71st Tactical Missile Squadron

71st Tactical Missile Squadron

Emblem of the 71st Tactical Bombardment Squadron
Active 1940–1975; 1984-1989
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
World War II 71st Bombardment Squadron emblem
71st Tactical Missile Squadron - TM-76 Mace Missile
Martin B-57B-MA Serial 52-1560 of the 71st Light Bomber Squadron - 1957. This aircraft was also one of the "Black Knights" aerial acrobatic team.

The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 485th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Florennes Air Base, Belgium. It was inactivated on 30 September 1989.

History

It was activated in early 1941 by the Army Air Corps as a medium bomber squadron during the pre-war mobilization by the United States. Performed coastal patrols as part of First Air Force with B-18 Bolos and early-model B-26 Marauders.

Deployed to Australia in early 1942 to reinforce Fifth Air Force after its withdrawal to Australia. Re-equipped with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and flew missions from Northern Queensland over New Guinea. Moved to forward airfields in New Guinea and followed MacArthur's advance along the northern coast of the island into the Netherlands East Indies flying tactical bombardment missions against Japanese strong points and airfields. Moved to Luzon, Philippines, as part of the United States liberation forces in 1945, then moved to Okinawa during the summer in preparation for the Invasion of Japan. Moved to Japan and became part of the Occupation Forces. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

Reactivated in France in 1953 as a NATO B-57 light bombardment squadron, equipped for night bombardment with nuclear weapons.

Moved to West Germany in 1958 as a TM-76B Mace tactical missile squadron when the unit was ordered out of France. Remained as a tactical missile unit until 1969 when the Mace missile was retired, the last Mace unit on active duty.

Reactivated in 1972 as an Undergraduate Pilot Training Squadron (UPT) at Laredo AFB. Moved to Moody in 1973 when Laredo closed. Inactivated in 1975 when Moody became a Tactical Fighter base after the Vietnam War ended.

Reactivated as a BGM-109G Gryphon Cruise Missile squadron in August 1984. Maintained 80 operational missiles in a combat-ready state. Inactivated in April 1989 as a result of the INF treaty and the elimination of the BGM-109G missile from service.

Lineage

Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 71st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 6 May 1946
Inactivated on 1 April 1949
Redesignated: 71st Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) on 1 October 1955
Redesignated: 71st Tactical Missile Squadron on 18 June 1958
Inactivated on 30 April 1969
Inactivated 30 September 1973
Reactivated 1 December 1973
Inactivated 1 December 1975
Inactivated 30 April 1989

Assignments

Stations

BGM-109G Missile site located at: 50°13′34″N 004°39′01″E / 50.22611°N 4.65028°E / 50.22611; 4.65028 (71st TMS)

Dispersed Matador/Mace missile locations

Underground concrete launch facility, closed 1969. largely overgrown abandoned condition.
Underground concrete launch facility. After closure the site was transferred to the Bundesheer and converted into a Patriot AD missile site; closed 2001 now abandoned and overgrown with vegetation.

Aircraft and missiles

See also

References

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

    External links

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