54th Bombardment Squadron
| 54th Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 1917–1919; 1927–1931; 1931–1936; 1939–1942 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Army Air Forces Proving Ground Commnd |
| Engagements | World War I[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 54th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 10 October 1931)[1] |
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The 54th Bombardment Squadron was a component of the 23d Composite Group, which was stationed at Maxwell Field, Alabama prior to World War II.
History
World War I
Organized primarily from recruits in the Columbus, Ohio area, first formed in Columbus on Texas. After a month of indoctrination training at Kelly Field, was transferred to the Aviation Concentration Center Field #2 (Hazlehurst Field), Long Island, New york where it arrived on 21 September. There the squadron was outfitted for overseas duty, sailing on the Cunard Liner Panenia on 13 October with seven other squadrons. Arrived in Belfast, Ireland on the 28th. The following day the overseas voyage to England was completed, and the squadron disembarked at Liverpool. From there a train trip to Southampton was made overnight, and the squadron arrived at Le Havre, France on 1 November.[2]
After some rest in Le Havre, the squadron then boarded a French train for the town of Issoudun in central France. Its mission was to assist in the construction of a large training aerodrome, designated the 3d Air Instructional Center. The squadron erected wooden barracks, dug ditches of all types both for water and sewer lines as well as electricity and telephones. Re-designated as the 466th Aero Squadron on 1 February 1918 when a new numbering system came into effect.[2]
On 10 March 1918, with the work largely completed at Issodun, the squadron was moved to the Air Service Production Center #2 at Romorantin Aerodrome. There, the squadron assisted in the same type of construction it performed at Issodun.[2]
By 1 April 1918, the facility was ready for use as an active Air Service training camp. As part of the permanent garrison at Romorantin, the squadron's mission was to assemble aircraft, work in the engineering department, maintain the facilitates of the base, operate the quartermaster's office and other administrative departments of the Production Center. It continued this work until the armistice in November 1918.[2]
In late December 1918, the squadron was ordered demobilized by the Commanding General, Services of Supply. It moved to a staging area near Brest where it awaited transportation back to the United States. The squadron subsequently arrived at Garden City, New York, at the end of January 1919 where the men were demobilized and returned to Civilian life.[1]
Later history
General John W. Persons assumed command of the 54th in October 1939.[3] The 23d Composite Group moved to Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, and then to Eglin Field on 1 July 1941. At this time it comprised the 1st Pursuit Squadron, the 54th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), the 24th Bombardment Squadron (Light), the 54th School Squadron, the 61st Air Base Group, and the 3rd Gunnery and Bombing Range Detachment.[4]
On 7 December 1941, the 54th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was assigned at Eglin Field and was equipped with various aircraft types.[5] The 23rd Composite Group was re-designated the Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment, Air Corps Proving Ground Group at Eglin.[6]
The squadron's mission focused on developing and demonstrating tactics and doctrine. After moving to Eglin it also conducted testing of experimental weapons. B-26 Marauders were assigned to the 54th at the Air Proving Ground.[7]
Lineage
- 54th Aero Squadron
- Organized as the 54th Aero Squadron on 8 August 1917
- Redesignated 466th Aero Squadron on 1 February 1918
- Demobilized on 10 February 1919
- Reconstituted and consolidated with the 54th School Squadron as the 54th School Squadron on 14 October 1936[1][8]
- 54th Bombardment Squadron
- Constituted as the 54th School Squadron on 6 February 1923
- Activated on 31 July 1927
- Inactivated on 30 April 1931
- Activated on 15 July 1931
- Redesignated 54th Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1935
- Inactivated on 1 September 1936
- Consolidated with the 466th Aero Squadron on 14 October 1936[8]
- Activated on 1 October 1939
- Redesignated 54th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939
- Disbanded on 1 May 1942[1]
- Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 54th Transport Squadron and the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron as the 554th Tactical Intelligence Squadron[9]
- 54th Transport Squadron
- Constituted on 30 August 1942 as the 54th Ferrying Squadron
- Activated on 16 September 1942
- Redesignated 54th Transport Squadron on 19 March 1943
- Disbanded on 7 November 1943
- Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 54th Bombaardment Squadron and the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron as the 554th Tactical Intelligence Squadron[9]
Assignments
- Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 8 August–November 1917
- 3d Air Instructional Center, November 1917
- Air Service Production Center No. 2, March–December 1918
- Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Force, December 1918 – 10 February 1919
- 13th School Group, 31 July 1927 – 30 April 1931
- Air Corps Tactical School, 15 July 1931
- 2d Bombardment Group (attached to Air Corps Tactical School), 1 March 1935 – 1 September 1936
- 23d Composite Group (later Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment, Air Forces Proving Ground Group), 1 Oct 1939 – 1 May 1942[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
- In addition to Douglas BT-2 apparently included Dayton-Wright DH-4 and Consolidated PT-3 during period 1927-1931
- Apparently included Curtiss A-3 Falcon and Douglas O-25 during period 1931-1935
- Included Keystone B-4 during period 1935-1936.
- In addition to B-18 Bolo, B-23 Dragon, i940-1942
- Included B-26, A-12, B-12, B-17, B-25, 0-38, OA-9, PB-2, PT-14, and PT-17, during period 1939-1942.[1]
References
- Notes
- ↑ Aircraft is Martin B-26C Marauder serial 41-34674. This aircraft was the second B-26C off the B-26 production line at Omaha, Nebraska.
- Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 203
- 1 2 3 4 Series "E", Volume 23, History of the 400th-500th Squadrons. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- ↑ USAF Biographies: MAJOR GENERAL JOHN W. PERSONS
- ↑ Crestview, Florida, "Houses Scarce At Eglin - Many Men To Be Stationed There When Quarters Ready", Okaloosa News-Journal, Friday 31 January 1941, Volume 27, Number 4, page 1.
- ↑ http://www.navsource.org/Naval/usaaf.htm Archived 17 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 1st Special Operations Squadron [1st SOS]
- ↑ http://tripatlas.com/List_of_units_using_the_B-26_Marauder_during_World_War_II Archived 8 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 Clay, p. 1414
- 1 2 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919-1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-98419-014-0. LCCN 2010022326. OCLC 637712205. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.