66th Missile Squadron

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66th Missile Squadron
66th Missile Squadron
	LGM-30F Minuteman II test launch at Vandenburg AFB, California
Active	1940-1946; 1947-1948; 1950-1960; 1962-1993
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Garrison/HQ	Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
Nickname(s)	Flying 8 Balls [World War II]
Motto(s)	THE PEACE KEEPER
Engagements	World War II; ; (American Campaign); ; (EAME Theater)
Decorations	; Distinguished Unit Citation (2x); ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (6x)
Insignia
66th Missile Squadron emblem

The 66th Missile Squadron (66 MS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 44th Operations Group, stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.

The 66 MS was equipped with the LGM-30F Minuteman II Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a mission of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War, the 66th was inactivated on 1 September 1993.

History[]

World War II[]

Established in early 1941 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron; trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, engaged in Antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico.

Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England during the summer of 1942. One of the first B-24 Liberator units assigned to the ETO. Engaged in very long range strategic bombardment missions over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking strategic targets in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Among the targets attacked were submarine installations, industrial establishments, airfields, harbors, shipyards, and other objectives.

Detachment deployed to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in June 1943 to help facilitate the Allied invasion of Sicily by bombing airfields and marshalling yards in Italy. The detachment also participated in the famous low-level raid on the Ploiești oil fields in Romania on 1 August 1943. Most of the detachment returned to England at the end of August, however some crews and aircraft remained in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and flew very long range attacks over Italy, Romania, Austria, and Sicily and supported Allied ground forces in Sicily as well as attacking Axis forces in Italy supporting the Salerno Invasion of Italy. All aircraft and personnel returned to England in October.

Returned to VIII Bomber Command operations, and supported the Allied Invasion of France in June 1944 by attacking strong points in the beachhead area and transportation targets behind the front lines. The group aided the Caen offensive and the Saint-Lô breakthrough in July. Dropped food, ammunition, and other supplies to troops engaged in the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September. Attacked enemy targets during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945, by striking bridges, tunnels, choke points, rail and road junctions, and communications in the battle area. The squadron attacked airfields and transportation in support of the Western Allied Invasion of Germany, and flew a resupply mission during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. Combat operations concluded with the German Capitulation in May 1945.

Returned to the United States in June 1945, being reassigned to Second Air Force and redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron. Trained with B-29s and planned to deploy to the Western Pacific, however the Japanese Capitulation in August canceled deployment plans. Assigned to Kansas as part of Continental Air Forces (later Strategic Air Command) but inactivated in July 1946 as part of the general demobilization of the AAF.

Strategic Air Command[]

Reactivated in 1947 under SAC as a paper unit; not manned or equipped and inactivated in 1949 due to budget constraints.

Reactivated in 1950 and used as an Operational Training Unit for B-29 aircrews and maintenance personnel being deployed to for Far East Air Forces during the Korean War. Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. In the late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending aircraft to other B-47 wings as replacements in late 1959, being phased down for inactivation in 1960.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron[]

Reactivated in 1962 as a SAC ICBM missile squadron. Trained with the 850th SMS in HGM-25A Titan I operations in 1962, being made operational with LGM-30B Minuteman I missiles in 1963. Upgraded to the LGM-30F Minuteman II in 1972. Remained on Cold War nuclear alert until in response to President Bush's directive to stand down the Minuteman II. Dissipated launch codes and pin safety control switches at 15 launch control facilities. Deactivation of the entire missile complex ended in the summer of 1993; squadron inactivated on 1 September.

Lineage[]

emblem of the SAC 66th Bomb Squadron

Constituted 66th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940

Activated on 15 Jan 1941

Re-designated 66th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945

Inactivated on 12 Jul 1946

Activated on 1 Jul 1947

Inactivated on 6 Sep 1948

Re-designated 66th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 Dec 1950

Activated on 2 Jan 1951

Discontinued on 15 Jun 1960

Re-designated 66th Strategic Missile Squadron on 19 Mar 1962

Organized on 1 Sep 1962

Re-designated 66th Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991

Inactivated on 1 Sep 1993.

Assignments[]

44th Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941 – 12 Jul 1946; 1 Jul 1947-6 Sep 1948; 2 Jan 1951
44th Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952
Department of the Air Force, 15 Jun 1960
Strategic Air Command, 19 Mar 1962
44th Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Sep 1962
44th Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991 – 1 Sep 1993