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392d Combat Training Squadron

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392d Training Squadron
Minuteman III launch at Vandenberg AFB
Active1943-1944, 1957–1959, 1961–1963, 1993–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Roleintercontinental ballistic missile training
Part ofAir Education and Training Command
Nickname(s)Thor Warriors[citation needed]
ColorsBlue and Yellow[citation needed]
Mascot(s)Thor[citation needed]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
392d Training Squadron emblem
392d Missile Training Squadron emblem (approved 12 May 1959)[1]

The United States Air Force's 392d Training Squadron was an intercontinental ballistic missile training unit at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Its first predecessor was the 592d Bombardment Squadron, which trained aircrews on Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses during World War II. Its second predecessor was the 392d Missile Training Squadron, which conducted training, primarily for Royal Air Force launch crews, on the PGM-17 Thor missile at Vandenberg from 1958 to 1963. The two squadrons were consolidated in 1985 and activated again in 1993 to train missile crews at Vandenberg. The squadron was inactivated in 2010.

History

The 392d Training Squadron traces its lineage through two different units, the 592nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and the 392nd Missile Training Squadron.

World War II bomber crew training

The 592d Bombardment Squadron was first activated at Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho on 16 February 1943 as one of the four original squadrons of the 396th Bombardment Group.[1][2] After initial organization and equipping with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, the squadron moved to Moses Lake Army Air Base, Washington. There the squadron acted as an Operational Training Unit (OTU) for B-17 units. The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups"[3] In August 1943, the unit's mission changed to being a Replacement Training Unit (RTU).[1] Like OTUs, RTUs were an oversized units. Their mission, however was to train individual pilots or aircrews.[3]

In November 1943, the 592d moved to Drew Field, Florida, where it would remain for the duration of its active service.[1] However, the Army Air Forces was finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[4] The 592d was inactivated on 1 May 1944 at Drew Field, Florida.[1] Its personnel and equipment became part of the 326th AAF Base Unit.[5]

Thor missile training

The 392d Missile Training Squadron was activated at Cooke Air Force Base, California on 15 September 1957. The unit conducted training on SM-75 Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles. Although developed and manufactured in the United States, the only operator of the Thor missile was the Royal Air Force (RAF) and training for Thor operations and maintenance was primarily provided for RAF personnel. The squadron was inactivated on 1 February 1963,[1] as the RAF wound down its Thor program.

In September 1985, the 592d Bombardment Squadron and the 392d Missile Training Squadron were consolidated as the 392d Tactical Missile Squadron, but the consolidated unit was never active under that designation.[1]

392d Training Squadron

On 19 September 1985, the 592d Bombardment Squadron was consolidated with the 392d Missile Training Squadron (IRBM). This new unit, the 392d Tactical Missile Squadron, was not activated immediately. Instead, it remained inactive until 1 July 1993, when it was redesignated the 392d Space and Missile Training Squadron and activated at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. On 1 April 1994, the unit was redesignated the 392d Training Squadron.[1] Since its activation, the 392d has been responsible for initial qualification training, specialty code-awarding courses for Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBM crews, as well as basic mission orientation and refresher training for Air Force Space Command commanders and staff.[6] Due to restructuring as a result of the creation of Global Strike Command, the 392d shifted its training responsibilities to only training Missile Operators.

On 13 July 2012 the 392nd was inactivated. It was absorbed by the 532nd Training Squadron to streamline operations and effectiveness.[7]

Lineage

592d Bombardment Squadron
  • Constituted as the 592 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 29 January 1943
Activated on 16 February 1943
Inactivated on 1 May 1944
Consolidated with the 392d Missile Training Squadron as the 392d Tactical Missile Squadron on 19 Sep 1985[1]
392d Training Squadron
  • Constituted as the 392d Missile Training Squadron on 20 May 1957
Activated on 15 September 1957
Redesignated 392d Missile Training Squadron (IRBM) on 1 April 1958
Discontinued and inactivated on 1 February 1963
Consolidated with the 592d Bombardment Squadron as the 392d Tactical Missile Squadron on 19 Sep 1985
  • Redesignated 392d Space and Missile Training Squadron on 1 July 1993
Activated on 1 July 1993
Redesignated 392d Training Squadron on 1 April 1994[1]
Inactivated c. 2 July 2012[7]

Assignments

  • 396th Bombardment Group, 16 February 1943 – 1 May 1944
  • 704th Strategic Missile Wing, 15 September 1957 (attached to 1st Missile Division after 6 April 1959)
  • 1st Missile Division (later 1 Strategic Aerospace Division), 1 July 1959
  • 392d Strategic Missile Wing, 18 October 1961
  • 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, 19 December 1961 – 1 February 1963
  • 17th Technical Training Group, 1 July 1993
  • Second Air Force, 1 April 1994
  • 381st Training Group, 1 October 1994 – c. 2 July 2012[8][7]

Stations

  • Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho, 16 February 1943
  • Moses Lake Army Air Base, Washington, 10 April 1943
  • Drew Field, Florida, 6 November 1943 – 1 May 1944
  • Cooke Air Force Base (later Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 15 September 1957 – 1 February 1963
  • Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1 July 1993 – c. 2 July 2012[8][7]

Aircraft and missiles

  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943-1944
  • SM-75 (later PGM-17) Thor, 1958-1962[1]

Campaign

Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944 592d Bombardment Squadron[1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bailey, Carl E. (7 November 2008). "Factsheet 392 Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 283
  3. ^ a b Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
  4. ^ Goss, p. 75
  5. ^ See Mueller, p. 351 (simultaneous inactivation of 396th Bombardment Group units and organization of 326th Base Unit).
  6. ^ No byline (7 May 2011). "392nd Training Squadron (392nd TRS)". globalsecurity.com Affairs. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d Picariello, SSG Erica (13 July 2012). "Historic training squadrons merge, missions continue at Vandenberg". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b Assignments and stations through October 2008 in Bailey.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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