Active 1939–present Type Squadron | ||
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Part of 341st Operations GroupAir Force Global Strike Command | ||
The 10th Missile Squadron (10 MS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The 10 MS is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
Contents
World War II
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.
Strategic Air Command
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.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron
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.
Heraldry
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.)
Lineage
Assignments
Stations
Aircraft and Missiles
10th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities
Missile Alert Facilities (A-E flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows: