12th Missile Squadron

The 12th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.

12th Missile Squadron
LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenberg AFB, California
Active1940–1944; 1947–1949; 1955–1961; 1961–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSquadron
RoleIntercontinental ballistic missile
Part ofAir Force Global Strike Command
Garrison/HQMalmstrom Air Force Base, Montana
EngagementsWorld War II (Antisubmarine Campaign)
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
12th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem[note 1][1]
Patch with 12th Bombardment Squadron emblem (Approved 5 August 1957)[2]

Mission

The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to provide combat-ready people and aerospace forces.[3]

History

World War II
B-18s of the 12th Bombardment Squadron flying over British Guiana

The 12th Bombardment Squadron was organized and activated at Langley Field, Virginia on 1 February 1940, as a member of the 25th Bombardment Group.[4] The unit moved from Langley where it trained initially, to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, where it became part of Caribbean Air Force on 1 November 1940. Following the initial deployment to Puerto Rico. The squadron participated in various training and familiarization flights with its small complement of Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bombers, until 8 November 1941 when it was ordered to deploy to Benedict Field, St. Croix, temporarily until September 1942, then at St. Nicholas, and Antigua.[4][5]

Following the Pearl Harbor Attack, the squadron commenced operations out of Benedict with its tiny force of three B-18's. However, these were exchanged for four slightly more capable B-18A's by 16 January 1942. By mid-February, these had been augmented by a further B-18 (while one of the B-18A's was away at the Mobile Air Depot being fitted with one of the earliest airborne radar systems) and the squadron had a total of four crews, three of whom had more than 12 months experience. Operations continued out of Benedict Field until 10 October 1942, when it moved to Dakota Field, Aruba and the following month came under the operational control of the Antilles Air Task Force and VI Fighter Command. By 11 December, the unit had six B-18B's and four Douglas A-20A Havocs while Flight D of the squadron was at distant Borinquen Field with two further B-l8B's and a B-18. Apparently this aircraft dispersal proved too much for the unit to handle and, by January 1943, strength on report had dropped to a more reasonable total of just five B¬18B's and a single B-18C at Dakota Field, although Flight D remained at Borinquen as late as June, and Flight C moved from Dakota to Rio Hato Field, Panama from 1 June till 20 July 1943. In addition, several 59th Bombardment Squadron aircraft were attached to the 12th at this point, as were two Bell P-39D Airacobras of the 22d Pursuit Squadron.

All of this shuffling of aircraft was due, of course, to the exigencies of the antisubmarine campaign, which had been re-initiated in early January 1943. By October 1943, operational control of the now very experienced unit had passed to Commander, All Forces, Aruba and Curaçao (CAFAC), and the United States Navy assumed command and the unit, together with the Lockheed PV-1 Venturas of a Navy unit there provided continuous coverage for, amongst others, convoy GAT94 and its route from the time it entered the area.

As the anti-submarine war continuously shifted, the squadron moved to follow, leaving Dakota Field on 23 November to move to Coolidge Field on Antigua, at which time its attachment to CAFAC ended. While there, it provided continuous coverage for Convoy TAG95. By the end of December, the unit had started to reequip, and had two of the B-18Bs, but also three North American B-25D Mitchells and not fewer than 12 B-25G's at Coolidge.

As the antisubmarine campaign eased, the unit became, essentially, a crew training outfit, although patrols were still flown in conjunction with this tasking. The Squadron ended its Caribbean tour on 24 March 1944 when it was transferred back to the United States and became a B-25 Mitchell Operational Training Unit at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico. On 20 June 1944, the 12th Bombardment Squadron was disbanded.

Strategic Air Command

"Eleven years later, on [1 September] 1955, the 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, was activated at Abilene Air Force Base, Texas. Before being inactivated once more in 1961, the 12th’s Boeing B-47 Stratojet Stratojets engaged in training that made it a powerful element of the nation’s strategic air power."[6]

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron

Organized on 1 March 1962 as the 12th Strategic Missile Squadron, an intercontinental ballistic missile squadron assigned to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Initially equipped with 50 LGM-30A Minuteman Is in early 1962. "Upon organization, it became the second Minuteman ICBM squadron in the Air Force. During the mid-1960s the 12th replaced its 50 Minuteman I missiles with Minuteman IIs. The 12th was the first squadron at Malmstrom to undergo weapon system upgrade to Minuteman Mod; and on [22 April] 1967, it was the first squadron to become fully operational with the new Minuteman II missiles under this program. The 12th was also the first squadron in the wing to undergo silo upgrade. By 1978, the Improved Launch Control System had replaced the Minuteman Mod system and the 12th SMS once again had the state-of-the-art weapon system."[6]

"In 1994, the 12 reorganized under the objective squadron concept. This reorganization took the three combat disciplines, ICBM operations, security police, and electromechanical maintenance, and combined them under the "one hat" of the missile squadron commander. In early June 1995, electromechanical Maintenance returned to the 341st Logistics Group."[6]

The 12th Missile Squadron led the way in removing Minuteman II missiles and replacing them with LGM-30G Minuteman III silos from the inactivating 321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota in 1996; Minuteman IIs being retired. The new missile enhances capability, increases flexibility, and marks yet another system upgrade.

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 12th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 December 1939
Activated on 1 February 1940
  • Redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 7 May 1942
  • Redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 21 September 1943
Disbanded on 20 June 1944
  • Reconstituted and redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 10 March 1947
Activated in the reserve on 24 July 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Redesignated 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 7 June 1955
Activated on 1 September 1955
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1961
  • Redesignated 12th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated on 22 September 1961 (not organized)
Organized on 1 March 1962
  • Redesignated 12th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991[1]

Assignments
  • 25th Bombardment Group, 1 February 1940 – 20 June 1944 (under operational control of Antilles Air Task Force and VI Fighter Command, 1 November 1942 – 20 June 1944)[7]
  • 341st Bombardment Group, 24 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 341st Bombardment Wing, 1 September 1955 – 25 June 1961
  • Strategic Air Command, 22 September 1961 (not organized)
  • 341st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 March 1962
  • 341st Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present[8]

Stations
  • Langley Field, Virginia, 1 February – 26 October 1940
  • Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, 1 November 1940
  • Benedict Field, St Croix, c. 8 November 1941
  • Dakota Field, Aruba, c. 10 October 1942
Detachment operated from Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, c. November 1942 – 23 November 1943
  • Coolidge Field, Antigua, 23 November 1943 – 24 March 1944
  • Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 6 April – 20 June 1944
  • Westover Field, Massachusetts, 24 July 1947
  • Bradley Field, Connecticut, 24 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Abilene Air Force Base (later Dyess Air Force Base), Texas, 1 September 1955 – 25 June 1961
Deployed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, 9 January – c. 4 April 1958
  • Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, 1 March 1962 – present[1]

Aircraft and Missiles
  • Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1940–1944
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1943–1944
  • North American AT-6 Texan, 1947–1949
  • Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, 1947–1949
  • Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1956–1961
  • LGM-30A/B Minuteman I, 1962–1968
  • LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1968–1991
  • LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1996 – present[1]

Awards and campaigns
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award22 October 1962 – 31 December 196312th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1975 – 30 June 197612th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1976 – 30 June 197712th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1979 – 30 June 198112th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1988 – 30 June 199012th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1990 – 30 June 199112th Strategic Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 September 1991 – 31 August 199312th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 September 1993 – 31 August 199412th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 September 1994 – 31 August 199512th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1995 – 30 September 199612th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1997 – 30 September 199912th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1998 – 30 September 199912th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2000 – 30 September 200212th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2002 – 1 October 200312th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 2003 – 31 December 200312th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2004 – 30 September 200612th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2006 – 30 September 200812th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2008 – 30 September 200912th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 2010 – 31 December 201112th Missile Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 2015 – 31 December 201512th Missile Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Antisubmarine7 December 1941 – 1 August 194312th Bombardment Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes
Explanatory notes
  1. Heraldric desctiption: On a disc of celeste (light blue) sky spattered with white stars, the top of the globe issuing from base black, grid lines white. Over all a dark gray mailed hand issuing from sinister chief, outlines and highlights white, details celeste, grasping a sword in pale, point to base, hilt and pommel Air Force golden yellow, blade white, shaded celeste, outlines and details dark gray, a red oval spot on the pommel, all between a red lightning flash edged white and a green olive branch, details Air Force golden yellow, pilewise. The date on which the emblem was reconfigures from a shield to a disc is not recorded.
Citations
  1. Haulman, Daniel L.; Bohannon, Shawn (16 April 2018). "Factsheet 12 Missile Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 64–65
  3. "Malmstrom AFB Library: Fact Sheet 341st Missile Wing". 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. Conaway, William. "12th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)". VI Bomber Command in Defense of the Panama Canal 1941–45.
  5. Maurer, Combat Units,
  6. No byline (24 July 2011). "Weapons of Mass Destruction: 12th Missile Squadron (12 MS)". global security.org. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  7. Conaway, William. "VI Bombardment Command History". Planes and Pilots of World War Two.
  8. Assignment information in Haulman & Bohannon, except as noted)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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