12th Missile Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 12th Missile Squadron


caption= 12th Missile Squadronemblem
dates= 1961-Present
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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command_structure=341st Space Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Malmstrom AFB, Montana
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
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The United States Air Force's 12th Missile Squadron is a missile unit located at Malmstrom AFB, Montana.

Mission

The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces. [http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4671]

History

12th Strategic Missile Squadron’s heritage can be traced back to 1940 at Langley Field, Virginia, when the defense build-up in the Caribbean area occurred at an accelerated rate. In November of that year, the squadron's B-18s landed at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. Throughout World War II, the 12th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, was located at St. Croix, St. Nicholas, and Antigua. Using at first B-18s and later B-25s in an anti-submarine role, the 12th protected vulnerable shipping lanes in the Caribbean area, allowing strategic materials to pass safely through to European destinations. On June 20, 1944, the victorious 12th Bombardment Squadron was disbanded.

Eleven years later, on September 1, 1955, the 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, was activated at Abilene Air Force Base, Texas. Before being disbanded once more in 1961, the 12th’s B-47s engaged in training that made it a powerful element of the nation’s strategic air power.

In less than three months, the unit was redesignated as the 12th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS). At the same time, it was assigned to the Strategic Air Command for organization at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Upon organization, it became the second Minuteman ICBM squadron in the Air Force. During the mid-1960s the 12th replaced it’s 50 Minuteman I missiles with Minuteman IIs. The 12th SMS was the first squadron at Malmstrom to undergo weapon system upgrade to Minuteman Mod; and on April 22, 1967, it was the first squadron to become fully operational with the new Minuteman II missiles under this program. The 12th SMS was also the first squadron in the wing to undergo silo upgrade. By 1978, the Improved Launch Control System (ILCS) had replaced the Minuteman Mod system and the 12th SMS once again had the state-of-the-art weapon system. The 12th Missile Squadron (MS) led the way in removing Minuteman II missiles and replacing them with Minuteman III's. The new missile enhances capability, increases flexibility, and marks yet another system upgrade.

In 1994, the 12 MS reorganized under the objective squadron concept. This reorganization took the three combat disciplines, ICBM Operations, Security Police, and Electro- mechanical Maintenance, and combined them under the "one hat" of the missile squadron commander. In early June 1995, Electro-mechanical Maintenance returned to the Logistics Group. In February 1996, Missile Field Chefs became part of the 12 MS team. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/agency/12ms.htm]

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

1940-1944 - 12th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, Langly AFB, Virginia

1955-1961 - 12th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, Abilene AFB, Texas

1961-present - 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Bases stationed

Malmstrom AFB, MT

Aircraft & Missiles OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

1961-1967 - 50 Minuteman I ICBMs

1967-19xx - Minuteman II ICBMs

19xx-Present - Minuteman III ICBMs

References

External links

* [https://www.malmstrom.af.mil Malmstrom AFB, Montana]