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491st Attack Squadron

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=491st Attack Squadron

File:Air Education and Training Command.svg

|image=138th Attack Squadron - General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper 09-4072.jpg

|image_size=300px

|caption=MQ-9 Reaper at Hancock Field ANGB{{efn|Aircraft is General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper, serial 09-4072 assigned to the 174th Attack Wing.}}

|dates=1917–1919; 1925–1937; 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1958–1961; 2019–present

|country={{USA}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

|type=

|role=attack training

|size=

|command_structure=Air Education and Training Command

|current_commander=Lt Col Matthew Scardaci{{cite web |url= https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8510868/491st-attack-squadron-conducts-change-command-ceremony |last1=Rector|first1=Alexander|title=491st Attack Squadron Conducts Change of Command Ceremon|date=1 July 2024|publisher=174th Attack Wing Public Affairs|access-date=May 22, 2025}}

|garrison=Hancock Field ANGB

|nickname=Bomb Jockeys(1943)Watkins, pp. 90-91 Ringers(1944-present){{cite web |url= https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/1844306/ringing-in-tradition-innovating-airpower/ |last1=Stewart|first1=A1C Kindra|title=Ringing in tradition, innovating airpower|date=May 10, 2019|publisher=49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190510192408/https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/1844306/ringing-in-tradition-innovating-airpower/ |archive-date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 22, 2025}}

|motto=

|colors=

|march=

|mascot=

|battles=World War I
China-Burma-India Theater

|notable_commanders=

|anniversaries=

|decorations=Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

|battle_honours=

|identification_symbol=165px

|identification_symbol_label=491st Attack Squadron emblem{{efn|Approved 19 October 1944. Description: On a yellow disc, border black, a medium blue sphere in base, marked with white lines of latitude and longitude, and having a black and red stake affixed at pole, being rung by white horseshoe, trimmed black, leaving white speed lines to rear toward sinister chief.}}{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1822559/491-attack-squadron-aetc/ |last1=Musser|first1=James M.|title=Factsheet 491 Attack Squadron (AETC)|date=April 24, 2019|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=September 13, 2020}}

|identification_symbol_2=165px

|identification_symbol_2_label=First 491st Bombardment Squadron emblem{{efn|This emblem was used in 1943, but apparently never received official approval. Watkins, pp. 90-91.}}

}}

The 491st Attack Squadron is an active United States Air Force regular associate unit, stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, where it was activated in April 2019. It is assigned to the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and operates General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.

The first predecessor of the squadron was organized during World War I as the 79th Aero Squadron. It deployed to France in 1917, where it was redesignated the 491st Aero Squadron. It served as a construction unit before returning to the United States, where it was demobilized in 1919.

The squadron's second predecessor is the 491st Bombardment Squadron, an Organized Reserve. It was activated in 1925 at Sand Point Airport, Washington, but was only nominally manned. The first two predecessor squadrons were consolidated in 1936, but the consolidated unit was inactivated the following year and was disbanded in May 1942.

The third predecessor of the unit is the 491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), which was constituted and activated in India during World War II. It participated in combat in the China-Burma-India Theater until the end of the war, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. Following V-J Day, it returned to the United States and was inactivated.

This squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947, but was discontinued when Continental Air Command reduced the number of its units due to reduced defense expenditures in 1949. In 1958, it was consolidated with the earlier squadrons and activated at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas when Strategic Air Command expanded its Boeing B-47 Stratojet wings to four squadrons. The squadron was inactivated at Dyess in 1961. In 2019, it was redesignated and activated with its current mission.

Mission

The squadron, in association with the 108th Attack Squadron of the New York Air National Guard, trains aircrew for the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle, including operations, maintenance, support and medical personnel.

History

=World War I=

File:491st Aero Squadron - Group Photo 2.jpg

The first predecessor of the squadron was organized as the 79th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas in August 1917. It deployed to the Aviation Concentration Center in Garden City, New York in November for shipment to France. It arrived in France the following month and moved to Aulnat, near Clermont-Ferrand, where it was redesignated the 491st Aero Squadron (Construction). The 491st constructed and maintained facilities from February until December 1918, when it moved to St. Nazaire to prepare for transfer back to the United States. It arrived in the United States in January 1919 and was demobilized at the end of the month. It was reconstituted in December 1936 and consolidated with the 491st Bombardment Squadron.Clay, p. 1523

=Organized Reserves=

The first 491st Bombardment Squadron was authorized in the Organized Reserves in March 1924. It was organized at Sand Point Airport, Washington in the Ninth Corps Area the following January and assigned to the 349th Bombardment Group. The squadron was only nominally manned before it was inactivated in the spring of 1937. It was disbanded in May 1942. In August 1958 it was reconstituted and consolidated with the 491st Bombardment Squadron, Medium.

=World War II=

File:North American B-25C-15 Mitchell 42-32425 341BG 491 BS.jpg

The second 491st Bombardment Squadron was activated at Camp Malir, India (now Pakistan) on 15 September 1942. The squadron drew its initial cadre from the 11th Bombardment Squadron.{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bg341_home.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=341st Bomb Group (M) 10th & 14th Air Forces|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 15, 2025}} The 11th had been part of the 7th Bombardment Group, which had commanded a mixture of medium and heavy bombers in India. The 7th Group's two medium bomber squadrons were combined with the new 491st and 490th Bombardment Squadrons to form the 341st Bombardment Group, while the heavies remained with the 7th Group.Weaver, Tenth Air Force, p. 420

The squadron took some time to equip with North American B-25 Mitchells and was still without its own planes when India Air Task Force formed in October 1942,Weaver, Tenth Air Force, p. 432 operating as an element of the 22nd Bombardment Squadron.{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bs491_home.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=491st Bombardment Squadron (M) "Ringer Squadron"|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 22, 2025}} The air echelon did not arrive at Chakulia Airfield, until January 1943. The squadron began combat operations at Chakulia, with the 341st Group flying its first mission on 10 January 1943.{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bg341_history_43.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=341st Bomb Group: History 1943|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 22, 2025}}

The squadron flew missions against Japanese troop facilities throughout Burma and shipping in the Bay of Bengal. The 491st operated from Chakulia and from forward staging bases. In July and August of 1943 a considerable part of the squadron's ground personnel served with a training unit of Air Transport Command at Gaya Airport, India, while the squadron managed to operate through the monsoon season with only a skeleton ground force.{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bs491_home.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=491st Bombardment Squadron (M) "Ringer Squadron"|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 22, 2025}}

Plans to move the squadron to China late in 1943 caused the 491st to cut back manning to between half and two-thirds of the personnel that a normal medium bomber squadron would have. Aircraft parts, gasoline and ammunition were given priority for space on Air Transport Command transports flying the Hump. Only a minimum number of men could be transported over the Himalayan range. Security and other support services were provided by Republic of China Army personnel once the squadron arrived at Yangkai Airfield, China in January 1944.

From February 1944 until V-J Day the squadron carried out missions over China, French Indochina, Thailand and Burma, flying some missions to targets as distant as New Guinea and the South China Sea. During 1944. squadron detachments also operated from Kweilin Airfield and Liuchow Airfield, China. The squadron also used a technique developed by the 490th Squadron, called "glip" (for glide-skip) bombing to attack bridges, particularly rail bridges in French Indochina.{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bg341_history_45.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=341st Bomb Group: History 1945|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 22, 2025}} Its last combat mission was an attack on the Vinh, French Indochina (now Vietnam) railyards, although it later dropped leaflets near Liuchow, China.

In July 1945, squadron aircrews and maintenance personnel began transition training to the Douglas A-26 Invader at Fenny Airfield, India (now Bangla Desh).{{cite web |url= https://aafincbi.com/341st_web/bg341_home.html |last1=Strotman|first1=Tony|title=341st Bomb Group (M) 10th & 14th Air Forces|date=|publisher=Army Air Forces in China Burma India|access-date=May 15, 2025}} However, the war ended before the unit could convert to the new bomber, and they were ferried to A-26 units in Europe. The squadron remained in China until September 1945. It returned to the United States, where it was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the Port of Embarkation, on 2 November 1945.

=Air Force reserve=

The squadron was reactivated in June 1947 as a reserve unit at Bradley Field, Connecticut, where it was assigned to the 341st Bombardment Group, located at Westover Field, Massachusetts.Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 219-20 It was not equipped with operational aircraft, but flew North American AT-6 Texan and Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan trainer aircraft.341st Missile Wing History, p. 3 Its training was supervised by the 108th AAF Base Unit (later 108th AF Base Unit, 2227th Air Force Reserve Training Center) of Air Defense Command (ADC).Mueller, p. 580 In July 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/896/983.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command|date=27 December 1961|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=March 24, 2014}} President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,Knaack, p. 25 and the 491st was inactivated in June 1949.

=Strategic bomber operations=

File:Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojets - 020903-o-9999r-001.jpg

Starting in 1958, Strategic Air Command's Boeing B-47 Stratojet wings of began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. The SAC alert cycle divided itself into four parts: planning, flying, alert and rest to meet General Thomas S. Power’s initial goal to maintain one third of SAC's planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.Schake, p. 220 (note 43) To implement this new system, B-47 wings reorganized from three to four squadrons.Schake, p. 220 (note 43){{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/001/010/802.xml|last1=|first1=|title=Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)|date=1 April 1975|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=March 4, 2014}}

The World War II squadron was consolidated with the first 491st Bombardment Squadron and activated on 1 November 1958 at Dyess Air Force Base as the fourth B-47 squadron of the 341st Bombardment Wing. The squadron trained in strategic bombardment operations with the B-47 and participated in SAC exercises and operations.{{cite web |url= https://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/456/078.xml |author=No byline|title=Abstract, 341 Bombardment Wing History, Jan 1957|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=May 15, 2025}} In April 1961, the squadron began drawing down in preparation for inactivation and was inactivated on 25 June 1961, transferring its aircraft to other SAC wings.Ravenstein, pp.180-181{{cite web |url= https://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/456/124.xml |author=No byline|title=Abstract, 341 Bombardment Wing Inactivation Progress Report|date=30 April 1961|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=May 15, 2025}}

=Unmanned aerial vehicle operation=

The squadron was redesignated the 491st Attack Squadron and activated at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York in April 2019. Its administrative parent is the 49th Operations Group, located at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, but it operates in association with the Air National Guard's 108th Attack Squadron. Its addition at Hancock permitted an increase in the number of MQ-9 crews trained there from 45 to up to 85 per year. The squadron' location at Hancock Field permits MQ-9 crews to train in harsher weather conditions and at a location where its operations need to be synchronized with civilian flights on the runway it shares with Syracuse Hancock International Airport.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/896/983.xml |last1=Paczkowski|first1=SRA Nicholas|title=491st ATKS maintains MQ-9 Reaper aircrew, maintainers|date=August 16, 2024|publisher=49th Wing Public Affairs|access-date=May 6, 2025}}

Lineage

491st Aero Squadron

  • Organized as the 79th Aero Squadron on 15 August 1917

: Redesignated 491st Aero Squadron (Construction) on 1 February 1918

  • Demobilized on 31 January 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated 5 December 1936 with the 491st Bombardment SquadronLineage in Musser, except as noted.

491st Bombardment Squadron

  • Constituted as the 491st Bombardment Squadron in the Organized Reserve on 31 March 1924

: Activated in January 1925

  • Consolidated 5 December 1936 with the 491st Aero Squadron

: Inactivated on 2 March 1937

  • Disbanded on 31 May 1942
  • Reconstituted and consolidated on 20 August 1958 with the 491st Bombardment Squadron, Medium

491st Attack Squadron

  • Constituted as the 491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 14 August 1942

: Activated on 15 September 1942

  • Redesignated 491st Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 1 August 1943

: Inactivated on 2 November 1945

  • Redesignated 491st Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 May 1947

: Activated in the reserve on 5 June 1947

: Inactivated on 27 June 1949

  • Redesignated 491st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1958 and consolidated with the 491st Bombardment Squadron

: Activated on 1 November 1958

: Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1961

  • Redesignated 491st Attack Squadron on 26 March 2019

: Activated on 15 April 2019

=Assignments=

  • Unknown, 15 August–December 1917{{efn|Probably Post Headquarters, Kelly Field to November 1917, then Garden City Aviation General Supply Depot & Concentration Camp.}}
  • Seventh Aviation Instruction Center, December 1917 – December 1918
  • Unknown, December 1918 – 31 January 1919
  • 349th Bombardment Group, January 1925 – 2 March 1937
  • 341st Bombardment Group, 15 September 1942 – 2 November 1945
  • 341st Bombardment Group, 5 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 341st Bombardment Wing, 1 November 1958 – 25 June 1961.
  • 49th Operations Group, 15 April 2019 – presentAssignments in Musser, except as noted.

=Stations=

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

  • Kelly Field, Texas, 15 August 1917
  • Garden City, New York, New York, 3–22 November 1917
  • Aulnat, France, 18 December 1917
  • St. Nazaire, France, c. 30 December 1918 – c. 12 January 1919
  • Garden City, New York, c. 23–31 January 1919
  • Sand Point Airport, Washington, January 1925 – 2 March 1937
  • Camp Malir, India, 15 September 1942
  • Chakulia Airfield, India, 5 January 1943 (detachment of ground personnel at Gaya, India, 20 July – 10 September 1943)
  • Yangkai Airfield, China, 10 January 1944 – 13 September 1945 (detachments operated from Kweilin Airfield and Liuchow Airfield, China, 13 June – 10 July 1944 and from and Liuchow, 29 August – 2 November 1944)
  • Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1 November 1945 – 2 November 1945
  • Bradley Field, Connecticut, 5 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 1 November 1958 – 25 June 1961
  • Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York, 15 April 2019 – present

{{div col end}}

=Aircraft=

  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1945
  • Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1958–1961

=Awards and campaigns=

{{unit awards table

|award_image1=AF PUC

|award_name1=Distinguished Unit Citation

|award_date1=11 December 1944–12 March 1945

|award_notes1=491st Bombardment Squadron, French Indochina

|award_image2=AF OUA

|award_name2=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

|award_date2=1 July 2020–30 June 2022

|award_notes2=491st Attack Squadron{{cite web |url= http://access.afpc.af.mil/AwardsDMZNet40/SearchAwards.aspx |last1=|first1=|title=Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards|date=|publisher=Air Force Personnel Center|access-date=May 22, 2025}} (search)

}}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! Campaign Streamer

! Campaign

! Dates

! Notes

200pxTheater of Operations18 December 1917–c. 12 January 1919491st Aero Squadron
200pxNew Guinea24 January 1943–31 December 1944491st Bombardment Squadron
200pxIndia-Burma2 April 1943–28 January 1945491st Bombardment Squadron
200pxChina Defensive13 April 1945–4 May 1945491st Bombardment Squadron
200pxChina Offensive5 May 1945–2 September 1945491st Bombardment Squadron

See also

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

{{Notelist}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|30em}}

=Bibliography=

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

  • {{cite book|last=Clay|first=Steven E.|title=US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941|url=http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle3.pdf|access-date=October 16, 2012|volume=3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919-1941|year=2011|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|location=Fort Leavenworth, KS|isbn=978-0-98419-014-0|oclc=637712205|lccn=2010022326|archive-date=27 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135817/http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle3.pdf|url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite book| editor=Craven, Wesley F|editor2=Cate, James L |url=http://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329889/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-010.pdf|access-date=December 17, 2016 | title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=IV: The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan |year=1950|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|oclc=704158|lccn=48003657}}

:: {{cite book|last=Weaver|first=Herbert| editor=Craven, Wesley F|editor2=Cate, James L |url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329890/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-012.pdf |access-date=December 17, 2016 | title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=IV: The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan: August 1942 to July 1944 |year=1950|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|oclc=704158|lccn=48003657 |chapter=China-Burma-India, Chapter 12, Tenth Air Force}}

  • {{cite book|last=Knaack|first=Marcelle Size|title=Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/26/2001330264/-1/-1/0/AFD-100526-026.pdf|access-date=December 17, 2016|volume=2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973|year= 1978 |publisher= Office of Air Force History|location= Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-59-5 }}
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
  • {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330257/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-047.pdf|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9}}
  • {{cite book|last=Schake|first=Col Kurt W.|title=Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950-1960|url= http://www.theblackvault.com/documents/ADA353633.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2015|year=1998|publisher=Norwegian University of Science and Technology|location= Trondheim, Norway|isbn=978-8277650241}}
  • {{cite web |url= https://minutemanmissile.com/documents/341stMissileWingHistoryPamphlet.pdf |author=No byline|title=History of the 341st Missile Wing|date=|publisher=341st Missile Wing Office of History|access-date=May 19, 2025}}

; Further reading

  • {{cite book|editor1-last=Fimel|editor1-first=Lt Robert|title= China Adventure: The Ringers 1943-1945. 491st Bombardment Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force

|year=1945|publisher=N.P.|location=New York}}

  • {{cite book|last1=Nelson|first1=McKay H.|title=Diary of a Bomb Squadron: A Tribute to 1080 Young Men|year=1997|publisher=Rollographics|location=Cedar City, UT}}

{{United States Air Force}}

{{USAF Air Education and Training Command}}

{{Strategic Air Command}}

{{USAAF 14th Air Force World War II}}

{{USAAF 10th Air Force World War II}}

Category:Attack squadrons of the United States Air Force

Category:Military units and formations in New York (state)