736th Bombardment Squadron

History

Established in mid-1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Southern Italy.

Engaged in very long range strategic bombardment missions against enemy strategic targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the Balkans until April 1945. Bombed aircraft factories, assembly plants, oil refineries, storage areas, marshalling yards, airdromes, and other objectives until the German Capitulation in May 1945.

Most of squadron was demobilized in Italy in May 1945; returning to United States with skeleton staff. Re-equipped and redesignated a B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomb squadron, and received new personnel. Began training under Second Air Force for planned deployment to the Western Pacific Area (WPA), however Japanese Capitulation in August led to inactivation of squadron in October.

Reactivated in 1947 as a reserve Strategic Air Command B-29 Superfortress squadron; activated in 1951 and squadron aircraft and personnel being sent to Far East Air Forces Bomber Command as replacements. Squadron inactivated after personnel and equipment were deployed. Became a Tactical Air Command reserve Troop Carrier squadron shortly afterward; equipped with surplus C-46 Commandos. Personnel and equipment over by 403d Troop Carrier Wing and inactivated.

Reactivated under Strategic Air Command in 1963, replacing provisional B-52H Stratofortess squadron at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. Performed intercontinental training and deployments, also standing nuclear alert. Beginning in 1966, squadron deployed personnel to forward bases in the Western Pacific, where they engaged in combat missions over Indochina as part of Operation Arc Light.

Inactivated in 1969 when SAC pulled out Columbus and the base became an Air Training Command pilot training base.

Lineage

Constituted 736th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943

Activated on 1 Jun 1943 Redesignated 736th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945 Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945

Activated in the reserve on 27 Apr 1947

Redesignated 736th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 27 Jun 1949 Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951 Inactivated on 16 Jun 1951

Redesignated 736th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 13 Jun 1952 Inactivated on 1 Jan 1953

Redesignated 736th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 15 Nov 1962

Organized on 1 Feb 1963; assuming aircraft/personnel/equipment of 492d Bombardment Squadron (Inactivated) Inactivated on 2 July 1969

Assignments

454th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-17 Oct 1945; 27 Apr 1947-16 Jun 1951

454th Troop Carrier Group, 13 Jun 1952-1 Jan 1953

Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962

454th Bombardment Wing, 1 Feb 1963-2 Jul 1969

Stations

Alamogordo AAF, New Mexico, 1 Jun 1943

Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 Jul 1943

McCook AAF, Nebraska, 30 Jul 1943

Charleston AAF, South Carolina, 3 Oct-8 Dec 1943

Torretto Airfield, Italy, 16 Jan 1944

San Giovanni Airfield, Italy, 24 Jan 1944-Jul 1945

Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota, 1 Aug 1945

Pyote AAF, Texas, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945

McChord Field, Washington, 27 Apr 1947

Spokane AFB, Washington, 27 Jun 1949-16 Jun 1951

Portland International Airport, Oregon, 13 Jun 1952-1 Jan 1953

Columbus AFB, Mississippi, 1 Feb 1963-2 Jul 1969

Aircraft

B-24 Liberator, 1943-1945

B-29 Superfortress, 1949-1951

C-46 Commando, 1952-1953

B-52 Stratofortress, 1963-1968