400th Missile Squadron

400th Missile Squadron
250px LGM-118A Peacekeeper Test Launch at Vandenburg AFB, California
Active	1942-1946; 1947-1948; 1964-2005
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Nickname(s)	Black Pirates (World War II)
Engagements	World War II (Asia-Pacific Theater)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (3x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
400th Missile Squadron emblem (approved 17 November 1994)	165px
400th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem. (approved 25 February 1966)	165px
400th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 10 April 1943)	165px
Unofficial 400th Bombardment Sq emblem used in the Pacific	165px

The 400th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 90th Operations Group at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, where it was inactivated in 2005.

The squadron was equipped with the LGM-118A Peacekeeper Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a mission of nuclear deterrence. It was the only operational USAF Peacekeeper ICBM squadron. The squadron was inactivated as part of the phaseout of the Peacekeeper ICBM on 19 September 2005.

History

World War II

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

B-24D-170-CO Liberator 42-72956 on Mission to Wewak, New Guinea, 24 February 1944

The squadron was first organized as the 10th Reconnaissance Squadron at Key Field, Mississippi in April 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit and one of the original squadrons of the 90th Bombardment Group. Within a week the squadron name was changed to the 400th Bombardment Squadron. The squadron trained with Liberators in the southeastern United States under III Bomber Command until August.

"Jolly Rogers" of the 90th Bombardment Group on a mission, 1943

The squadron moved to Willow Run Airport, Michigan for conversion training on newly manufactured Ford Liberators. Assigned to VII Bomber Command with B-24Ds, the unit moved to Hickam Field, Hawaii in September. The squadron arrived in northern Queensland, Australia in November 1942 and began bombardment missions under V Bomber Command almost immediately.

The squadron attacked enemy airfields, troop concentrations, ground installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Palau and the southern Philippines. The 400th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its operations in Papua between through January 1943. The unit participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and earned another citation for strikes on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea in September 1943 despite heavy flak and fighter opposition.

During 1944, the 400th supported the New Guinea Campaign through the end of June, then made long-range raids on oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, in September and October. In January 1945, the squadron moved to the Philippines and supported ground forces on Luzon, attacked industrial targets on Formosa, and bombed railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on the Asiatic mainland. Shortly before the end of the war in the Pacific, the 90th moved to Okinawa, from which it would be able to strike the Japanese home islands.

After VJ Day, the squadron flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to Manila. It ceased operations by November 1945. The squadron was inactivated in the Philippines in early 1946.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron

The squadron was reactivated on 1 July 1964 as an ICBM squadron assigned to the 90th Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and equipped with 50 LGM-30B Minuteman Is in early 1964, then upgraded to LGM-30G Minuteman III in 1973/1974. It received 50 LGM-118A Peacekeeper ICBMs in 1986, the only USAF missile squadron to put them on operational alert. Inactivation of Peacekeepers began in 2001, and the last missile was inactivated in 2005. Squadron inactivation followed on 19 September 2005.[1]

Lineage

File:Peacekeepermissileuniform.jpg

Uniform showing an alternative "skull and missiles" shoulder patch.

• Constituted as the 10th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 April 1942

Redesignated 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 April 1942

Redesignated 400th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 6 March 1944

Inactivated on 27 January 1946

Redesignated 400th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated on 10 December 1963 (not organized)

Organized on 1 July 1964

Redesignated 400th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991

Inactivated 19 September 2005

Assignments

• 90th Bombardment Group, 15 April 1942 – 27 January 1946
• 90th Strategic Missile Wing (later 90th Missile Wing, 90th Space Wing), 1 July 1964 - 19 September 2005

Stations

• Key Field, Mississippi, 15 April 1942
• Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 17 May 1942
• Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina, 21 June 1942
• Willow Run Airport, Michigan, 9–19 August 1942
• Hickam Field, Hawaii, 12 September 1942
• Iron Range Airfield, Queensland, Australia, c. 4 November 1942
• Jackson Airfield (7 Mile Drome), Port Moresby, New Guinea, c. 22 March 1943
• Dobodura Airfield Complex, New Guinea, December 1943
• Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 23 February 1944
• Mokmer Airfield, Biak Island, Netherlands East Indies, c. 12 August 1944
• McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines, 26 January 1945
• Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, c. 11 August 1945
• Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines, 23 November 1945 – 27 January 1946
• Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, 10 December 1963 – 19 September 2005

Aircraft and Missiles

• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
• LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1964–1974
• LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1973–1987
• LGM-118A Peacekeeper, 1986–2005[2]

File:400th Missile Squadron - MAF - LC.png

LGM-30 Minuteman/LGM-118A Peacekeeper Missile Alert and Launch Facilities

400th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Launch Control Facilities (each controlling 10 missiles) were located as follows:

* P-01, 19.6 mi WxNW of Albin WY,

* Q-01, 15.4 mi SxSW of Chugwater WY

* R-01, 16.4 mi NW of Meriden WY,

* S-01, 4.8 mi SE of Yoder WY,

* T-01, 9.1 mi ExSE of Wheatland WY,

See also

• List of United States Air Force missile squadrons

References

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

• Peacekeeper (MX) Missile Site Coordinates