490th Missile Squadron emblem (approved 2 March 1995)[2]
490th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem (approved 10 September 1985)[3][4]
490th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 11 July 1956)[5]
Unofficial 490th Bombardment Squadron World War II emblem[1]
The squadron was first activated in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It served in combat until V-J Day. Following the war, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated. The squadron was again activated in 1955 as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet unit of Strategic Air Command until inactivating in 1961. The following year, it activated in its current role as the 490th Strategic Missile Squadron.
Activated as a North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron at Karachi, India, 16 September 1942, assigned to 341st Bombardment Group, which was activated the day before. Cadre personnel were drawn from 11th Bombardment Squadron and other units in India. After receiving full complement of ground support personnel 1 December 1942, Ground Echelon began transfer to Camp Moire, Ondal (Aandal), India 30 December. Air Echelon transferred 1 February 1943 with first combat mission on 18 Feb. Operating under Tenth Air Force for next two years, squadron primarily performed interdiction missions against Japanese lines of communications as well as supporting British ground forces in Burma during 1943 and 1944. The squadron interrupted combat operations and flew supplies from Chittagong, India to Allied Forces defending Imphal, India between 20 May and 30 June 1944 before resuming combat operations. 490th Bomb Squadron developed and perfected bridge destroying bombing technique and became known as "Burma Bridge Busters." Assumed secondary role of dropping leaflets over Burma for the United States Office of War Information from, January–March 1945. Reassigned to Fourteenth Air Force in China; beginning combat operations in China on 16 April 1945; squadron interdicted enemy lines of communication and supported Chinese ground forces until the end of the war.
Personnel demobilized in India, squadron returned to the United States and inactivated as a paper unit.
Strategic Air Commandedit
Was reactivated in 1955 as a Strategic Air CommandBoeing B-47 Stratojet squadron . Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. in 1961, the squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational.
^ abcdeRobertson, Patsy (22 September 2008). "Factsheet 490 Missile Squadron (AFGSC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995(PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
Watkins, Robert A. (2017). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-5273-7.
External linksedit
341st Operations Group Fact Sheet
April 12, 2024
490th, missile, squadron, united, states, force, unit, assigned, 341st, operations, group, stationed, malmstrom, montana, equipped, with, minuteman, intercontinental, ballistic, missile, with, mission, nuclear, deterrence, minuteman, test, launch, vandenberg, . The 490th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group stationed at Malmstrom AFB Montana The 490 MS is equipped with the LGM 30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile with a mission of nuclear deterrence 490th Missile SquadronLGM 30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenberg AFB CaliforniaActive1942 1945 1947 1949 1955 1961 1961 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceTypeSquadronRoleIntercontinental ballistic missilePart of341st Operations GroupAir Force Global Strike CommandGarrison HQMalmstrom Air Force Base MontanaNickname s Burma Bridge Busters World War II 1 EngagementsWorld War II Asia Pacific Theater DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 17x Insignia490th Missile Squadron emblem approved 2 March 1995 2 490th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem approved 10 September 1985 3 4 490th Bombardment Squadron emblem approved 11 July 1956 5 Unofficial 490th Bombardment Squadron World War II emblem 1 The squadron was first activated in the China Burma India Theater during World War II It served in combat until V J Day Following the war it returned to the United States where it was inactivated The squadron was again activated in 1955 as a Boeing B 47 Stratojet unit of Strategic Air Command until inactivating in 1961 The following year it activated in its current role as the 490th Strategic Missile Squadron Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Strategic Air Command 1 3 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editWorld War II edit Activated as a North American B 25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron at Karachi India 16 September 1942 assigned to 341st Bombardment Group which was activated the day before Cadre personnel were drawn from 11th Bombardment Squadron and other units in India After receiving full complement of ground support personnel 1 December 1942 Ground Echelon began transfer to Camp Moire Ondal Aandal India 30 December Air Echelon transferred 1 February 1943 with first combat mission on 18 Feb Operating under Tenth Air Force for next two years squadron primarily performed interdiction missions against Japanese lines of communications as well as supporting British ground forces in Burma during 1943 and 1944 The squadron interrupted combat operations and flew supplies from Chittagong India to Allied Forces defending Imphal India between 20 May and 30 June 1944 before resuming combat operations 490th Bomb Squadron developed and perfected bridge destroying bombing technique and became known as Burma Bridge Busters Assumed secondary role of dropping leaflets over Burma for the United States Office of War Information from January March 1945 Reassigned to Fourteenth Air Force in China beginning combat operations in China on 16 April 1945 squadron interdicted enemy lines of communication and supported Chinese ground forces until the end of the war Personnel demobilized in India squadron returned to the United States and inactivated as a paper unit Strategic Air Command edit Was reactivated in 1955 as a Strategic Air Command Boeing B 47 Stratojet squadron Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B 47 in 1961 the squadron began transferring its B 47s to other SAC wings and became non operational Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron edit Reactivated on 1 May 1962 as an ICBM squadron assigned to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base Montana Initially equipped with 50 LGM 30A Minuteman Is in early 1962 becoming SAC s third operational Minuteman ICBM squadron Upgraded to the Minuteman IB in 1964 Minuteman IIF in 1967 Received control of LGM 30G Minuteman III silos from inactivating 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base North Dakota in 1996 Minuteman IIs being retired Has maintained ICBMs on alert ever since 2 Lineage editConstituted as the 490th Bombardment Squadron Medium on 14 August 1942Activated on 15 September 1942 Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron Medium on 1 August 1943 Inactivated on 2 November 1945Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron Light on 11 March 1947Activated in the reserve on 4 April 1947 Inactivated on 27 June 1949Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron Mediumon 7 June 1955Activated on 1 September 1955 Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1961Redesignated 490th Strategic Missile Squadron ICBM Minuteman and activated on 18 December 1961 not organized Organized on 1 May 1962 Redesignated 490th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991 2 Assignments edit 341st Bombardment Group 15 September 1942 Tenth Air Force 25 October 1943 attached to 341st Bombardment Group until c 7 January 1944 341st Bombardment Group 7 May 2 November 1945 attached to 312th Fighter Wing for operational control 7 May until c 25 Aug 1945 341st Bombardment Group 4 April 1947 27 June 1949 341st Bombardment Wing 1 September 1955 25 June 1961 Strategic Air Command 18 December 1961 not organized 341st Strategic Missile Wing 1 May 1962 341st Operations Group 1 September 1991 present 2 Stations edit Camp Malir Karachi India 15 September 1942 Moire Camp Ondal India 5 January 1943 operated from Chakulia Airfield India 20 25 May 1943 Kurmitola Airfield India 25 May 1943 Dergaon India 26 August 1944 Moran India 20 October 1944 Warazup Burma 29 November 1944 Hanchung Airfield China 13 April 13 September 1945Detachment operated from Hsian Airfield China 16 April 4 August 1945Camp Kilmer New Jersey 1 2 November 1945 Dow Field later Dow Air Force Base Maine 4 April 1947 27 June 1949 Abilene Air Force Base later Dyess Air Force Base Texas 1 September 1955 25 June 1961Deployed to Andersen Air Force Base Guam 9 January c 3 April 1958Malmstrom Air Force Base Montana 1 May 1962 present 2 See also editMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates 47 30 17 N 111 11 14 W 47 50472 N 111 18722 W 47 50472 111 18722 Malmstrom AFB List of United States Air Force missile squadronsReferences editNotes edit a b Watkins p 90 a b c d e Robertson Patsy 22 September 2008 Factsheet 490 Missile Squadron AFGSC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 9 December 2016 Endicott p 825 Approved insignia for 490th Strategic Missile Squadron National Archives Catalog 4 February 1986 Retrieved 2 December 2017 Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 589 590 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Endicott Judy G 1998 Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying Space and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 PDF Air Force History and Museums Program Washington DC Office of Air Force History ASIN B000113MB2 Retrieved 2 July 2014 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 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 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Watkins Robert A 2017 Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U S Army Air Force In World War II Vol VI China Burma India amp The Western Pacific Atglen PA Shiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 5273 7 External links edit341st Operations Group Fact Sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 490th Missile Squadron amp oldid 1209043160, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
