The squadron served in the reserves from August 1947 to June 1949, when it was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its flying unis, although it does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft at this time.
In 1973, Air Training Command was converting its flying training units from MAJCON status. As part of this reorganization, the squadron was redesignated the 451st Flying Training Squadron and replaced the 3538th Navigator Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base, California. It conducted flight training for members of the United States military and foreign allies until inactivating in January 1992 as Mather prepared for closure. It was reactivated in October 2009 as the home for USAF officers training as combat systems officers.
Mission
The squadron conducts advanced undergraduate combat systems officer training in modified Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk aircraft and the T-25 training device. The modified T-1A holds an additional student and instructor station in the aft section of the aircraft. The aft training stations receive flight information from the aircraft's avionics, global positioning system and flight instruments, allowing simulated threats to be introduced to provide a virtual threat environment to students. The unit trains more than 350 active duty, guard and reserve officers in advanced navigation, electronic warfare, special operations, and weapon systems employment. Trainees come to the 451st upon completion of primary training in the 455th Flying Training Squadron. Graduates then attend formal training units throughout the combat, mobility and special operations air forces. The squadron also conducts instructor combat systems officer training.[5]
History
World War II
Initial organization and training
The squadron was first activated at MacDill Field, Florida on 17 July 1942 as the 451st Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 322nd Bombardment Group.[6][7] However, it did not receive its initial cadre until 7 August.[2] It was equipped with Martin B-26 Marauders and trained with them at MacDill and at Drane Field, Florida. The ground echelon of the squadron departed for the Port of Embarkation in November and sailed for the United Kingdom aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth on 24 November, arriving in the United Kingdom six days later. The air echelon continued training in Florida[8] until it began to ferry its Marauders from Morrison Field to Europe via the South Atlantic ferry route as new aircraft became available. The 451st was the third squadron of the group to leave the United States, not leaving for England until March 1943, with its last B-26 arriving in the combat theater by May 1943.[9]
Combat in the European Theater
322nd Group B-26s line up for takeoff, led by a squadron aircraft[c]
The ground echelon was established at RAF Rattlesden, its first combat station on 1 December 1942. The 322d Group flew its first mission, and the first B-26 Marauder mission in the European Theater of Operations, on 14 May against an electrical power plant near IJmuiden in the Netherlands using low level attack tactics.[10] Three days later, it dispatched eleven planes for a repeat low level attack on the IJmuiden power plant and another at Haarlem in the Netherlands. One plane returned early due to a mechanical malfunction. The remaining ten aircraft and their crews were lost to enemy action. For these actions and for demonstrating the effectiveness of medium bombers, the 322nd Group, including the squadron, was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.[2][6][d]
In June 1943, the squadron, along with all other B-26 units in England moved to Essex, an area where it was planned to build up a tactical air force for the forthcoming invasion of Europe, with the 451st arriving at RAF Great Saling on 12 June.[2][11] Once the squadron entered combat, enemy airfields were its principal targets through February 1944, but it also attacked power stations, shipyards, construction works, marshalling yards and other targets. In March 1944, its emphasis shifted to railway and highway bridges, and oil storage facilities in preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. It also participated in Operation Crossbow, the attacks on V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launch sites.[6]
In late September, the squadron moved from England to Beauvais/Tille Airfield, France.[2] It bombed bridges, road junctions, defended villages, and ordnance depots in the assault on the Siegfried Line from October through December of 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge, it flew attacks on railroad bridges to cut German lines of communications. From then until it flew its last mission on 24 April 1945, it concentrated on communications, bridges, marshalling yards and fuel dumps.[6]
Following V-E Day, most aircrews and the unit's aircraft were transferred to other units. The remaining personnel of the 451st moved to Arolsen as part of the military occupation force. It engaged in inventorying and disassembling Luftwaffe equipment until September 1945. In December it returned to the United States and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 11 December 1945.[2][6]
Reserve operations
The squadron was reactivated in the reserves on 9 August 1947 at Reading Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, where its training was supervised by the 438th AAF Base Unit (later the 2237 Air Force Reserve Training Center). It does not appear to have been fully manned and was equipped only with trainer aircraft.[2] In July 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[12] In June 1949, ConAC reorganized its flying units under the Wing/Base organization and the 451st was inactivated[2] and its personnel were transferred to the 319th Bombardment Wing.[13]
The 3538th Navigator Training Squadron was established at Mather Air Force Base on 1 April 1965.[15] The navigator training program at Mather expanded at this time as navigator training at James Connally Air Force Base ended and navigator training was concentrated at Mather. A number of Convair T-29 Flying Classrooms equipped with special electronics were transferred from James Connally to Mather in connection with this change.[16]
However, the 3538th was a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) unit, created by ATC. MAJCON units could not carry a permanent history or lineage.[f] ATC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCON flying training wings and to activate Air Force controlled (AFCON) units, most of which were inactive at the time, which could carry a lineage and history in their place.
Navigator training
T-43 Bobcat as flown by the squadron
On 1 April 1973, the squadron was activated as the 451st Flying Training Squadron.[2] It absorbed the personnel, mission and resources of the 3538th Navigator Training Squadron which was simultaneously inactivated. In 1978, the first females began navigator training.[17] It continued to conduct undergraduate navigator training for USAF, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States allies until 1992.[2][18] In 1989, the base closure commission recommended that Mather be closed. The Air Force moved its navigator training to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas and the squadron was inactivated on 15 January 1992 as Mather drew down in preparing for closing on 1 October 1993.[19]
Combat systems officer training
The squadron was reactivated at Naval Air Station Pensacola on 2 October 2009.[2] Since then, it has conducted advanced training for Air Force combat systems officers using 21 modified T-1A Jayhawk aircraft.[5]
Lineage
Constituted as the 451st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 17 July 1942
Redesignated 451st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1943[20]
Inactivated on 11 December 1945
Redesignated 451st Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 July 1947
Activated in the reserve on 9 August 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 451st Fighter-Day Squadron on 24 March 1954
Activated on 1 July 1954
Inactivated on 18 November 1957.
Redesignated 451st Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972
^Approved 2 May 1955. Description: On an American Indian war shield Air Force blue, a stylized sun with rays Air Force yellow, surmounted in base by a cloud black, with lightning yellow, superimposed over the center of the shield a peace pipe, stem white, bowl and detail red, feathered white and red, with white smoke rising from the bowl; the shield over two tomahawks in saltire, the head yellow, the handle black with leather thongs red, feathered white and red.
^Aircraft is Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder, serial 41-34969, Clark's Little Pill. Picture is identified as taken at Andrews Field in October 1943, but Baugher identifies the plane as lost on 9 September 1943. Baugher, Joe (10 August 2023). "1941 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
^It does not appear that any squadron aircraft participated in the two raids of May 1943. See Freeman, p. 57 (noting that the squadron had just arrived in theater and did not participate). Following the raids, the 322nd was withdrawn from combat for training ln medium altitude bombing and equipping its planes for that tactic, returning to combat on 17 July.[6] Although the squadron was cited for the period beginning in May, the Air Force Historical Research Agency edited the start date of the award to the squadron to 17 July.[2]
^Aircraft in foreground is North American F-100C-5-NA Super Sabre, serial 54-1775. This plane was shot down in Southeast Asia on 2 August 1968. Baugher, Joe (24 July 2023). "1954 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
^Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center. p. 12.
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.
External links
No byline (2024). "451st Bomb Squadron". American Air Force Museum in Britain. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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