23rd Bomb Squadron

The 23rd Bomb Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing. It is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The mission of the squadron is to fly the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber. The squadron stands ready to deploy and fly its B-52Hs to enforce national security policy by being ready to deliver overwhelming nuclear or conventional firepower to destroy targets, worldwide, at any time.

"23rd Reconnaissance Squadron" redirects here. For other uses of 23rd Reconnaissance Squadron, see 23rd Reconnaissance Squadron (disambiguation).

23rd Bomb Squadron
B-52H 23rd Bomb Squadron landing at Minot AFB
Active	1917–1919; 1921–1947; 1947–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Strategic bombing
Part of	Global Strike Command
Garrison/HQ	Minot Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Barons
Colors	Red/yellow
Engagements	World War I Southwest Pacific Theater[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Navy Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
23rd Bomb Squadron emblem (approved 30 September 1931, reinstated 13 January 1994)[1][note 1]

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, dating to 16 June 1917, when it was organized at Kelly Field, Texas. It deployed to England as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, being engaged as an aircraft repair squadron during World War I. The squadron saw combat during World War II, and became part of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War.

History

World War I

Originally organized at Camp Kelly, Texas on 16 June 1917 as the 18th Aero Squadron but redesignated the 23rd Aero Squadron six days later. Arriving in late July, 1918, in Britain, it started training before going to France, where it arrived on Armistice day. It was stationed at the Air Service Replacement Concentration Barracks St. Maixent Replacement Barracks until c. 29 January 1919, then moved to Saint-Nazaire, from where it sailed back to US on 20 February. The squadron arrived at the port of embarkation in March and was demobilized there.

Inter-war years

The 23rd Bombardment Squadron was born in 1921 and in April 1924 was consolidated with the World War I 23rd Aero Squadron. It spent the decades of the 1920s and 1930s stationed in Hawaii. There, the squadron flew a number of bomber types, most notably the Keystone bomber series and later the Douglas B-18 Bolo. It was during the squadron's stay in Hawaii that the event signified by the squadron emblem took place. On 27 December 1935, the Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawaii erupted, threatening the city of Hilo. Six Keystones of the 23rd used precision bombing tactics to drop twenty 600-pound bombs in the path of the volcano's lava flow, thus saving the city of Hilo by diverting the lava away from the city.

World War II

Part of the 5th Bombardment Group, the 23rd fought its way across the Southwest Pacific during World War II. The 23rd initially flew Boeing B-17E Flying Fortresses into combat, replacing those with Consolidated B-24 Liberators by early 1943. Long-range over-water missions were the squadron's forte, and in April 1944 the squadron won its first of two Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC)s for flying the longest over-water bombing mission ever flown to date, some 1,300 miles each way, to bomb the Japanese base at Woleai Island. After winning a second DUC for another long range strike against oil refineries on Borneo on 30 September 1944, the 23rd found itself in the Philippines at the close of the war.

A Martin B-10 of the 23d Bombardment Squadron taken in 1941 over Oahu, Hawaii.

Cold War

After a brief period in the Far East after the war, the 23rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron relocated to Travis Air Force Base, Calif ornia, in 1949. There, the squadron flew global strategic reconnaissance missions with Boeing RB-29 Superfortresses from 1949–51, Convair RB-36F Peacemakers from 1951–53, and RB-36Hs from 1953–55. On 1 October 1955, the squadron was again redesignated the 23rd Bombardment Squadron and reverted to training for long range nuclear strike missions with the same RB-36Hs. On 13 February 1959, the 23rd entered the jet age when it received its first Boeing B-52G Stratofortress and also entered the missile age, as the B-52Gs were equipped with the AGM-28 Hound Dog standoff missile and the ADM-20 Quail decoy missile. The squadron flew the B-52G from Travis until July 1968.

A B-52H with a Navy EA-6B Prowler and Japanese F-2-fighters during exercise Cope North 09-1 in February 2009 over Andersen Air Force Base

On 25 July 1968, the 23rd moved, without personnel or equipment, to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where it absorbed the personnel, equipment, and B-52H bombers of the inactivating 720th Bombardment Squadron. The 23rd has been combat ready in B-52Hs since that time, continuously adding improvements in avionics, weapons, and tactics to its arsenal. In 1973, the squadron was the first unit to receive the AGM-69 SRAM (Short Range Attack Missile). In 1980, the 23rd gained the offensive avionics system, and led Strategic Air Command's venture into modern conventional war fighting as the lead unit for the Strategic Projection Force, in support of the U.S. Rapid Deployment Force. During the 1980s, the squadron pioneered night vision goggle tactics. The 23rd added the AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile in 1989 and the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile in 1994.

Post-Cold War

The squadron, along with other bomber units provide aircraft and personnel for regular rotational deployments to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam part of the U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence since 2004. [2]

July 2012 see the 23rd Bomb Squadron deploy aircraft and personnel to Nellis AFB for Exercise Red Flag 12-4.[3]

June 2016 three of the unit's B-52H bombers deployed to RAF Fairford for NATO Maritime exercise "BALTOPS" and for JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) exercise "Saber Strike".[4]

26 March 2019 the 23rd BS assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Squadron deployed two B-52 Stratofortresses from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia to participate in the biennial exercise Diamond Shield 2019.[5]

Lineage

23rd Aero Squadron

• Organized as the 18th Aero Squadron on 16 June 1917[note 2]

Redesignated 23rd Aero Squadron (Repair) on 22 June 1917

Demobilized on 22 March 1919

• Reconstituted and consolidated with the 23rd Bombardment Squadron on 8 April 1924[6][7]

23rd Bomb Squadron

• Authorized as the 23rd Squadron on 30 August 1921
• Organized on 1 October 1921
• Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron on 25 January 1923
• Consolidated with the 23rd Aero Squadronon 8 April 1924[7]

Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939

Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940

Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 6 March 1944

Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 30 April 1946

Inactivated on 10 March 1947

• Redesignated 23rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic on 16 September 1947

Activated on 20 October 1947

Redesignated 23rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic on 16 June 1949

Redesignated 23rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy on 14 November 1950

Redesignated 23rd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955

Redesignated 23rd Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991[6]

Assignments

• Unknown, 16 June 1917 – 22 March 1919
• Ninth Corps Area, 1 October 1921
• 5th Group (Observation) (later 5th Group (Pursuit and Bombardment); 5th Group (Composite), 5th Composite Group), 29 March 1922
• 19th Bombardment Group, 8 May 1929 (attached to 5th Composite Group (later 5th Bombardment Group))
• 5th Bombardment Group, 12 October 1938 – 10 March 1947
• 5th Reconnaissance Group, (later 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Group), 20 October 1947 (attached to 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 18–24 August 1948; 32d Composite Wing, 24 August 1948 – 16 March 1949; 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1–17 June 1949; 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 10 February 1951)
• 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later 5th Bombardment Wing), 16 June 1952
• 5th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present[1]

Stations

Camp Kelly (later Kelly Field), Texas, 16 June 1917 Hazelhurst Field, New York, 5 September 1917 – 6 July 1918 Thetford Airdrome, England, c. 25 July 1918 Detachments at Hucknall Torkard and Salisbury, c. 18 August-c. 5 November 1918 Duxford Aerodrome, England, 2 September 1918 Codford Airdrome, England, 5 November 1918 Cherbourg, France, 11 November 1918 St. Maixent Replacement Barracks, France, 18 November 1918 Saint-Nazaire, France, c. 29 January-20 February 1919 Garden City, New York, c. 8–22 March 1919 March Field, California, 1 October 1921 – 21 March 1922 Luke Field, Hawaii, 29 March 1922 Hickam Field, Hawaii, 1 January 1939 Mokuleia Airfield, Hawaii, 24 March–3 November 1942 Pallikulo Bay Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 1 December 1942 – 3 January 1944 Air echelon operated from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 31 March-24 August 1943, and 21 October-7 December 1943

Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 9 January 1944 Momote Airfield, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 16 April 1944 Wakde Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, c. 20 August 1944 Kornasoren Airfield, Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, c. 30 September 1944 Wama Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, c. 16 October 1944 Guiuan Airfield, Samar, Philippines, 20 February 1945 Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, December 1945 – 10 March 1947 Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 20 October 1947 Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 15 May 1948 Yokota Air Base, Japan, 16 March-2 May 1949 Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California, 19 May 1949 Topeka Air Force Base (later Forbes AFB), Kansas, 1 June 1949 Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 25 June 1949 Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base (later Travis AFB), California, 1 November 1949 (deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, 14 January-12 April 1955 Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, 25 July 1968 – present[1]

Aircraft

• Martin NBS-1, 1922-1929
• Curtiss JN-6, 1922-1929
• Dayton-Wright DH-4, 1922-1929
• Keystone B-4, 1929-1937
• Keystone B-5, 1929-1937
• Keystone LB-6, 1929-1937
• Martin B-12, 1937–1939
• Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1938–1942
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1941–1943, 1947–1948
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1947–1948
• Boeing FB-17 Flying Fortress, 1947–1948
• Boeing F-2 Flying Fortress, 1947–1948
• Boeing RB-29 Superfortress, 1948–1951
• Convair RB-36 Peacekeeper, 1951–1958
• Convair B-36 Peacekeeper, 1955–1958
• Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1959–present[1]

See also

• List of American Aero Squadrons
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

References

Explanatory notes

1. The unit emblem is a blue disk with a black volcano with red lava flowing from the crater, extending upward as red and yellow rays intermingling with clouds. On the front are five black bombs signifying the 23 BS with three on the dexter (right) side, and two on the sinister (left) side. On 27 December 1935 the unit was tasked to drop twenty 600-pound bombs in the path of the flow of lava from Mauna Loa volcano, thus saving the city of Hilo, Hawaii, from destruction. In May 1952, this emblem was replaced when the squadron was a reconnaissance unit. Although the original emblem was used after the squadron returned to the bombardment mission, it was not officially restored until 1994.
2. Another 18th Aero Squadron was activated at Rockwell Field, California on 20 August 1917. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 499–500. It is not related to the first 18th Aero Squadron, and was last active as the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

Citations

1. Robertson, Patsy (28 February 2017). "Factsheet 23 Bomb Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
2. "23rd EBS bids a farewell to Guam". Retrieved 1 September 2019.
3. "Red Flag 12-4 finishes". Retrieved 1 September 2019.
4. "Up close and personal with the B-52 bombers deployed to the UK for drills in Europe". Retrieved 3 September 2019.
5. "23rd EBS brings bomber support to Diamond Shield 2019". Retrieved 1 September 2019.
6. Lineage information in Robertson, except as otherwise noted.
7. Clay, p. 1390

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919-1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-98419-014-0. LCCN 2010022326. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

Further reading

• Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919. Series B: Air Service Activities with the French, British, and Italians. Vol. 2 History of the Air Service in Great Britain. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705.
• Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919. Series E: Squadron Histories. Vol. 4 History of the 22d-24th Aero Squadron. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705.