The squadron was first activated in April 1943 as the 596th Bombardment Squadron and equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders. It departed for the European Theater of Operations in the spring of 1944. From bases in England, and later on the European continent, it participated in combat until late April 1945, and was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions. It remained in Europe after V-E Day until the end of 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation.
The squadron was again activated in February 1963, when it assumed the personnel and Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses of another unit at Dow Air Force Base, Maine. It stood alert and flew training missions until 1968, when Dow closed and it moved to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It participated in the longest strike mission in history at the start of Desert Storm, flying from Barksdale to its launch position near Iraq.
The squadron was temporarily stationed at RAF Gosfield upon its arrival in England in early April 1944. On the 15th of the month, its parent group displaced the 363d Fighter Group at RAF Rivenhall and the unit flew its first combat mission five days later.[3][5] In preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, the squadron participated in Operation Crossbow, attacking V-1 flying bomb launch pads. It also struck bridges, coastal defenses, marshalling yards and airfields in northern France. On D-Day the squadron attacked strong points and bombed fuel dumps and other objectives to support ground forces throughout the Normandy Campaign.[3]
In July 1944, the squadron participated in Operation Cobra, attacking German forces near Saint Lo, France, during the Allied breakout there. In August, the squadron moved from England to Gorges Airfield, an Advanced Landing Ground in France. From there it attacked naval targets at Saint Malo and Brest. Once on the Continent, the squadron made frequent moves forward as the Allied forces advanced during the Northern France Campaign. By September the squadron began flying missions into Germany, attacking depots and defended areas.[3]
After V-E Day the squadron returned to its former base at Peronne Airfield, France, and remained there until December, when it returned to the United States. Upon arrival at Camp Shanks, New York in early January 1946, the squadron was inactivated.[1]
B-52 operations
Starting in the late 1950s, Strategic Air Command (SAC) dispersed its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[7] SAC established "Strategic Wings" to command this dispersed fleet. however, these wings were Major Command controlled (MAJCON) units and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.[8]
SAC received authority to replace its strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft with Air Force controlled (AFCON) units, which could carry a lineage and history. As part of this program, in February 1963, the 397th Bombardment Wing replaced the 4038th Strategic Wing at Dow Air Force Base, Maine.[9] In this reorganization the 596th was reactivated and assumed the personnel, mission, and Boeing B-52G Stratofortresses of the 341st Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated.[1][10][d]
It carried out operational training missions with the 397th Wing at Dow. Half of the squadron's aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[11] The squadron continued to maintain an alert commitment until President Bush terminated the alert program at the end of the Cold War. SAC also maintained an airborne force for "airborne alert training" (Operation Chrome Dome)[12] and the squadron was periodically tasked for this mission. Accidents at Palomares in January 1966 and Thule in January 1968 contributed to the end of Chrome Dome, as did rapidly rising costs of the programs and the use of strategic bombers for non-nuclear missions, but the primary reason was the availability of a survivable intercontinental ballistic missile force.[13]
In April 1968, the 397th Wing was inactivated in preparation for the turnover of Dow to the Maine Air National Guard.[9] The squadron moved to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana where it was assigned to the 2d Bombardment Wing. Although the squadron did not participate in the Vietnam War as a unit, it deployed personnel and aircraft to participate in operations in Southeast Asia, including Operation Linebacker. For a year and a half, from the end of May 1972 until late October 1973, the squadron was not operational due to these deployments.[14][15]
The squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to the 801st Bombardment Wing (Provisional), Morón Air Base, Spain and augmented the 1708th Bombardment Wing, Provisional at Prince Abdullah Air Base, Saudi Arabia, from August 1990 to March 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm.[citation needed] On the first day of the war, elements of the squadron participated in Operation Senior Surprise,[e] which was led by the 596th's commander, Lt Col John Beard. Seven squadron bombers launched from Barksdale and struck power and communications targets in Iraq with AGM-86 ALCM missiles, returning to Barksdale 35 hours later.[16]
On 1 September 1991, SAC reorganized its combat wings under the Objective Wing model. The 2nd Operations Group was activated and the 2nd Wing's operational elements were assigned to it. At the same time, the squadron name changed to the 596th Bomb Squadron. The 596th was inactivated and transferred its personnel and equipment to the 96th Bomb Squadron, which was activated in its place on 1 October 1993.
Lineage
Constituted as the 596th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 March 1943
Activated on 20 April 1943
Redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. April 1944
Inactivated on 31 December 1945
Redesignated 596th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy and activated on 15 November 1962 (not organized)
^Aircraft is Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress serial 58-0183 Valkyrie. This is one of seven B-52s that flew on "Secret Squirrel" on the first night of Desert Storm. It was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center less than six months later on 9 July 1991, and was later put on display at the Pima Air Museum. Baugher, Joe (21 April 2023). "1958 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
^Approved 20 March 1945. Description: On a disc trisected red, brown, and green, trisection angle starting from vertical division line at top, a silver winged sword with gold hilt, guard and pommel palewise, striking with impact mark of eight white rays on either side, and cleaving shackle chains fastened to silver slave bracelets, one to dexter, one to sinister, all within a white border, edged golden orange.
^Aircraft is B-26B-55-MA Marauder, serial 42-96142, Dee-Feater, fuseage code X2-A.
^While this action was almost tantamount to redesignation, they were not official redesignations." The Development of the Strategic Air Command 1946-1986, Office of the Historian, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE, pp. 117-118.
^This operation was referred to as "Operation Secret Squirrel" by the participating aircrews.
^The Southwest Asia awards were made to the 2nd Bombardment Wing.
Citations
^ abcdefghijklMaurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 677–678
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-2938-8.