534th Training Squadron

534th Training Squadron
Active 1942-1945; 1994–2003
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Satellite control training
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Engagements European Theater of Operations
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
534th Training Squadron emblem
534th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 11 September 1944)[1]

The 534th Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 381st Training Group at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, where it conducted qualification training for airmen in satellite control operations and maintenance.

During World War II, the squadron engaged in combat in the European Theater of Operations as the 534th Bombardment Squadron, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. It was inactivated after V-E Day, but was active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, although it is not clear whether it was fully equipped or manned.

History

World War II

Established in late 1942 as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; it trained under II Bomber Command in Washington, Texas and Idaho. It received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations in May 1943.

The squadron was assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England in June 1943, at RAF Ridgewell. The unit's mission was to conduct strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. It operated chiefly against strategic objectives on the Continent. It participated in the intensive bombing campaign against enemy aircraft factories during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944, the Group often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment.

The squadron supported the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by bombing bridges and airfields near the beachhead. It attacked enemy positions in advance of ground forces at Saint-Lô in July 1944. The squadron assisted the airborne assault on the Netherlands in September. It struck airfields and communications near the battle zone during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945. It also supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine in March 1945 and then operated against communications and transportation in the final push through Germany.

After V-E Day, the unit returned to Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in July 1945, although many combat personnel were demobilized upon their return to the United States. A small cadre of personnel were formed with replacement personnel assigned. The unit was programmed for conversion to B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombers; however, no aircraft were assigned. The Japanese capitulation in early August led to the units' inactivation on 28 August, with personnel either reassigned to other units or demobilized.

Reserves

The squadron was reactivated in the reserve in February 1947 at Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa. Having been allotted to the organized reserves, with assignment to the Second Air Force, Air Defense Command. In late September 1947, the squadron was again assigned to the 381st Bombardment Group. In July 1948, the group was reassigned from the Second Air Force to the Tenth Air Force, which in December, became a part of the Continental Air Command. The 534th Squadron was inactivated on 27 June 1949 due to budget restrictions.

Space training

The squadron was again activated in the fall of 1994 as the 534th Training Squadron when Air Education and Training Command assumed space and missile systems training at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California from Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command. The 534th was responsible for initial qualification training for crews in satellite command and control. In 2003, the 534th was inactivated and its training programs wer transferred to the 533d Training Squadron.[2]

Lineage

Activated on 3 November 1942
Redesignated 534th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945.
Activated in the reserve on 27 February 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949[1]
Activated on 1 October 1994
Inactivated in 2003[2]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 641
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Vandenberg AFB Fact Sheets: 381st Training Group". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. November 8, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ Station number in Anderson.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.