| 10th Missile Squadron | |
|---|---|
10th Missile Squadron emblem |
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| Active | 1939–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | United States Air Force/Air Force Global Strike Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Malmstrom AFB, Montana |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lance W. Lord |
Coordinates: 47°30′17″N 111°11′14″W / 47.50472°N 111.18722°W
The United States Air Force's 10th Missile Squadron is a unit located at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.
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The squadron's emblem is found on an Air Force Blue disc, an Air Force Golden Yellow demi lion rampant, shaded Golden Brown, his tongue Red, emerging from a hole, Dark Brown, rimmed Red; fimbriated White five (5) Red lightning flashes radiating upward from the hole, fimbriated White. MOTTO: THE FIRST ACE IN THE HOLE. Approved on 21 June 1963 (K 14273); replaced emblem approved on 27 September 1940 (8471 A.C.)
Established in 1939 as a prewar bombardment squadron, it was equipped with a mixture of Douglas B-18 Bolo medium and early-model B-17C/D Flying Fortress heavy bombers. It trained over the US east coast flying training missions. It also had some second-line Northrop A-17 dive bombers assigned. After the outbreak of World War II in Europe it flew patrols over the Atlantic Coast searching for German submarine activity.
Deployed to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico in late 1940, the unit was assigned to the Caribbean Air Force, 25th Bombardment Group. The unit was called to face possible action, with its sister 1st Bombardment Squadron, in April and May 1942, however, when it patrolled the Vichy French Martinique area. By 1 November 1942, the squadron was transferred (minus personnel) to Edinburgh Field, Trinidad.
In August 1943, the 10th Bomb Squadron, which had by then been consolidated with the personnel and equipment of the old 1st Bombardment Squadron re-equipped with the North American B-25 Mitchell. A Detachment was also maintained at Port-of-Spain at this time.
With the Navy taking over the antisubmarine mission, the squadron moved to France Field, Canal Zone in December 1943, where it became an element of the VI Bomber Command. The Squadron carried on patrols up and down the Atlantic coast of Panama and into neighboring Colombian waters until relieved from assignment to Sixth Air Force and returned to the United States. on 2 May 1944. It was reassigned to Lincoln Army Airfield, Nebraska where it became a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber replacement training unit under Second Air Force. Inactivated June 1944.
The squadron was reactivated in 1955 as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 Stratojet squadron. It trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. In 1961, the squadron transferred its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational.
It was re-activated on 1 December 1961 as an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) squadron assigned to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. It was initially equipped with 50 LGM-30A Minuteman Is in early 1962, becoming SAC's first operational Minuteman ICBM squadron. It upgraded to the Minuteman IB in 1964 and the Minuteman IIF in 1967. It received control of LGM-30G Minuteman III silos from the inactivating 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota in 1996; the Minuteman IIs being retired.
It has maintained ICBMs on alert ever since.
10th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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