508th Missile Squadron

508th Missile Squadron

508th Missile Squadron emblem
Active 1942-1945; 1947-1949; 1962-1995
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Missile
Role Strategic Attack
Part of AFSPC/20 AF/351 MW
Garrison/HQ Whiteman AFB, Missouri
Decorations DUC
AFOUA

The United States Air Force's 508th Missile Squadron (508 MS) was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 508 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.

Contents

History

Activated in late 1942 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to England in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during April 1943, assigned to VIII Bomber Command as a strategic bombardment squadron. Participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until German capitulation in May 1945. Personnel demobilized in England and returned to the United States; squadron reassigned to Second Air Force and was programmed to be re-equipped with B-29 Superfortresses for deployment to Pacific Theater. Japanese capitulation led to units inactivation in September 1945, being neither manned or equipped.

Activated in the postwar reserve as a B-29 squadron. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

On 9 August 1962 the 508th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated as a SAC LGM-30B Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile wing. Activated on 1 May 1963, being made operational on 14 January 1964, with a complement of 50 missiles. Declared combat ready on 5 June 1964. From May 1966 to October 1967, converted to LGM-30F Minuteman II missiles.

With the restructuring of the Air Force and the disestablishment of Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the early 1990s was reassigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) in 1992 and then under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) in 1993.

Remained on Cold War nuclear alert until in response to President Bush's directive to stand down the Minuteman II. Dissipated launch codes and pin safety control switches at 15 launch control facilities. Deactivation of the entire missile complex ended in the spring of 1995; squadron inactivated on 28 July.

Lineage

Activated on 1 October 1942
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Activated in the reserve on 15 October 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Organized on 1 May 1963
Redesignated as: 508th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 28 July 1995

Assignments

ETO Fuselage Code: YB

Stations

Aircraft and missiles

508th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Missile Alert Facilities (A-E flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
A-01 3.5 mi SE of Blackburn MO,
B-01 38.1 mi ExNE of Houstonia MO,
C-01 5.6 mi SxSW of Pilot Grove MO,
D-01 6.1 mi SE of Syracuse MO,
E-01 7.3 mi WxSW of Florence MO,

Decorations

See also

References

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal
World War II portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ^ AF FOIA Request 2009-01965, 13 July 2009

External links