96th Bomb Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 96th Bomb Squadron


caption= 96th Bomb Squadron Patch
dates= 20 August 1917 - 28 February 1946
1 July 1947 - 1 April 1963
1 October 1993 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Strategic Bombing
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
8th Air Force
2d Bomb Wing
2d Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Barksdale Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 96th Bomb Squadron (96 BS) is part of the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operates B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.

History

The 96th saw combat as part of the 1st Day Bombardment Group, supporting the French Eighth and U.S. First Army from, 12 June 1918 – 4 November 1918. Between the two World Wars it flew Mexican border patrol from, August 1919-10 January 1920, participated in demonstrations of the effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships from, June-September 1921, and on 5 September 1923, and took part in good-will flights to South America between 1938 and 1939.

During the Second World War the 96th flew antisubmarine patrols from, 8 December 1941-c. 28 October 1942 before flying combat missions in the European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from, 28 April 1943-1 May 1945. It performed occupational duty in Europe from, June 1945-June 1946.

The 96th conducted strategic bombardment training from, 1 July 1947-1 April 1963. In September 1996, deployed and launched attacks against military targets in Iraq. It earned the 1996 Mackay Trophy for the 33-hour long mission from Louisiana to Iraq and back as the most meritorious flight of the year. Since 1993 it has conducted combat operations to support worldwide conventional and nuclear taskings and provided long-range, heavy strike, initial response, and sustained firepower in support of all regional and global warfighting commanders.

Operations

*World War I
*World War II
*Operation Desert Strike

Lineage

*96th Aero Squadron (1917 - 1921)
*96th Squadron (Bombardment) (1921 - 1923)
*96th Bombardment Squadron (1923 - 1939)
*96th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1939 - 1944)
*96th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1944 - 1946)
*96th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1946 - 1948)
*96th Bomberdment Squadron, Medium (1948 - 1993)
*96th Bomb Squadron (1993 - Present)

Assignments

*1st Day Bombardment Group (1918)
*2d Bombardment Group (1919 – 1946)
**Attached: 1st Surveillance Group (12 November 1919 – 10 January 1921)
**Attached: 1st Provisional Air Brigade (May – October 1921)
*2d Bombardment Wing (1947 – 1963)
*2d Bomb Wing (1993 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Camp Kelly, Texas (1917)
*Clermont-Ferrand, France (1917 - 1918)
*Amanty, France (1918)
*Maulan, France (1918 - 1919)
*Colombey-les-Belles, France (1919)
*Saint-Denis-de-Pile, France (1919)
*Libourne, France (1918 - 1919)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1919)
*Ellington Field, New York (1919)
*Camp Furlong, New Mexico (1919)
*Fort Bliss, Texas (1919 - 1920)
*Kelly Field, Texas (1920 - 1922)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1922 - 1942)
*Ephrata, Washington (1942)
*Glasgow, Montana (1942 - 1943)
*Navarin, Algeria (1943)
*Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel, Algeria (1943)
*Ain M'Lila, Algeria (1943)
*Massicault, Tunisia (1943)
*Amendola, Italy (1943 - 1945)
*Foggia, Italy (1945 - 1946)
*Andrews Field, Maryland (1947)
*Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona (1947 - 1949)
*Chatham Air Force Base, Georgia (1949 - 1950)
*Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1950 - 1963)
**Deployed: RAF Bassingbourn, England (4 May - 24 September 1951)
**Deployed: RAF Upper Heyford, England (4 September - 3 December 1952)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (11 August - 20 September 1954)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (6 July - 26 August 1956)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1993 - Present)

Aircraft Operated

*DH-4 (1918 - 1928)
*Breguet 14 (1918)
*Caproni Ca.3 (1919 - 1928)
*NBS-1 (MB-2) (1919 - 1928)
*LB-5 (1928 - 1932)
*LB-7 (1928 - 1932)
*B-3 (1928 - 1931)
*B-5 (1928 - 1931)
*B-6 (1932 - 1936)
*B-10 (1936 - 1942)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1936 – 1945)
*B-18 Bolo (1936 - 1942)
*B-25 Mitchell (1936 - 1942)
*B-29 Superfortress (1947 - 1950)
*B-50 Superfortress (1949 - 1954)
*B-47 Stratojet (1954 - 1963)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1993 - Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0096bs.asp USAF 96th Bomb Squadron History]