51st Bombardment Squadron

History

The 51st Bombardment activated in the reserve in 1947 as a Continental Air Command weather reconnaissance squadron at Hamilton AFB. It later flew long-range strategic reconnaissance flights. The squad was later inactivated in 1949 a result of budget reductions.

It was reactivated in 1951 as a Strategic Reconnaissance squadron; however it had few personnel. The squadron received second-line RB-29 Superfortresses in May 1952, remaining in a second-line status with this equipment until 1953 when the squadron was brought up to full personnel strength and received new B-47 Stratojet bombers. Becoming operationally ready with the B-47 in May 1954, the 51 Bombardment squadron conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling to meet SAC's global commitments. The B-47s were reassigned in late 1962 from Chennault AFB when it was decided close the base and the squadron placed on inactive status.

It was reorganized on 15 Apr 1963 as a B-52G Stratofortress Squadron, receiving equipment and personnel from the inactivating 73d Bombardment Squadron. The squadron conducted strategic bombardment training and global refueling operations to meet SAC commitments. Aircraft, most aircrews and maintenance personnel, and other support personnel were loaned to other SAC units for combat operations in Southeast Asia, 27 May 1972 – 15 July 1973.

The squadron returned to nuclear alert after the end of the Vietnam War, but was inactivated as a result of the retirement of the B-52Gs in 1982.

Lineage

Constituted as the 51st Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather

Activated on 1 Aug 1947 Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949 Redesignated as: 51st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium (Photographic) on 4 Oct 1951 Activated on 10 Oct 1951 Redesignated as 51st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 10 Oct 1951 Redesignated as 51st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 15 Apr 1963 Organized on 15 Apr 1963 Inactivated on 30 Sep 1962

Assignments

68th Reconnaissance Group, 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949

68th Reconnaissance Group, 10 August 1951

68th Strategic Reconnaissance (later Bombardment) Wing, 16 June 1952 – 30 September 1982

Stations

Hamilton Field (later, AFB), California, 9 Apr 1947 – 27 Jun 1949

Lake Charles (later, Chennault) AFB, Louisiana, 10 Oct 1951

Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, 15 Apr 1963 – 30 Sep 1982

Aircraft

RB-29 Superfortress, 1947-1949, 1951-1952

B-47 Stratojet, 1953–1963

B-52 Stratofortress, 1963–1982