From 1947 to 1949 the 336th Bombardment Squadron served in the reserves. It was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve flying units under the wing base organization model.
During the Cold War, the squadron was part of Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s 95th Bombardment Wing and performed strategic bombardment training with Convair B-36 Peacemaker bombers at Biggs Air Force Base. Texas. In 1959, as part of SAC's program to disperse its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers over a larger number of bases to make them less vulnerable to a Soviet missile attack, the squadron moved to Turner Air Force Base, where it operated the B-52. It supported SAC's global commitments until 1963, when SAC replaced its strategic wings and their components with wings that continued the histories of units that had participated in combat in World War II.
History
World War II
Training in the United States
The squadron was constituted in early 1942 as the 336th Bombardment Squadron before activating at Barksdale Field, Louisiana in June as one of the four original squadrons of the 95th Bombardment Group.[1][5] The squadron began training in August at Geiger Field, Washington,[4] where it was equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. The unit trained for combat operations until moving overseas starting in March.[5]
95th Bombardment Group B-17 over Germany showing Square B tail marking
The squadron arrived in England equipped with late model B-17F aircraft equipped with "Tokyo Tanks", additional fuel cells located outboard in the wings that gave this model additional range.[6] It flew its first combat mission on 13 May 1943 against an airfield near Saint-Omer, France. For the next two months the squadron focused on attacking airfields and V-1 flying bomb launch sites in France.[5]
Eighth Air Force's early experience with its Martin B-26 Marauders convinced it that the Marauders were stationed too far from the continent of Europe to reach a selection of targets.[7] It determined to move them closer to the target areas, and an exchange of bases began. The entire 95th group moved to RAF Horham in June, where they replaced the 323d Bombardment Group, which departed the previous day.[5][8] A few days later their place at Framlingham was taken by the newly arrived 390th Bombardment Group.[5][9]
The 336th began strategic bombing operations in July and continued until flying its last operation on 20 April 1945. Its targets included harbors, marshalling yards and other industrial targets along with attacks on cities. The squadron received its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, Germany on 17 August 1943 when it maintained its defensive formation despite severe attacks by enemy interceptor aircraft.[5]
On 10 October, during an attack on marshalling yards at Münster, Germany, the squadron was subjected to concentrated fighter attacks on the approach to the target and intense flak over the objective.[5] Despite these obstacles, the formation's bombs were clustered close to the target.[10] It was awarded a second DUC for withstanding these attacks to bomb its objective. From 20 to 25 February 1944 the squadron participated in the Big Week offensive against the German aircraft manufacturing industry. A few days later, on 4 March, the squadron attacked Berlin despite adverse weather that led other units to either abandon the operation or attack secondary targets. Despite snowstorms and heavy cloud cover, the unit struck its target while under attack from enemy fighters,[5] although the cloud cover required the group to rely on a pathfinder from the 482d Bombardment Group to determine the release point.[11] It received its third DUC for this operation.[5] This mission was the first time any unit from Eighth Air Force had bombed Berlin.[4]
95th Bomb Group Boeing B-17Gs in combat formation
The squadron was diverted to bombing priority tactical targets during the preparation for and execution of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, attacking communications and coastal defenses. It hit enemy troop concentrations to facilitate the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô. The 336th attacked enemy troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and bombed airfields to support Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March.[5]
One of the unit's more unusual missions was flown on 18 September 1944, when the 95th group led the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing[12] to Warsaw to drop ammunition, food and medical supplies to Polish resistance forces fighting against German occupation forces,[5] landing at bases in the Soviet Union. The squadron had previously participated in shuttle missions to the Soviet Union.[13]
The unit flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, when it attacked marshalling yards near Oranienburg. In the first week of May, it airdropped food to Dutch citizens in Operation Chow Hound. From V-E Day until departing the theater in June, it transported liberated prisoners of war and displaced persons.[5][14] The air echelon flew their planes back to Bradley Field, Connecticut, while the ground echelon sailed once more on the Queen Elizabeth.[4] The squadron was reunited at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 28 August 1945.[5]
From 1959 to 1960, the 95th wing phased out its B-36 and received Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses to replace them. In the late 1950s, SAC established strategic wings to disperse its B-52s over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[17] As part of this program, the squadron moved to Turner Air Force Base, Georgia in July 1959, where it was assigned to the 4138th Strategic Wing.[1]
Starting in 1960, one third of the squadron's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[18] The 336th continued to maintain an alert commitment until it was inactivated.[1]
In February 1963, SAC activated the 484th Bombardment Wing at Turner. The 484th assumed the mission, aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4138th wing.[19] The 4138th was a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage,[20] and SAC wanted to replace it with a permanent unit. The 336th was inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 484th wing's 824th Bombardment Squadron.[21][22]
Lineage
Constituted as the 336th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 336th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Redesignated 336th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserves on 29 May 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 336th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 4 June 1952
Activated on 16 June 1952
Redesignated 336th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 8 November 1952
Discontinued and inactivated on 1 February 1963[1]
Assignments
95th Bombardment Group, 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945
95th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949
95th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952
4138th Strategic Wing, 1 July 1959 – 1 February 1963[1]
Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England: Macdonald and Company. ISBN978-0-87938-638-2.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center.
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-1987-7.
Further reading
Andrews, Paul M. (1990). Operational Record of the 95th Bomb Group World War II. Bellevue, WA: 95th Bomb Group (H) Association.
United States Air Force
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