After being inactivated on 1 September 1991, it was reactivated on 3 September 2009 at Minot Air Force Base, and assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing. Established as a pre-World War II GHQAF bombardment squadron, they were originally equipped with B-18 Bolos and early-model B-26 Marauders. After the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron was engaged in antisubmarine operations over the mid-Atlanti
c coast. Reassigned to Third Air Force and equipped with A-26 Invader light bombers; deployed to Fifth Air Force in Australia in 1942 as part of the re-equipping of that command after its withdraw to Australia after the 1941-1942 Battle of the Philippines. Deployed to South Pacific Area (SPA); being assigned to Thirteenth Air Force and attacking enemy targets in the Solomon Islands; New Hebrides and other enemy locations north and east of Papua New Guinea. Became part of Mac Arthur's New Guinea campaign, supported Army ground forces with tactical bombing of enemy formations and targets along the northern coast of New Guinea and in the Dutch East Indies. Attacked enemy forces in the Philippines during early 1945 as part of the liberation from Japanese control; continued combat missions until the Japanese capitulation in August 1945. Became part of the Fifth Air Force forces in Occupied Japan in 1946 before being demobilized and inactivated in May 1946. Reactivated as a Strategic Air Command B-36 Peacemaker bombardment squadron in 1953. Engaged in worldwide training missions with the B-36 until 1956 when re-equipped with the jet B-52 Stratofortress. Deployed to Western Pacific during the Vietnam War and flew conventional Arc Light bombardment missions over enemy military and industrial targets in North Vietnam. Returned to the United States and maintained nuclear alert until the end of the Cold War; Inactivated in 1991 with the drawdown of US Strategic forces. Reactivated in 2009 as part of Air Combat Command and transitioned to Air Force Global Strike Command in early 2010. The squadron supports both nuclear and conventional missions and deploys to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in support of Continuous Bomber Presence. AIRCRAFT FLOWN
Stearman
B-18 Bolo, B-18A Jan 1941-Nov 41; (Trainer Aircraft)
PT-17, 1941
B-26/A/B Marauder, Nov 1941-Feb 1943; (Used as ad-hoc Torpedo Bombers)
B-25-J2 Mitchell, Oct 1942-Jan 1946; (Strafing and Low-Level Bombing)
P-39K Airacobra, Oct 1942- ??? A-26B/C Invader, Jan 1946-May 1946
B-36 Peacemaker, Apr 1953- Sept 1956
B-52C Stratofortress, Jan 1956- Jan 1957
B-52D Stratofortress Jan 1957-Jul 1959
B-52G Stratofortress May 1959-1991
B-52H Stratofortress 2009-Present
NAMES AND CREWS OF ORIGINAL AIRCRAFT
“Henry” Piloted by 2Lt Robert E Wilmarth with 2Lt James B Story as Co. and Paul E Tibbetts as Nav (No Relation): Crew Crashed June 28 ’42: Fire on Takeoff: Survived
“Yap Trap” 1Lt Clifford E. Johnson Pilot, 2Lt John S. Seefried Jr
“Hattie M” 1Lt Lewis C Long, 2LT Lee H Wagner, Nav: 2Lt Thomas N Weems Jr.
“Plenty Peedoff Patootie” 1Lt Thomas R. Waddleton, 2Lt Girard Dumas, 2Lt Chalmers W. Gustafson
“Arkansas Traveller” 1Lt Fred C. Wright Jr, 2Lt Joseph H. Moore and 2Lt Samuel J. Chambers
“Mormon Meteor” SN 41-17579 Capt Lincoln E. Schling 2Lt Elaine E Wiesner and 2Lt Mitchell S. Spadone
“Judy” 2Lt Lloyd B Field, 2Lt Edwin J. Scherman, 2Lt Thomas A. Riles Jr
“Winsockie” Capt James F. Collins, Jr, 2Lt Colin O. Villines, 2Lt Frederick A. McNutt, Jr
“Little John” Capt John L. Burhus, 2Lt James H. Doolittle Jr, Daniel M. Feeley
“Kansas City Kitty” 2Lt Stephen H. Howbert, 2Lt Donald White, 2Lt Frank A. Morris
Unnamed: 2Lt Lloyd E. Whitley, 2Lt Enders Dickinson III, and Eugene J. English Jr
Unnamed: 2Lt William S. Watson, Leonard H. Whitington, and John P. Schuman
69TH FIRSTS
First Land-based bombers ever to engage in fleet action using torpedoes. First Medium Bomber Squadron in South Pacific
First Medium Bomber Squadron to transit The Pacific, From Sacramento to Hickam Field, HI (13 hour flight)
First “Antiseptic Missions”: HHD in WW2, first morning mission spraying DDT powder on Aussie troops on the ground near Pamoesian. First operation of Hound Dog Missile
First B-52 squadron to convert to conventional-only in 1989
