505th Tactical Control Group, 8 November 1965 (attached to Tactical Air Support Group, Provisional, 6250th 1–8 September 1966, Tactical Air Support Group, Provisional, 6253d after 9 September 1966) *

504th Tactical Air Support Group The 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated as the 504th Tactical Air Support Group in 1966 for service during the Vietnam War, and was reactivated in 2009 for service i ...

, 8 December 1966 *

377th Air Base Wing The 377th Air Base Wing is a wing (air force unit), wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing has been the host unit at Kirtland since January 1993. It was activated on 1 January 1993, when Air F ...

, 15 November 1972 – 21 February 1973Ravenstein indicates this assignment started on 15 March 1972. Ravenstein, p. 202 * 68th Tactical Air Support Group, 31 August 1973 * 507th Tactical Air Control Group (later 507th Tactical Air Control Wing), 15 June 1974 – 1 November 1991 * 12th Operations Group, 15 September 1992 *

, 31 March 1994 – present

Stations

* March Field, California, 15 January 1941 * New Orleans Airport, Louisiana, 22 May 1941 : Detachment operated from Savannah Army Air Base, Georgia, 8–14 December 1941 * Muroc Army Air Field, California, 25 December 1941 * March Field, California, 11 February–20 August 1944 : Detachment operated from

San Diego Airport San Diego International Airport , formerly known as Lindbergh Field, is an international airport northwest of Downtown San Diego, California, United States. It is owned and operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.. US Federa ...

, California, 10 May–16 June 1942 : Detachments operated from

Los Angeles Airport Los Angeles International Airport , commonly referred to as LAX (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles, California and its surrounding metropolitan area. LAX is located in the ...

, California; McChord Field, Washington and Hamilton Field, California, 28 May–7 June 1942 : Air echelon operated from Fort Glenn Army Air Base, Alaska, after 11 June 1942 * Fort Glenn Army Air Base, Alaska, 3 September 1942 - 19 September 1943 : Operated from Adak Army Air Field, Alaska, 21 September-15 November 1942, c. 16 December 1942-Unknown and 18 February-13 August 1943 : Operated from Amchitka Army Air Field, Alaska, 18 February–July 1943 *

Shemya Army Air Field Eareckson Air Station , formerly Shemya Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force military airport located on the island of Shemya, in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. The airport was closed as an active Air Force Station on 1 July 1994. Howev ...

, Alaska, c. 27 July-c. 19 September 1943 * Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas, 11 October-1 November 1943 * Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 1 April-10 May 1944 * Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 1 June 1944 * Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska, 23 August 1944 – 7 March 1945 * Northwest Field (Guam), Marianna Islands, 14 April 1945 – 10 June 1946 * Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 May 1965 * Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, 15 September 1966Lester, p. 117 * Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam, 1 September 1969 *

, South Vietnam, 30 September 1971 * Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, 10 January 1972 – 21 February 1973 * MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 31 August 1973 * Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 July 1974 * Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, 15 September 1992 – present

Aircraft

* Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1941 * Boeing YB-17 Flying Fortress, 1941 * Lockheed A-29 Hudson, 1941-1942 * Consolidated LB-30 Liberator, 1942 * Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942-1943 * Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1944-1946 * Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, 1965-1971 * Cessna O-2 Skymaster, 1968-1973 * North American OV-10 Bronco, 1971, 1973-1988, 1989-1991 *

Sikorsky CH-3 The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R. The S-61R served in the United States ...

, 1975-1977 * Cessna OT-37 Dragonfly, 1986-1988 * Fairchild Republic OA-10 Thunderbolt II, 1991

Mission

History

World War II

Antisubmarine and Alaskan service

Strategic bombing of Japan

Vietnam War

Cold War

Testing, evaluation and analysis

Lineage

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links