| 25th Space Range Squadron | |
|---|---|
25th Space Range Squadron emblem |
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| Active | 1917-1946 1988-1995 2004-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Space Control |
| Part of | 595th Space Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Schriever AFB, Colorado |
| Nickname | "Executioners" |
| Mascot | Hatchet Man |
| Engagements | World War I World War II |
| Decorations | AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lt Col Todd Spradley |
The United States Air Force's 25th Space Range Squadron (25 SRS) is a space control unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado. 25 SRS operates the Space Test and Training Range (STTR).
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To operate the Space Test and Training Range to provide a safe and secure environment in support of counterspace technique development and space test, training, and exercise activities.[1]
Established as an Air Service Aero Squadron in June 1917 after the United States' entry into World War I. Deployed to Europe, first to England, then Toul, France. Flew combat missions as a pursuit unit with the Second Army from 10–11 November 1918. It was demobilized after the 1918 armistice.
The squadron was reactivated as the 25th Aero Squadron on October 1, 1921 at France Field the Panama Canal Zone, as part of the 6th Composite Group.[2] It flew various biplane bombers to defend the Panama Canal. During the 1920s and early 1930s, It participated in various goodwill missions in Latin America, including the Goodwill flights to El Salvador and Nicaragua, 13–19 May 1935, to Guatemala, 8–11 February 1938, and to El Salvador, 19–22 April 1938. The squadron also flew mercy mission to Chile following the devastating 1939 Chillán earthquake, 28 January-13 February 1939.
The 25th Bombardment Squadron became the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939 and then, on 20 November 1940, the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy).[2] Equipped with the Douglas B-18 Bolo the squadron had opportunity to put its new, long-legged aircraft to the test in October 1939, when two Peruvian flyers, en route from the United States to Lima, Peru on a long-distance flight, were reported missing between the Canal Zone and Peru. Although eventually found to have made an emergency forced landing in Ecuador, three B-18s of the squadron conducted extensive searches of the area along the 80th meridian some 250 miles to sea. The aircraft carried enough fuel for a flight of 11 hours duration, a capability which would place them in good stead in the Command in the years to come.
By 25 August 1941, with its pre-war strength at but five B-18s, the Squadron was re-equipped with B-17E Flying Fortresses. After the United States entered World War II, the Squadron had deployed to Salinas, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands (shuttling patrols hack and forth) with four of the B-17Es, flying antisubmarine patrols over the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. These aircraft being joined by a B-18 by February. The main body of the Squadron left Salinas by 15 February and returned to Howard Field in early 1943, although a detachment was still in Ecuador as late as 30 June.
Assignment to the 6th Bomb Group ended on 12 May 1943. With the diminished need for a Caribbean defense, reassigned to the United States in late 1943 and received prototype and early production-model B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombers. Trained under Second Air Force for an extended period due to Boeing technicians making modifications of B-29 aircraft. Deployed to the new XX Bomber Command in the China-Burma-India Theater, flying to bases in India via South Atlantic Transport route; across central Africa, Arabia to Karachi. Additional modifications of B-29s were necessary in India to accommodate very high ground temperatures (115 degrees F).
From airfields in eastern India, engaged in very long range bombardment raids on Japan, the first American Air Force attacks on the Japanese Home Islands since the Doolittle raid in 1942; staging though airfields in central China for refueling. Also engaged in very long range attacks against enemy targets in Burma, Thailand, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Formosa.
Advance of American forces in the Central Pacific though the Northern Mariana Islands made new airfields available within the effective bombing range of Japan. Moved to West Field on Tinian in April 1945, becoming part of the new XXI Bomber Command. From the Marianas, engaged in very long range strategic attacks on Japan, making devastating attacks on Japanese industrial, transportation and military targets. Also participated in large area night incendiary raids on urban areas, and dropped mines in Japanese shipping lanes. Continued aerial assaults until the Japanese Capitulation in August 1945. After V-J Day, the squadron dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, Korea, and Formosa, and took part in show-of-force missions. Demobilized on Tinian in 1946, aircraft being returned to the United States for storage. Inactivated as a paper unit in October.
Reactivated in 1953 under Strategic Air Command, receiving then second-line B-29s for training and organization. Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1954, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. In the late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending aircraft to other B-47 wings as replacements in early 1964, being one of the last SAC squadrons equipped with the Stratojet. Inactivated in September when the last aircraft was retired.
Reactivated in 1988 as a SAC training squadron. From 1988 to 1992, supervised SAC and from 1992 to 1995 ACC B-52H Stratofortress and then B-1B Bomber crew training program at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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