349th Air Refueling Squadron

Training in the United States

The squadron was activated as the 349th Bombardment Squadron at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida on 1 June 1942, one of the four original squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group,^[7][8] It was intended to be equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberators.^[9] The Army Air Forces (AAF) decided to concentrate heavy bomber training under Second Air Force, and before the end of June, the squadron moved to Pendleton Field, Oregon, and its intended equipment changed to Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. As a result, the squadron only began organizing in October 1942, after it had moved to Gowen Field, Idaho. The following month, it moved to Walla Walla Army Air Field, Washington, where it received its first operational aircraft and began training.^[9]

The 349th completed its training and departed Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska for the European Theater of Operations on 1 May 1943. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on 28 May, arriving at Greenock, Scotland on 3 June, while the air echelon engaged in additional training before departing via the northern ferry route to England about 21 May 1943.^[1][9]

Combat in Europe

The squadron established itself at its combat station, RAF Thorpe Abbotts, on 9 June 1943, flying its first combat mission on 25 June. Until the end of the war, the squadron was primarily employed in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Until January 1944, it concentrated its operations on airfields in France, and industrial targets and naval facilities in France and Germany. On 17 August 1943, it participated in an attack on a factory manufacturing Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in Regensburg, Germany, which seriously disrupted production of that plane. Although the mission called for fighter escort, the fighter group assigned to protect the squadron's formation missed the rendezvous and the wing formation proceeded to the target unescorted. Enemy fighter opposition focused on the low "box", formed in part by the squadron. Ten of the 21 Flying Fortresses flown by the 100th Group were lost on this mission. Unknown to AAF intelligence at the time, the attack also destroyed almost all of the fuselage construction equipment for Germany's secret Me 262 jet fighter. Rather than returning to England, the unit turned south and recovered at bases in North Africa.^[10] For this action, the squadron was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).^[7]

From January to May 1944, the 349th attacked airfields, industrial targets, marshalling yards, and missile sites in Western Europe. During Big Week, it participated in the concentrated attack on the German aircraft industry. In March, it conducted a series of long range attacks against Berlin, for which it was awarded a second DUC.^[7] The raid of 6 March was to be the costliest mission flown by Eighth Air Force during the war. German fighter controllers detected that the formation including the squadron was unprotected by fighter escorts and concentrated interceptor attacks on it. Twenty-three B-17s from the formation failed to return.^[11][d] Two days later, German fighters shot down the leader of the 45th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the 100th Group took the lead in another attack on Berlin.^[12] From the summer of 1944, the 349th concentrated on German oil production facilities.^[7]

The squadron was occasionally diverted from strategic bombing to perform interdiction and air support missions. It attacked bridges and gun positions to support Operation Overlord, the landings at Normandy in June 1944. In August and September it supported Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo, and bombed enemy positions in Brest. As Allied forces drove across Northern France toward the Siegfried Line in October and November, it attacked transportation and ground defenses. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, it attacked lines of communication and fortified villages in the Ardennes. It provided support for Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. The squadron was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for attacks on heavily defended sites and dropping supplies to the French Forces of the Interior.^[7]

The squadron flew its last mission on 20 April 1945. Following, V-E Day, the squadron was initially programmed to be part of the occupation forces in Germany, but that plan was cancelled in September, and between October and December, the squadron's planes were ferried back to the United States or transferred to other units in theater.^[9] Its remaining personnel returned to the United States in December and the squadron was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 19 December 1945.^[1]

"Bloody Hundredth"

Starting with the Regensburg mission of August 1943, the squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group began suffering losses among the highest in VIII Bomber Command.^[13] On 8 October, it lost seven aircraft on a raid on Bremen, including its lead and deputy lead aircraft.^[14] Only two days later, it lost twelve aircraft on an attack on Münster, again including the lead aircraft. The only group plane returning from that mission had lost two engines and had two wounded on board.^[15][e] Its highest one day loss occurred on the 6 March 1944 attack on Berlin, when 15 bombers failed to return.^[16] On 11 September 1944, the Luftwaffe put up its heaviest opposition in months, destroying 11 of the group's bombers.^[17] On 31 December 1944, half the 1st Bombardment Division's losses consisted of a dozen 100th bombers.^[18] With a group authorization of 40 B-17s, it lost 177 planes to enemy action.^[9] It became a legend for these losses and was referred to as the "Bloody Hundredth."^[9]

Strategic bombardment

The squadron was activated at the start of 1956 as Strategic Air Command (SAC) opened Portsmouth Air Force Base. It began to equip with Boeing B-47 Stratojets.^[1] From December 1957 until April 1958, it deployed to RAF Brize Norton, along with the rest of the 100th Bombardment Wing.^[25] Starting in 1958, the squadron began to assume an alert posture at its home station, now Pease Air Force Base, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. General Thomas S. Power had set an initial goal of maintaining 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.^[26] This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.^[27]

Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, all degraded and adjusted alert sorties were brought up to full capability.^[28] SAC B-47s dispersed on 22 October.^[29] Most dispersal bases were civilian airfields with AF Reserve or Air National Guard units. B-47s were configured for execution of the Emergency War Order as soon as possible after dispersal. KC-97s were dispersed to Goose Air Base, Lajes Air Base and Harmon Air Force Base to provide refueling for the B-47s on increased alert status.^[30]. On 15 November 1/6 of the dispersed B-47s were recalled to their home bases.^[31] On 21 November SAC went to DEFCON 3. The squadron's B-47s were recalled to Pease on 24 November. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture.^[32]

The squadron continued operations until the end of 1965. when it began to phase down with the retirement of the B-47 from SAC. The squadron ceased all operations on 12 February 1966.^[25]

Strategic reconnaissance

On 25 June 1966, the squadron moved without personnel or equipment to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it was redesignated the 349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1] and absorbed the personnel and Lockheed U-2 aircraft of the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, which was simultaneously discontinued. The squadron conducted global reconnaissance missions, often providing aircraft to overseas operating locations of its parent 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.^[25] It also flew domestic reconnaissance missions supporting US government agencies. Starting in 1972, it conducted operational trials of the Advanced Location and Strike System, and deployed five U-2Cs to the United Kingdom for this purpose in 1975.^[5]

The squadron began transferring its U-2s to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in July 1976. By 11 August, it had once again become nonoperational.^[25]