The squadron was first activated in 1942. After training in the United States, it moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations in operations against the Axis Powers. After V-E Day, the squadron remained in Italy until November 1945, when it was inactivated. The squadron was activated in the reserves from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped.
In 1953, the squadron was activated as the 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron as part of Strategic Air Command. It returned to the bombardment mission two years later, and served in this role until inactivating in 1963.
The squadron's ground echelon went by ship from New York City to Marrakech, Morocco; the air echelon flew to Morrison Field, Florida, then along the South Atlantic Route.[citation needed] The ground and air echelons of the squadron were reunited at Navarin Airfield, Algeria in March 1943. It moved forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia after the Allies drove Axis forces from North Africa in May 1943. The squadron concentrated on targets such as airfields, harbor facilities, shipping, viaducts and bridges in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.[3] In early June 1943, the squadron participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.[4]
In November 1943, the 347th became part of Fifteenth Air Force, which focused on the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The following month it moved to Tortorella Airfield, Italy. From this base, it engaged in the bombardment of enemy targets in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Yugoslavia; attacking oil refineries, marshaling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. On 23 April 1944, the squadron participated in an attack on aircraft factories in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, despite heavy enemy interceptor opposition. For this action, it was awarded a second DUC.[3]
Following V-E Day, the squadron became part of the occupation forces in Italy, until inactivating in November 1945.[1][3]
Air Force reserve
The squadron was again activated under Air Defense Command (ADC) in the reserve at Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, on 19 May 1947 and again assigned to the 99th Group.[1] Its training was supervised by ADC's 477th AAF Base Unit (later the 2587th Air Force Reserve Training Center).[5] Although it was nominally a very heavy bomber unit, it is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with combat aircraft.[6] In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[7] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, however, required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[8] ConAC also reorganized its reserve units under the Wing Base Organization, and the 19th Air Division and other reserve units at Birmingham Municipal Airport, including the squadron, were inactivated and replaced by the 514th Troop Carrier Wing in June 1949.[1][5]
In 1961 it moved to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida and was assigned to SAC's 4047th Strategic Wing as SAC dispersed its heavy bomber force. The squadron conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. It was finally inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its strategic wings, replacing them with permanent Air Force Wings. The squadron was inactivated and its aircraft, personnel, and equipment transferred to the 367th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.
Lineage
Constituted as the 347th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 29 September 1944
Inactivated on 8 November 1945
Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 347th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated on 1 January 1953.
Redesignated 347th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955
^Aircraft is Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress, serial 56-591, Tommy's Tigator.
^Approved 11 May 1954. Description: On a disc white, outlined Air Force blue, the stylized aperture of a camera green, all outlined of the second [color mentioned], over the upper right (dexter) part of the disc a globe, light blue, shaded, land markings of Air Force blue, over all in saltire a stylized futuramic aircraft proper and a bolt of lightning red.
^Aircraft is Douglas Aircraft built Boeing B-17F-50-DL Flying Fortress, serial 42-3389, Rangy Lil Photo taken in August 1943. It is seen wearing the 99th Group's distinctive diamond marking on the tail, along with the Roman numeral II associated with the squadron. The aircraft was passed on to the 340th Bombardment Squadron on 14 November 1943, but was ditched in the Mediterranean after a mission to Toulon, France on 20 November. Baugher, Joe (2 June 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-3401-6.
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