347th Bombardment Squadron

347th Bombardment Squadron
300px Boeing B-52D Stratofortress 56-0591
Active	1942-1945; 1947-1949; 1953-1963
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Bombardment
Engagements	World War II - EAME Theater
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)
Insignia
Emblem of the 347th Bombardment Squadron	125px

The 347th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4047th Strategic Wing. It was inactivated at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida on 1 April 1963.

During World War II, the 347th Bombardment Squadron was a B-17 Flying Fortress squadron, assigned to the 99th Bombardment Group, Fifteenth Air Force. It earned Two Distinguished Unit Citations.

History

Established in early 1942 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; trained under Second Air Force first in the Pacific Northwest, but the poor flying weather in the northwest forced a relocation to the Midwest for the second and third phases of training.

B-17F 42-3399 was assigned to the 347th Bomb Squadron at Oudna Airfield, Tunisia in August 1943. and it is seen wearing the group's dittinctive diamond Marking On the tail, along with the Roman II associated with the squadron. Christened "Rangy Lil", the aircraft was passed on to the 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group on 14 November 1943, but was lost two days later on a mission to Toulon, France.

After completion of training, the 99th departed for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in Algeria, where the ground echelon went by ship from New York to Marrakech, Morocco; the air echelon flying to Morrison Field, Florida then along the South Atlantic Route to Navarin Airfield, Algeria where the ground and air echelons of the group were reunited in late February 1943. Assigned to Twelfth Air Force, the squadron engaged in combat operations in support of American ground forces in Algeria and Tunisia during the 1943 North African campaign.

Helped force the capitulation of Pantelleria Island in June 1943. Bombed in preparation for and in support of the invasions of Sicily and southern Italy in the summer and fall of 1943. Was reassigned to the new Fifteenth Air Force in October 1943 and until the German Capitulation in May 1945, engaged in strategic bombardment of enemy targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, attacking oil refineries, marshaling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. Squadron was demobilized in Italy in late 1945; inactivated in November.

Activated in the reserves in 1947, however unit never equipped or manned. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget restraints. Reactivated in 1953 as a Strategic Air Command B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental strategic bombardment squadron. Engaged in worldwide strategic bombardment training and stood nuclear alert until 1956 when the B-36 was retired. Re-equipped with B-52 Stratofortresses and continued training and nuclear alert status.

In 1961 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4047th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52D Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. Was reassigned to McCoy AFB, Florida by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. Conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. Was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. Squadron was inactivated with aircraft/personnel/equipment being redesignated 367th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.

Lineage

File:347th Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png

World War II unit emblem

• Constituted 347th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942

Activated on 1 Jun 1942

Inactivated on 8 Nov 1945

• Re-designated 347th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 13 May 1947

Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947

Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949

• Re-designated 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 1 Jan 1953.

Re-designated 347th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Oct 1955

Discontinued, and inactivated on 1 Apr 1963; personnel/aircraft/equipment redesignated as 367th Bombardment Squadron

Assignments

• 99th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945; 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949
• 99th Strategic Reconnaissance (later Bombardment) Wing, 1 Jan 1953
• 4047th Strategic Wing, 1 Sep 1961-1 Apr 1963

Stations

• Orlando AAB, Florida, June 1, 1942
• MacDill Field, Florida, June 1, 1942
• Pendleton Field, Oregon, June 29, 1942
• Gowen Field, Idaho, August 28, 1942
• Walla Walla AAFld, Washington, September 30, 1942
• Sioux City AAB, Iowa, November 18, 1942 – January 3, 1943
• Navarin Airfield, Algeria February 22, 1943 – March 25, 1943

• Oudna Airfield, Tunisia, August 4, 1943
• Tortorella Airfield, Italy, December 11, 1943
• Marcianise Airfield, Italy, c. October 27 – November 8, 1945
• Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949.
• Fairchild AFB, Washington, January 1, 1953
• Westover AFB, Massachusetts, September 4, 1956
• McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, 1 September 1961-1 Apr 1963

Aircraft

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
• B/RB-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
• B-52D Stratofortress, 1956–1963

See also

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

References

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

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, AL: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.