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488th Bombardment Squadron

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488th Bombardment Squadron
B-47 Stratojet, last aircraft flown by the squadron[a]
Active1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1952–1963
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleMedium bomber
Motto(s)We Go[1]
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
488th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][1]
488th Bombardment Squadron emblem World War II[2]

The 488th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where it was inactivated on 1 September 1963. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it flew North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, primarily on air support and air interdiction missions, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.

The group was again active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft during this period. It was again activated in October 1952, as the Air Force reopened Sedalia Air Force Base, Missouri. It flew Boeing B-47 Stratojets at Sedalia (later Whiteman) until September 1963, as the B-47 began to be withdrawn from Strategic Air Command operations. It was inactivated with the withdrawal of its Stratojets.

History

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World War II

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Initial organization and training

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340th Bombardment Group B-25 on landing approach to Gaudo Airfield, Italy in early 1944[c]

The squadron was first activated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 20 August 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 340th Bombardment Group.[1][3][4] However, it was not until September that the squadron received its initial cadre, mostly drawn from the 309th Bombardment Group. It completed Phase I and Phase II training[d] at Columbia with North American B-25 Mitchells, then moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina in November, where it completed Phase III training and departed for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations at the end of January 1943.[1]

The squadron's ground echelon travelled by train to Camp Stoneman, California, where it boarded the USS West Point (AP-23) for the combat zone via the Pacific and Indian Oceans.[1][5] The air echelon travelled by train to Kellogg Field, Michigan, where it received new B-25s to ferry across the Atlantic.[6] It departed Morrison Field, Florida on 25 February 1943.[7]

Combat operations

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Deployed to IX Bomber Command in Egypt initially in March 1943 via Air Transport Command South Atlantic Route through Caribbean, Brazil, Liberia, Central Africa and Sudan, then reassigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and to XII Bomber Command in Tunisia. Supported Allied ground forces in Tunisian Campaign; participated in Invasions of Sicily and Italy during 1943, supporting Allied ground forces with tactical bombing of enemy targets. Participated in liberation of Corsica during the spring of 1944, then returned to Italy engaging in attacks on enemy ground forces and targets in the Po Valley during the spring of 1945.

Personnel demobilized in Italy during summer of 1945; squadron returned to the United States, being prepared for deployment to Pacific Theater for use as a tactical bomb squadron in programmed Invasion of Japan. Japanese capitulation led to squadron's inactivation in November 1945.

Catch 22

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Flowchart showing how Catch-22 works

Joseph Heller was a bombardier with the 488th, flying 60 combat missions with the squadron. His experiences influenced his most famous novel, Catch-22. The protaganist, Yossarian has been referred to as Heller's "alter ego."[8]

Reserve operations

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The 488th Bombardment Squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Tulsa Municipal Airport, Oklahoma on 31 October 1947.[1] It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft.[9] In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing air reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[10] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[11] and the 488th was inactivated in August 1949[1] and not replaced as reserve flying operations at the Tulsa airport ceased.

Strategic Air Command

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In July 1951, Strategic Air Command (SAC) reopened Sedalia Air Force Base, Missouri, which had served as an air transport base during World War II. On 1 August, it activated the 4224th Air Base Squadron to expand the field to accommodate strategic bombers, and on 1 October 1952, the 340th Bombardment Wing, including the 488th Squadron, was activated to replace the 4224th.[12] However, the wing initially concentrated is activities on bringing Sedalia to operational status and the squadron was only nominally manned, and did not become operational until 1954, when it began to receive Boeing B-47 Stratojets.[13]

From 13 September to 3 November 1955, the squadron deployed to the United Kingdom along with the other operational elements of the 340th Wing, which was attached to SAC's 7th Air Division there.[13] Starting in 1957, deployments of entire wings was replaced by Operation Reflex, which placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s on alert at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments [14] After 1958, SAC's Stratojet units began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. General Thomas S. Power’s initial goal was to maintain one third of SAC's planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[15] The SAC alert commitment was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[16]

Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, SAC brought all degraded and adjusted alert sorties up to full capability.[17] It dispersed its B-47s on 22 October 1962.[18] Most dispersal bases were civilian airfields with Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard units. B-47s were configured for execution of the Emergency War Order as soon as possible after dispersal. On 15 November 1/6 of the dispersed B-47s were recalled to their home bases.[19] On 21 November SAC went to DEFCON 3. Dispersed B-47s and supporting tankers were recalled on 24 November. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture.[20]

In the summer of 1963, the squadron began phasing down its operations at what was now Whiteman Air Force Base in preparation for Whiteman becoming a base for LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles and the transfer of the base to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing.[13][21][22] The squadron was inactivated on 1 September 1963[23]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 488th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)' on 10 August 1942
Activated on 20 August 1942
Redesignated 488th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
  • Redesignated 488th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 8 October 1947
Activated in the reserve on 31 October 1947
Inactivated on 19 August 1949
  • Redesignated 488th Bombardment Squadron, Medium' on 3 October 1952
Activated on 20 October 1952
Inactivated on 1 September 1963[24][25]

Assignments

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  • 340th Bombardment Group, 20 August 1942 – 7 November 1945
  • 340th Bombardment Group, 31 October 1947 – 19 August 1949
  • 340th Bombardment Wing, 20 October 1952 – 1 September 1963[24][26]

Stations

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Aircraft

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  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1945
  • Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1955–1963[24][28]

Awards and campaigns

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Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation c. 11 April 1943–17 August 1943 North Africa and Sicily[1][e]
Distinguished Unit Citation 23 September 1944 Italy[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Tunisia c. 12 April 1943–13 May 1943 [1]
Sicily 14 May 1943–17 August 1943 [1]
Naples-Foggia 18 August 1943–21 January 1944 [1]
Anzio 22 January 1944–24 May 1944 [1]
Rome-Arno 22 January 1944–9 September 1944 [1]
Southern France 15 August 1944–14 September 1944 [1]
North Apennines 10 September 1944–4 April 1945 [1]
Po Valley 3 April 1945–8 May 1945 [1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater c. 12 April 1943–11 May 1945 [1]

References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Boeing B-47E-55-BW Stratojet, serial 51-2394. This plane was converted to an NB-47E in March 1960. Dirkx, Marco (24 April 2024). "1952 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher’s Serial Number List. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  2. ^ Approved 16 September 1954. Description: On a yellow disc an ultramarine blue shield. Issuing from the lower right of the shield a mailed fist proper, grasping two crossed lightning bolts; behind the fist a representation of a world globe, water area light blue, land areas light green. A red arrow encircles the globe, the point of the arrow aimed at a target not designated.
  3. ^ Aircraft is North American B-25J-5-NC, serial 43-27900, Bottoms-Up II.
  4. ^ Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit. Greer, p. 606.
  5. ^ Maurer only lists the beginning date of the award as April.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 586-587
  2. ^ Watkins, pp. 88-89
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 218-219
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 585-588
  5. ^ See Gilley, J.C. (2015). "Columbia, South Carolina". 486th Bomb Squadron 340th Bomb Group. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  6. ^ Gilley, J.C. (2015). "The Voyage". 486th Bomb Squadron 340th Bomb Group. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  7. ^ No byline. "486th Bombardment Squadron Outline History 20 August 1942 – 31 December 1943" (PDF). 57th Bomb Wing Association. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. ^ No byline. "Joseph Heller and Catch-22". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  9. ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 586-587 (no operational aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
  10. ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  11. ^ Knaack, p. 25
  12. ^ Mueller, p. 589
  13. ^ a b c Ravenstein, pp. 179-80
  14. ^ Narducci, p. 2
  15. ^ Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
  16. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  17. ^ Kipp, et al., p. 30.
  18. ^ Kipp, et al., p. 49
  19. ^ Kipp. ‘’et al.’’, p. 53
  20. ^ Kipp, et al., p. 61
  21. ^ Ravenstein, p. 186
  22. ^ Mueller, p. 589
  23. ^ See Ravenstein, p. 179 (end of assignment to 340th Wing); Mueller, p. 589 (end of stationing at Whiteman).
  24. ^ a b c d Lineage information through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 586-587
  25. ^ See Ravenstein, p. 179 (dates assigned to 340th Wing); Mueller, p. 589 (dates stationed at Whiteman AFB).
  26. ^ Ravenstein, p. 179
  27. ^ Mueller, p. 589
  28. ^ See Ravenstein, p. 179 (aircraft flown by to 340th Wing).

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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