447th Missile Squadron

447th Missile Squadron

LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenburg AFB, California
Active 1942-1961; 1965-1998
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Squadron
Role Intercontinental ballistic missile
Garrison/HQ Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
Engagements
World War II (EAME Theater)
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
44th Missile Squadron emblem
B-25J-10 43-27425, "111". 447th Bombardment Squadron, 321st Bombardment Group, Solenzara Airfield, Corsica in late 1944

The 447th Missile Squadron (447 MS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 321st Missile Group, stationed at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

The 447 MS was equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a mission of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War, the 447th was inactivated on 30 September 1998.

History

World War II

Activated in mid-1942 as a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron, it was trained by the Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. It deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to the Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in early 1943. While in North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors and other objectives.

The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. It took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa between March and May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusain islands during June, the invasion of Sicily in July and the landing at Salerno on the Italian mainland in September. The squadron was also involved in the Allied advance toward Rome during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945.

On 11 November 1944 the aircraft pictured (right) was part of an 18 aircraft formation which attacked three enemy troop convoys and dropped fragmentation bombs on them while attempting to move though the Brenner Pass. The aircraft was hit by ground fire and about 60% of its right vertical tail was blown off. However, the Mitchell was able to return to its base on Corsica with only a single working rudder.

The squadron was inactivated in Italy after the German capitulation in September 1945.

The squadron was re-activated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 and equipped with A-26/B-26 Invader medium bombers, then inactivated in 1949 due to budget cuts.

Strategic Air Command

It was reactivated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 Stratojet squadron. It trained in air-to-air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. In 1961, the squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational as part of the phaseout of the Stratojet.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron

On 1 November 1963 the 447th Strategic Missile Squadron was organized as a SAC LGM-30F Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile wing. It was activated on 1 Feb 1965, being made operational on 7 December 1966, with a complement of 50 missiles. It participated in “Project Long Life II,” a unique reliability test in which modified Minuteman missiles were fueled to travel a few hundred yards. The first launch from a silo occurred on 19 October 1966 and was declared unsuccessful. Nine days later, a second attempt also failed. A third attempt under “Project Giant Boost” occurred in August 1968 and again proved unsuccessful.

The squadron converted to LGM-30G Minuteman III missiles from December 1971 to March 1973. These missiles represented a significant technological advance, having multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Coordinating the missile changeover required complex planning and execution.

With the restructuring of the Air Force and the disestablishment of SAC in the early 1990s, the squadron was reassigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) in 1992 and then came under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) in 1993.

In March 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission selected the 321st Strategic Missile Wing for inactivation. The squadron was ordered to securely transfer its alert responsibilities to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. It maintained nuclear alert until inactivated in 1998, nearly 40 years after it first went on alert.

Lineage

Emblem of the SAC 447th Bombardment Squadron
Emblem of the World War II 447th Bombardment Squadron
Activated on 26 Jun 1942
Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945
Activated in the reserve on 29 Jun 1947
Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
Activated on 15 Dec 1953
Discontinued, and inactivated on 25 Oct 1961
Organized on 1 Feb 1965
Re-designated the 447th Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991
Inactivated on 30 Sep 1998

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Alert and Launch Facilities

447th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Missile Alert Facilities (F-K flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
F-00 6.3 mi E of Lawton ND, 48°17′27″N 098°13′52″W / 48.29083°N 98.23111°W / 48.29083; -98.23111 (F-00)
G-00 5.3 mi SW of Fordville ND, 48°09′14″N 097°52′06″W / 48.15389°N 97.86833°W / 48.15389; -97.86833 (G-00)
H-00 5.1 mi N of Michigan ND, 48°05′46″N 098°06′56″W / 48.09611°N 98.11556°W / 48.09611; -98.11556 (H-00)
I-00 6.6 mi ExNE of Tolna ND, 47°50′54″N 098°17′53″W / 47.84833°N 98.29806°W / 47.84833; -98.29806 (I-00)
J-00 6.0 mi SW of Brocket ND, 48°09′14″N 098°27′03″W / 48.15389°N 98.45083°W / 48.15389; -98.45083 (J-00)

See also

Coordinates: 47°57′40″N 097°24′04″W / 47.96111°N 97.40111°W / 47.96111; -97.40111 (Grand Forks AFB)

References

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

    External links

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