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The 37th Bomb Squadron is part of the 28th Bomb Wing at
Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located about northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder. The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW). Assigned to the Global Strik ...
, South Dakota. It operates
Rockwell B-1 Lancer The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with ...
aircraft providing strategic bombing capability. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 13 June 1917, when the 37th Aero Squadron was organized at
Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting. I ...
, Texas. The squadron deployed to France as part of the
American Expeditionary Force The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
during World War I and served as a training unit until returning to the US for demobilization. It was active in the interwar years at
Langley Field Langley may refer to: People * Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name * Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer * Elizabeth Langley (born 1933), Canadian perfo ...
, Virginia as a pursuit and attack squadron. The squadron saw combat as the 37th Bombardment Squadron, a
Martin B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in ...
unit in the
Mediterranean Theater of Operations The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the North African Theater of Operations, United States Army (NATOUSA), was a military formation of the United States Army that supervised all U.S. Army forc ...
during World War II, earning two
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 ...
s (DUC) for its performance. It was inactivated after the war's end, although it was briefly active as a paper unit in 1947–1948. The squadron was again activated during the
Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top:{{ ...
, when it replaced a reserve unit that was being returned to reserve duty. Flying night intruder missions with
Douglas B-26 Invader The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major ...
s, the squadron earned another DUC before the truce in July 1953. In 1955 it returned to the United States and became one of the first jet tactical bomber units, flying
Martin B-57 Canberra The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electri ...
s and
Douglas B-66 Destroyer The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company. The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United Sta ...
s. After a brief deployment to England, the squadron once again inactivated. In 1977, the 37th became part of the
Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile c ...
, flying
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...
es until 1982. It assumed its present role in 1987. The squadron is an honorary member of the
NATO Tiger Association The NATO Tiger Association or the Association of Tiger Squadrons was established in 1961. Promoted by French Defence minister Pierre Messmer, its role is to promote solidarity between NATO air forces. It is not, though, part of the formal NA ...


History


World War I

Established on 13 June 1917 at
Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting. I ...
in Texas, the 37th Aero Squadron moved to France in early September. After a short spell at
Étampes Étampes () is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris (as the crow flies). Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department. Étampes, together with the neighboring ...
(18–23 September), it settled at the
Issoudun Aerodrome Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...
,Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. p. 175-176 participating at the installation of the Third Aviation Instruction Center. Once declared operational, it started flight training for newly arrived American pilots and crew members. Reaching
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture ...
c. 6 January 1919, the squadron stayed there until 18 March, when it board a transport to bring it back to the United States where it was demobilized.


Inter-war years

Reactivated at
Langley Field Langley may refer to: People * Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name * Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer * Elizabeth Langley (born 1933), Canadian perfo ...
, Virginia in September 1933 at as the 37th Pursuit Squadron, the squadron was attached to the 8th Pursuit Group and equipped with
Curtiss P-6 Hawk The Curtiss P-6 Hawk is an American single-engine biplane fighter introduced into service in the late 1920s with the United States Army Air Corps and operated until the late 1930s prior to the outbreak of World War II. Design and development Th ...
s, in March 1935 it became the 37th Attack Squadron with Curtiss A-8 Shrike and
Northrop A-17 Nomad The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F model, was a two-seat, single-engine, monoplane, attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps. When in British Commonwealth service during ...
attack aircraft. In January 1938, the squadron was inactivated.


World War II


Early operations and training

The squadron was redesignated the 37th Bombardment Squadron and activated at
Barksdale Field Barksdale may refer to: Places * Barksdale, Mississippi, an unincorporated community *Barksdale, Texas, an unincorporated community * Barksdale, Wisconsin, a town ** Barksdale (community), Wisconsin, an unincorporated community *Barksdale Air Force ...
, Louisiana on 1 February 1940 with
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 ...
bombers as one of the original squadrons of the 28th Composite Group, which was training for deployment to Alaska. However, when the 28th Group moved to Alaska in February 1941, the squadron remained in the United States, at
Lowry Field Lowry Air Force Base (Lowry Field in 1938–1948) is a former United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) training base during World War II and a United States Air Force (USAF) training base during the Cold War, serving as the initial 1955–1958 si ...
, Colorado. In its place, the 73d Bombardment Squadron of the
17th Bombardment Group The 17th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The group was last stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Group is a direct successor to the 17th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the ...
moved to Alaska in March. The exchange of squadrons was completed in April and May 1941, as the 37th was reassigned to the 17th Group and the 73d to the 28th Group. In June, the squadron moved to
Pendleton Field Eastern Oregon Regional Airport (Eastern Oregon Regional Airport at Pendleton) is a public airport three miles northwest of Pendleton, in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Commercial service is provided by Boutique Air to Portland, subsidi ...
, Oregon and was colocated with its parent group for the first time since the squadron's 1940 activation. At Pendleton, the squadron transitioned into the
North American B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in ...
medium bomber. Following the
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, ju ...
, the 37th flew
antisubmarine An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...
patrols off the Pacific coast until about March 1942. Because the 17th Group was the first Army Air Forces unit to equip with the Mitchell, the squadron, along with the other squadrons of the 17th Group contributed aircrews for the
Doolittle Raid The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was an air raid on 18 April 1942 by the United States on the Japanese capital Tokyo and other places on Honshu during World War II. It was the first American air operation to strike the Japan ...
on Tokyo, Japan on 6 April 1942. After the Japanese
Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, ju ...
, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols over the Northwest Pacific coast until May 1942.


Photographs of Recent Operations

File:180124-F-SE307-0109.jpg, (B-1 preflight) File:Forward fuselage of B-1B Lancer flying over Iraq Operation Inherent Resolve 151224-F-XD880-288.jpg , (Operation Inherent Resolve) File:Operation Enduring Freedom; Bomber Air Refueling Mission (10745774513).jpg , (Operation Enduring Freedom) File:171010-F-OQ776-911.jpg, (B-1 Takeoff, Continuous Bomber Presence, Andersen AFB) File:A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer is flanked by two F-15K Slam Eagles (29942752785).jpg , (A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, deployed to Andersen Air Base, Guam, is flanked by two F-15K Slam Eagles) File:171127-F-FF346-912.jpg, (Continuous Bomber Presence, Guam)


Combat operations in the Mediterranean

In June 1942, the squadron returned to Barksdale Field, where it began transitioning into the
Martin B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in ...
. Following
Operation Torch Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 16 November 1942) was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while al ...
, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, the squadron moved to Algeria, where it began combat operations on 30 December. The squadron flew
interdiction Interdiction is a military term for the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction. The former refers to operations whose ...
and
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 ...
missions, contributing to the defeat of
Axis forces The Axis powers, ; it, Potenze dell'Asse ; ja, 枢軸国 ''Sūjikukoku'', group=nb originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis, was a military coalition that initiated World War II and fought against the Allies of World War II, Allies. Its p ...
in Africa by May 1943. In June 1943, the squadron conducted bombing attacks leading to the surrender of enemy forces in
Pantelleria Pantelleria (; Sicilian: ''Pantiddirìa'', Maltese: ''Pantellerija'' or ''Qawsra''), the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of the Tunisi ...
and
Lampedusa Lampedusa ( , , ; scn, Lampidusa ; grc, Λοπαδοῦσσα and Λοπαδοῦσα and Λοπαδυῦσσα, Lopadoûssa; mt, Lampeduża) is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The ''comune'' of ...
. The squadron participated in Operations Husky and
Avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and eart ...
as the Allies moved into Sicily and Italy.Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 61–63 During the Allied drive toward
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...
, the squadron was awarded 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 ...
(DUC) for an attack on
airfield An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...
s near Rome on 13 January 1944. Its operations in Italy between April and June 1944 earned it the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. In August 1944, the squadron bombed targets to support
Operation Dragoon Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15August 1944. Despite initially designed to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, t ...
, the invasion of southern France. The squadron continued operations through the remainder of the year. Shortly before the end of the war, on 10 April 1945, the squadron participated in an attack on
Schweinfurt Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultural and educational hub. The urban ag ...
, Germany, for which it received a second DUC. Following
V-E Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
, the squadron participated in disarming German forces. In November 1945, it returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation.


Korean War

The squadron was reactivated in May 1947 by
Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 Ju ...
but it was not manned or equipped. It was inactivated in September 1948. The squadron was activated at Pusan East Air Base, Korea on 10 May 1952, when it assumed the mission, personnel and
Douglas B-26 Invader The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major ...
s of the 729th Bombardment Squadron. The 729th was a reserve unit that had been called to active duty for the
Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top:{{ ...
and was being returned to reserve status. The squadron continued the night bombing operations of the 729th, concentrating on attacks on enemy lines of communication and troop concentrations. In 1953, the squadron focused on attacking rail rolling stock, facilities and supplies. Using Invaders with glass noses,Some of the unit's B-26s had solid noses with machine guns mounted in them. the squadron developed techniques for conducting armed reconnaissance missions against
locomotive A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, motor coach, railcar or power car; the us ...
s and
freight car A railroad car, railcar ( American and Canadian English), railway wagon, railway carriage, railway truck, railwagon, railcarriage or railtruck (British English and UIC), also called a train car, train wagon, train carriage or train truck, is ...
s and began flying missions employing these tactics in February 1953. It participated in Operation Spring Thaw and starting in March, attacked southbound routes along the East Coast of North Korea. It continued operations until the July 1953 truce, and was awarded its third DUC for its operations. The 37th remained in Korea as a precaution against the resumption of hostilities. In September 1954, it relocated to
Miho Air Base Miho Airbase (美保飛行場) , also known as Yonago Airport is a Japan Air Defense Force (JASDF) base located 11 km northwest of Yonago in Tottori Prefecture. It is owned and operated by JASDF and shares the runway with civil activities. ...
, Japan, It remained in Japan until the spring of 1955, when it returned to the United States for conversion to jet bombers.


Tactical jet bomber operations

Re-equipped with
Martin B-57 Canberra The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electri ...
jet bombers and conducted evaluation testing of the aircraft at Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9; transitioned to Douglas B-66B Destroyers in 1956, the first squadron to receive the new tactical bomber. Deployed to
RAF Sculthorpe The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
, England briefly in 1958 before returning to Eglin and performing more testing on B-66s with Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) and until being inactivated later in the year.


Strategic bombardment operations

The squadron joined the
28th Bombardment Wing The 28th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Eighth Air Force (8 AF) of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The wing is also the "host unit" at Ellsworth ...
at
Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located about northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder. The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW). Assigned to the Global Strik ...
, becoming the wing's second
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...
squadron on 1 January 1977. The squadron continued to fly the "Buff" until October 1982, when it was inactivated. On 1 January 1987, the squadron activated and transitioned to its current aircraft, the
Rockwell B-1B Lancer The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with ...
. Along with all other active bomber units in the air force it changed its name and became the 37th Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991. In December 1998, it became the first unit to employ the B-1 in combat in support of
Operation Desert Fox The 1998 bombing of Iraq (code-named Operation Desert Fox) was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from 16 to 19 December 1998, by the United States and the United Kingdom. On 16 December 1998, President of the United States Bill ...
in Iraq. One year later, crews from the squadron supported
Operation Allied Force The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) carried out an aerial bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The air strikes lasted from 24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999. The bombings continued until an a ...
and flew combat operations in Kosovo and Serbia. Since the
9/11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
, the 37th and its sister squadron at Ellsworth, the 34th Bomb Squadron have joined to provide aircraft and crews to form expeditionary units. These expeditionary units have flown missions contributing to the effort to drive the
Taliban The Taliban (; ps, طالبان, ṭālibān, lit=students or 'seekers'), which also refers to itself by its state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a Deobandi Islamic fundamentalist, militant Islamist, jihadist, and Pashtu ...
from Afghanistan. During this time, the combined squadrons flew 5 percent of the strike missions but released nearly 40 percent of the total bomb tonnage—more than 1,730 tons. Its personnel have also employed the B-1 during
Operation Iraqi Freedom {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق ( Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict and the War on terror , image ...
, including a strike against high priority leadership targets in Baghdad. In 2007, the 37th began regular deployments to the Middle East, rotating with other B-1 units, with one year at home station followed by six months deployed. On average squadron members fly over 6,000 combat hours and more than 500 combat sorties per deployment. Squadron personnel supported Libya strike missions during
Operation Odyssey Dawn Operation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the American role in the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued aft ...
, the first B-1 combat mission launched from the United States to strike overseas targets.


Operation Odyssey Dawn

File:110326-F-CF975-115-2.jpg, (B-1 weapons loading, Odyssey Dawn) File:110327-F-VK137-592.jpg , (B-1 weapons loading, Odyssey Dawn) File:110330-F-VK137-098.jpg , (Odyssey Dawn, B-1 Return post strike)


Lineage

* Organized as the 37th Aero Squadron on 13 June 1917 : Demobilized on 15 April 1919 * Reconstituted and redesignated 37th Pursuit Squadron on 24 March 1923 : Activated on 1 September 1933 : Redesignated 37th Attack Squadron on 1 March 1935 : Inactivated on 31 January 1938 * Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939 : Activated on 1 February 1940 : Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 9 October 1944 : Inactivated on 26 November 1945 * Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 29 April 1947 : Activated on 19 May 1947 : Inactivated on 10 September 1948 * Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder on 8 May 1952 : Activated on 10 May 1952 : Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 1 October 1955 : Inactivated on 25 June 1958 * Redesignated 37th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 16 June 1977 : Activated on 1 July 1977 : Inactivated on 1 October 1982 * Activated on 1 January 1987 : Redesignated 37th Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991


Assignments

* Unknown, 13 June 1917 * Third Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1917 * Commanding General, Services of Supply, Jan-15 Apr 1919 * 18th Pursuit Group (attached to 8th Pursuit Group), 1 September 1933 * 2d Wing (remained attached to 8th Pursuit Group), 1 March 1935 – 31 January 1938 * 28th Composite Group, 1 February 1940 * 17th Bombardment Group, 23 April 1941 – 26 November 1945 * 17th Bombardment Group, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948 * 17th Bombardment Group, 10 May 1952 – 25 June 1958 (attached to
17th Bombardment Wing 17 (seventeen) is the natural number following 16 and preceding 18. It is a prime number. Seventeen is the sum of the first four prime numbers. In mathematics 17 is the seventh prime number, which makes seventeen the fourth super-prime, as s ...
after 8 June 1957) *
28th Bombardment Wing The 28th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Eighth Air Force (8 AF) of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The wing is also the "host unit" at Ellsworth ...
, 1 July 1977 – 1 October 1982 * 28th Bombardment Wing, 1 January 1987 * 28th Operations Group, 1 September 1991


Stations

* Camp Kelly (later Kelly Field), Texas, 13 June–11 August 1917 * Étampes, France, 18 September 1917 *
Issoudun Aerodrome Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...
, France, 23 September 1917 * Bordeaux, France, c. 6 January–c. 18 March 1919 *
Mitchel Field Mitchell may refer to: People * Mitchell (surname) * Mitchell (given name) Places Australia * Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate * Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst * Mitchell, Northern Terr ...
, New York, c. 5–15 April 1919 * Langley Field, Virginia, 1 September 1933 – 31 January 1938 * Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 1 February 1940 * Lowry Field, Colorado, 10 July 1940 * Pendleton Field, Oregon, 29 June 1941 * Lexington County Airport, South Carolina, 16 February 1942 * Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 24 June–18 November 1942 * Telergma Airfield, Algeria, 21 December 1942 *
Sedrata Airfield Ain Beida Airport (french: Aéroport de Ouargla / Ain Beida) , also known as Ouargla Airport, is an airport serving Ouargla, a city in the Ouargla Province of eastern Algeria. It is located southeast of the city. The airport is in the Sahara Dese ...
, Algeria, c. 13 May 1943 *
Djedeida Airfield Djedeida Airfield is an airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 10 km east-northeast of El Battan, and 30 km west of Tunis. The airfield was built prior to 1942 and used by the German Luftwaffe. It was raided by elements of the U ...
, Tunisia, c. 25 June 1943 * Villacidro Airfield,
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian language, Italian, Corsican language, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese dialect, Algherese and Catalan languag ...
, Italy, c. 5 December 1943 * Poretta Airfield,
Corsica Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast o ...
, France, 21 September 1944 * Dijon Airfield (Y-9),Station number in Johnson. France, 20 November 1944 *
Linz Airport Linz Airport (german: link=no, Flughafen Linz, ) is a minor international airport located in Hörsching, near Linz, the third-largest city in Austria. It is also known as the Blue Danube Airport. History Early years Air traffic used to take pl ...
, Austria, c. 16 June 1945 * Horsching, Austria, (Ground echelon), 6 July 1945 * Clastres Airfield (A-71), France, c. 3 October–c. 17 November 1945 *
Camp Myles Standish Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts during World War II. It was the main staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation, with about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers passing through the camp on their wa ...
, Massachusetts, 25–26 November 1945 * Langley Field (later Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948 * Pusan East Air Base (K-9),Station number in Endicott, ''USAF in Korea'', pp. 177–178. South Korea, 10 May 1952 * Miho Air Base, Japan, c. 9 October 1954 – c. 19 March 1955 * Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), Florida, 1 April 1955 *
RAF Alconbury Royal Air Force Alconbury or more simply RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station near Huntingdon, England. The airfield is in the civil parish of The Stukeleys, close to the villages of Great Stukeley, Little Stukeley, and Alconbu ...
, England, 11 May 1958 * Hurlburt Field, Florida, 12 May–25 June 1958 * Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, 1 July 1977 – 1 October 1982 * Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, 1 January 1987 – present


Aircraft

*
Avro 504 The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind tha ...
(1918) *
Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ...
(1918) * DH-4 (1918) *
Nieuport 27 The Nieuport 27 (or Nieuport XXVII C.1 in contemporary sources) was a World War I French sesquiplane fighter aircraft designed by Gustave Delage. The 27 was the last of the line of Nieuport "V-strut" single seat fighters that began with the Nie ...
(1918) * Curtiss P-6 Hawk (1933–1935) * Curtiss A-8 Shrike (1935–1936) * Northrop A-17 Nomad (1936–1938) * Douglas B-18 Bolo (1940–1941) * North American B-25 Mitchell (1941–1942) * Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1945) * Douglas B-26 Invader (1952–1956) * Martin B-57A Canberra (1955–1956) * Douglas B-66B Destroyer (1956–1958) * Boeing B-52H Stratofortress (1977–1982) *
Rockwell B-1 Lancer The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with ...
(1987–present)


See also

*
International military intervention against ISIL In response to rapid territorial gains made by the so-called Islamic State during the first half of 2014, and its universally condemned executions, reported human rights abuses and the fear of further spillovers of the Syrian Civil War, many s ...
*
List of American aero squadrons This is a partial list of original Air Service, United States Army "Aero Squadrons" before and during World War I. Units formed after 1 January 1919, are not listed. Aero Squadrons were the designation of the first United States Army aviatio ...
*
List of B-1 units of the United States Air Force This is a List of B-1 Units of the United States Air Force by wing, squadron, location, features, variant, and service dates. During the 1980s, squadrons were transferred regularly to different wings and bases temporarily, and sometimes permane ...
*
List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been operational with the United States Air Force since 5 June, 1955. This list is of the units it was assigned to, and the bases it was stationed. In addition to the USAF, A single RB-52B (52-008) was flown ...
* List of B-57 units of the United States Air Force * List of Douglas A-26 Invader operators *
List of United States Air Force squadrons The United States Air Force and its predecessors include a number of specialized Air Force Squadrons. These units vary widely in size and may include several hundred enlisted airmen commanded by an officer in the rank of captain to lieutenant col ...
*
War on Terror The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...


References

; Explanatory notes ; Citations


Bibliography

* * * (subscription required for web access) * * * *


External links


B-1B "Bone" Factsheet28th Operations Group Fact Sheet
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II Military units and formations in South Dakota 037