| 322d Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the 322d Bombardment Squadron |
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| Active | 1942-1968 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment |
The 322d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Bombardment Wing, stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 25 June 1968.
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Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States with final training under Second Air Force in Washington. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, being one of the first heavy bomb squadrons arriving in England. The 322d was one of the most highly decorated strategic heavy bomb squadrons in the European Theater, flying combat missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945. Most personnel demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe, Squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re-equipped and remanned as a B-29 Superfortress squadron. Japanese capitulation canceled plans and was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during November 1945.
Activated in Japan during 1950 as a result of the Korean War. Equipped with RB-29 reconnaissance bombers for strategic reconnaissance missions over Korea, and the Northern Pacific coast of Communist China and the Soviet Union. Re-equipped with RB-45C Tornado jet reconnaissance aircraft, flying reconnaissance and mapping combat missions over Korea until being assigned to the United States in mid 1952. Re-equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, performed various reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale until inactivation in 1957.
Activated as a SAC B-52D Stratofortress heavy bomber squadron in 1963 as a redesignation of the provisional 326th Bombardment Squadron. Deployed to Western Pacific, engaging in Arc Light combat missions over Indochina beginning in 1966 - 1968. Inactivated due to budget reductions and closure of Glasgow AFB in 1968.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.