The squadron was first activated as the 346th Bombardment Squadron 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 346th 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 1974. Although the squadron remained in the United States except for one deployment in the 1950s, during the Vietnam War it deployed its aircrews and Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses to Southeast Asia. For extended periods, all squadron personnel and equipment were deployed.
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.[4] In early June 1943, the squadron participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.[5]
Russian pilots and ground crew stand in front of a Petlyakov Pe-2 light bomber at Poltava during the first shuttle raid in June 1944.[d]
In November 1943, the 348th 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.[4]
Following V-E Day, the squadron became part of the occupation forces in Italy, until inactivating in November 1945.[1][4]
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).[6] 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.[7] In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[8] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, however, required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[9] 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][6]
The squadron was reactivated under the 69th Reconnaissance Group in September 2011 as an RQ-4 Global Hawk Squadron. The squadron became part of the 319th Operations Group with the inactivation of the 69th Reconnaissance Group in June 2019.[1][10]
Lineage
Constituted as the 348th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 30 September 1944
Inactivated on 8 November 1945
Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 348th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated on 1 January 1953
Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955
Inactivated on 31 March 1974
Redesignated 348th Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 August 2011
^Approved 17 November 1958. Description: On an Air Force blue disc bordered Air Force golden yellow, a light blue globe turning on its axis bendwise grid lines Air Force blue; three white stylized aircraft, shaded Air Force blue leaving Air Force golden yellow condensation trails shaded brown; issuing from the globe four red lightning flashes, to dexterbase and chief respectively.
^Aircraft is Douglas Aircraft built Boeing B-17G-50-DL Flying Fortress, 44-6385 The Old Lady in 1944. This plane flew 58 missions and survived the war. On 17 December 1945 it went to Kingman Army Air Field for storage and was sold for scrap in August 1946. Baugher, Joe (24 August 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
^The American is TSgt. Bernard J. McGuire, Tonawanda, New York, of the 348th Bombardment Squadron.
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.
[1]Cowboy 57 (1959) James Stewart short on B-52 Crew from 348th
