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566th Strategic Missile Squadron

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= 566th Strategic Missile Squadron

|image=566th Strategic Missile Squadron SM-65E Atlas Missile.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=Squadron SM-65E Atlas missile in fully raised position at launch site

|dates=1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1959–1965

|country={{flag|United States|23px}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

|type =Squadron

|role=Intercontinental ballistic missile

|size=

|command_structure=

|current_commander=

|garrison=

|nickname=

|motto=

|colors=

|march=

|mascot=

|battles=European Theater of Operations

|notable_commanders=

|anniversaries=

|decorations=Distinguished Unit Citation

|battle_honours=

|identification_symbol=165px

|identification_symbol_label=566th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem{{efn|Approved 2 March 1962. Description: On an Air Force blue disc, a mound of terra-cotta colored earth; emerging from a hole in the mound, a caricatured mole wearing glasses on the end of his long snout, all white, and a miner's cap terra cotta, and supporting in his arms a silver-gray missile, trimmed in white and entwined with a green olive branch; above the mole's head a halo of nine white stars; outlines and details black throughout. Patches exist that indicate that prior to the approval of this emblem, the squadron used the emblem approved for the squadron it replaced at Warren in July 1961, the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron, with the squadron's number substituted for the 549th's.}}Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 664

|identification_symbol_2=165px

|identification_symbol_2_label=566th Bombardment Squadron emblemWatkins, pp. 78-79

|identification_symbol_3=RR

|identification_symbol_3_label=World War II fuselage marking

}}

The 566th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 389th Strategic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, where it was inactivated on 25 March 1965. The squadron was equipped with SM-65 Atlases.

The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 566th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to England, and participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Shortly after its arrival in Europe, the squadron sent a detachment to Libya. From this location, the detachment participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the low level attack on oil refineries near Ploesti, for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated in September 1945. The squadron was active from 1947 to 1949 in the reserve, but does not appear to have been fully equipped or manned.

It was activated as a strategic missile unit at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in 1959, but moved to Warren in 1961 as it was becoming operational.

History

=World War II=

==Initial activation and training==

The squadron was first activated as the 566th Bombardment Squadron in late December 1942 at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, one of the original four squadrons of the 389th Bombardment Group. A little over a month later, its cadre moved to Biggs Field, Texas, where it began training with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. The squadron departed the United States for the European Theater of Operations in June 1943. The ground echelon proceeded to the New York Port of Embarkation and Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, sailing on the {{RMS|Queen Elizabeth}}, reaching the United Kingdom on 6 July. The air echelon began ferrying their Liberators to Europe on 13 June after staging at Sioux City Army Air Base, then following the North Atlantic ferry route.Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 276-277Freeman, p. 255

==Combat in Europe==

By the time the ground echelon arrived at the squadron's combat station, RAF Hethel, the squadron had been called upon to reinforce Ninth Air Force in Africa and had begun its movement to Libya. The advanced echelon of the 389th Group had arrived at Hethel on 11 June and most of the air echelon was in place two weeks later. Personnel were transferred from the 44th and 93d Bombardment Groups to provide the squadron ground support in Libya.Freeman, p. 86

The squadron flew its first combat mission on 9 July 1943, with an attack on Maleme, Crete. It also flew missions to Sicily and other parts of Italy to support Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily through the middle of July. During the later part of the month the squadron concentrated on training for low-level operations in preparation for the attack on the oil refineries around Ploesti, Romania.Freeman, p. 87 Operation Tidal Wave was launched on 1 August 1943, with the squadron forming part of the last group formation to attack. The squadron headed for its target in Campina. This target was the most distant of the refineries being attacked and was assigned to the 389th Group because its B-24Ds were late production models and had a longer range than the planes of the other attacking groups. This refinery was totally destroyed in the attack. The squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for this action. Before returning to England, the squadron participated in another long range attack on the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Wiener Neustadt, Austria on 13 August, which reduced the production of Bf 109s at the factory by a third. The squadron returned to England in the last week of August.Freeman, p. 89

File:566th Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator.jpg

The 566th flew its first combat mission from England on 7 September 1943, when it attacked an air base in the Netherlands. The squadron again deployed to Tunisia during September and October 1943 to support Operation Avalanche, the landings on the Italian mainland at Salerno, striking targets in Corsica, Italy, and Austria. After returning to England, the squadron concentrated on strategic bombing campaign against Germany, with targets including industrial areas of Berlin, oil production plants at Merseburg, and factories at Munster, and shipbuilding facilities at Vegesack. It struck V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launch sites in the Pas de Calais and participated in the strikes against the German aircraft manufacturing industry during Big Week in late February 1944.

The squadron was occasionally diverted from strategic targets to perform air support and interdiction missions. To support Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, it hit airfields and artillery batteries. It struck enemy positions to support Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo. During the Battle of the Bulge, from December 1944 to January 1945, it attacked storage depots and communications centers. It supported Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine by dropping food, ammunition, and other supplies to the ground troops. The squadron flew its last mission on 25 April 1945.

==Return to the United States and inactivation==

Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States. The first airplane left Hethel on 20 May 1945 and the ground echelon left England on the {{SS|Cristobal}} on 30 May. The squadron reformed at Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina in June for air transport missions, but was not fully manned before inactivating on 13 September 1945.

=Air reserve=

The squadron was activated in the reserve at Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota, where it trained under the supervision of Air Defense Command (ADC). It is not clear to what degree the squadron was staffed or equipped.See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 664 (no aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949). In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/896/983.xml |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 The 566th was inactivated in June 1949 as reserve flying operations at what was now Ellsworth Air Force Base came to an end.See Mueller, pp. 154-156 (listing organizations at Ellsworth).

=Intercontinental ballistic missile squadron=

==Offutt Air Force Base==

The squadron was redesignated the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron and activated in August 1959 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where it was assigned to the 4321st Strategic Wing. The squadron was the last SM-65D Atlas squadron to be activated under Strategic Air Command (SAC).SAC Missile Chronology, p. 23 On 30 March 1961, the squadron was declared operational, the last Atlas D unit to do so, completing the deployment of the D model of this intercontinental ballistic missile.SAC Missile Chronology, p. 29

File:549th Strategic Missile Squadron - SM-65D Atlas Missile Sites.png

The squadron operated three missile sites of three SM-65D missiles at each site (9 total) at Offutt:

: 566-A, 3.4 mi SE of Mead, NE {{Coord|41|11|37|N|096|26|23|W|display=inline|name=549-A}}

: 566-B, 3.6 mi NE of Arlington, NE {{Coord|41|29|17|N|096|17|59|W|display=inline|name=549-B}}

: 566-C, 4.3 mi SE of Missouri Valley, IA {{Coord|41|31|15|N|095|49|09|W|display=inline|name=549-C}}

==Francis E. Warren Air Force Base==

On 1 July 1961, the 706th Strategic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming was inactivated and replaced by the 389th Strategic Missile Wing.Ravenstein, pp. 211; 294-295 In connection with this reorganization, the squadron (which was one of the 389th's traditional squadrons) transferred its mission, personnel and equipment to the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron, which moved to Offutt in its place.Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 652-653 The squadron was not inactivated, but instead replaced the 549th Squadron at Francis E. Warren and took over the 549th's SM-65E Atlas missiles there.

File:566th Strategic Missile Squadron - SM-65E Atlas Missile.png

The Atlas E was had an all-inertial system that obviated the need for ground control facilities. Since the missiles were no longer tied to a central guidance control facility, the launchers could be dispersed widely. At Warren, the squadron operated the following missile sites, with one missile at each site (9 total):

: 566–1, 6.5 mi SSE of Chugwater, WY {{Coord|41|40|07|N|104|46|37|W|display=inline|name=566-1}}

: 566–2, 8.8 mi SW of LaGrange, WY {{Coord|41|33|39|N|104|17|56|W|display=inline|name=566-2}}

: 566–3, 2.5 mi N of Pine Bluffs, WY {{Coord|41|13|05|N|104|03|56|W|display=inline|name=566-3}}

: 566–4, 2.2 mi SW of Kimball, NE {{Coord|41|12|36|N|103|41|09|W|display=inline|name=566-4}}

: 566–5, 5.1 mi N of Grover, CO {{Coord|40|56|44|N|104|12|57|W|display=inline|name=566-5}}

: 566–6, 3.2 mi WNW of Briggsdale, CO {{Coord|40|38|56|N|104|23|04|W|display=inline|name=566-6}}

: 566–7, 6.7 mi NNE of Nunn, CO {{Coord|40|47|17|N|104|43|10|W|display=inline|name=566-7}}

: 566–8, 1.9 mi W of Greeley, CO {{Coord|40|25|46|N|104|51|42|W|display=inline|name=566-8}}

: 566–9, 8.8 mi NW of Fort Collins, CO {{Coord|40|40|43|N|105|12|13|W|display=inline|name=566-9}}

In response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, on 20 October 1962, SAC directed that all Atlas E missiles off alert for modifications be “as covertly as possible” returned to alert status. Atlas missiles being used for operational readiness training were to be put on alert as soon as liquid oxygen was available. For safety reasons, liquid nitrogen was used rather than liquid oxygen during training.Kipp, et al., pp. 62-63 Despite the need for stealth, eventually a priority was established that resulted in the entire production of liquid oxygen in the US being diverted to SAC to bring the missiles to readiness.Kipp, et al., p. 64 From 3 November the number of alert missiles was reduced until on 29 November the number was the same as before the crisis.Kipp, et al., p. 66 Normal training had resumed on 15 November.Kipp, et al., pp. 70-71

On 19 November 1964, the Department of Defense announced that all Atlas E and F missiles would be removed from the inventory.{{efn|Headquarters USAF had approved the phaseout of Atlas and Titan I missiles in May 1963. SAC Missile Chronology, p. 40.}} The squadron's first missiles were taken off alert on 4 January 1965.SAC Missile Chronology, p. 46. The 389th Wing's Atlas D missiles had already been removed from service. With the retirement of the Atlas E, the squadron became non operational in February 1965,Ravenstein, p. 211 and was inactivated on 25 March 1965.SAC Missile Chronology, p. 47

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 December 1942

: Activated on 24 December 1942

: Redesignated 566th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 4 January 1944

: Inactivated on 13 September 1945

  • Redesignated 566th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 25 August 1947

: Activated in the reserve on 15 September 1947

: Inactivated on 27 June 1949

  • Redesignated 566th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas) on 22 April 1959

: Activated on 15 August 1959

: Inactivated on 25 March 1965Lineage information, including assignments, stations and aircraft, through March 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 664.

=Assignments=

  • 389th Bombardment Group, 24 December 1942 – 13 September 1945
  • Second Air Force, 15 September 1947
  • Tenth Air Force, 1 July 1948 – 27 June 1949
  • Second Air Force, 15 August 1959
  • 4321st Strategic Wing, 1 October 1959
  • 389th Strategic Missile Wing, 1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965Ravenstein, p. 211

=Stations=

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break|width=50%}}

  • Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 24 December 1942
  • Biggs Field, Texas, 1 February 1943
  • Lowry Field, Colorado, 19 April–1 June 1943
  • RAF Hethel (AAF-114),Station number in Anderson. England, 16 Jun 1943-c. 28 May 1945 (operated from Soluch Airfield, Libya, 3 July–25 August 1943; Massicault Airfield, Tunisia, 19 September–3 October 1943

{{Col-break|width=50%}}

  • Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina, 12 June—13 September 1945
  • Rapid City Army Air Field (later Rapid City Airfield, Weaver Air Force Base, Rapid City Air Force Base), South Dakota, 15 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 15 August 1959
  • Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, 1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965Mueller, p. 184

{{col-end}}

=Aircraft and missiles=

  • B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
  • SM-65E (later CGM-16E) Atlas Missile, 1960-1961
  • SM-65D (later CGM-16D) Atlas Missile, 1961–1965

=Awards and campaigns=

{{unit awards table

|award_image1=AF PUC

|award_name1=Distinguished Unit Citation

|award_date1=1 August 1943

|award_notes1=Ploesti, Romania 566th Bombardment Squadron

}}

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

! Campaign Streamer

! Campaign

! Dates

! Notes

200pxAir Offensive, Europe16 June 1943 – 5 June 1944566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxAir Combat, EAME Theater16 June 1943 – 11 May 1945566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxSicily3 July 1943 – 17 August 1943566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxNaples-Foggia18 August 1943 – 3 October 1943566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxNormandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxNorthern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxRhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxArdennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945566th Bombardment Squadron
200pxCentral Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945566th Bombardment Squadron

See also

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

{{notelist}}

; Citations

{{reflist}}

=Bibliography=

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

  • {{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|title=Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf|access-date=July 7, 2012|year=1985|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|location=Maxwell AFB, AL|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf|archive-date=January 23, 2016}}
  • {{cite book|last=Freeman|first = Roger A. |author-link1=Roger A. Freeman|title=The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force)|year=1970 |publisher=Macdonald and Company|location=London, England, UK |isbn= 978-0-87938-638-2}}
  • {{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/896/983.xml | last1=Kipp|first1=Robert|last2=Peake|first2=Lynn|last3=Wolk|first3=Herman|title=Strategic Air Command Operations in the Cuban Crisis of 1962, SAC Historical Study No. 90 (Top Secret NOFORN, FRD, redacted and declassified)|publisher=Strategic Air Command|access-date=November 21, 2014}}
  • {{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 |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|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=Mueller|first=Robert|title=Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330255/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-026.pdf |access-date=December 17, 2016|year=1989|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-53-6}}
  • {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}
  • {{cite book|last=Watkins|first=Robert|title=Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force In World War II |volume=I (VIII) Bomber Command|year=2008|publisher=Shiffer Publishing Ltd.|location=Atglen, PA|isbn=978-0-7643-1987-7}}
  • {{cite book|title=SAC Missile Chronology 1939-1988|url= http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/Documents/SAC/MI-D-T-999-99-ZZ-00001_SACMissileChronology_1939-1988.pdf|access-date=January 29, 2018|year=1990|publisher=Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command|location= Offutt AFB, NE|isbn= 978-1521159439}}

; Further reading

  • {{cite book|last=Skaarup|first=Harold A.|title=Nebraska Warbird Survivors 2002: A Handbook on Where to Find Them|year=2002|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=1462047955}}

{{USAF missile units}}

{{United States Air Force}}

{{Strategic Air Command}}

{{USAAF 8th Air Force UK}}

{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}

Category:Strategic missile squadrons of the United States Air Force

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1965