37th Bomb Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 37th Bomb Squadron


caption= 37th Bomb Squadron Patch
dates= 13 June 1917 - 5 April 1919
1 September 1933 - 31 January 1938
1 February 1940 - 26 November 1945
19 May 1947 - 10 September 1948
10 May 1952 - 25 June 1958
1 July 1977 - 1 October 1982
1 January 1987 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Strategic Bombing
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
12th Air Force
28th Bomb Wing
28th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Ellsworth Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Doolittle Raid
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 37th Bomb Squadron (37 BS) is part of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It operates B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.

Mission

Provide rapid, decisive and sustainable combat airpower anytime, anywhere.

History

The 37th participated in aircraft construction from 1917–1918 and conducted flying training in 1918. It flew antisubmarine patrols from, December 1941–c. March 1942. The squadron also contributed aircrews for the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, Japan on 6 April 1942.

It flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from 31 December 1942–1 May 1945 and in Korea from c. 10 May 1952–July 1953.

Operations

*World War I
*World War II
*Korean War

Lineage

*37th Aero Squadron (1917 - 1923)
*37th Pursuit Squadron (1923 - 1935)
*37th Attack Squadron (1935 - 1939)
*37th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939 - 1944)
*37th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1944 - 1947)
*37th Bombardment Squadron, Light (1947 - 1952)
*37th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder (1952 - 1955)
*37th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (1955 - 1977)
*37th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1977 - 1991)
*37th Bomb Squadron (1991 - Present)

Assignments

*Third Aviation Instruction Center (1917 - 1919)
*18th Pursuit Group (1933 – 1935)
*2d Wing (1935 – 1938)
*28th Composite Group (1940 – 1941)
*17th Bombardment Group (1941 – 1945, 1947 – 1948, 1952 – 1958)
*28th Bomb Wing (1977 – 1982, 1987 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Camp Kelly, Texas (1917)
*Étampes, France (1917)
*Issoudun, France (1917 - 1919)
*Bordeaux, France (1919)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1919)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1933 - 1938)
*Barksdale Field, Louisiana (1940)
*Lowry Field, Colorado (1940 - 1941)
*Pendleton, Oregon (1941 - 1942)
*Portland, Oregon (1941 - 1942)
*Lexington County Airport, South Carolina (1942)
*Barksdale Field, Louisiana (1942)
*Telergma, Algeria (1942 - 1943)
*Sedrata, Algeria (1943)
*Djedeida Air Field, Tunisia (1943)
*Villacidro, Sardinia (1943 - 1944)
*Poretta, Corsica (1944)
*Dijon, France (1944 - 1945)
*Linz, Austria (1945)
*Hörsching, Austria (1945)
*Marchtrenk, Austria (1945)
*Clastres, France (1945)
*Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts (1945)
*Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (1947 - 1948)
*Pusan Air Base, Korea (1952 - 1954)
*Miho Air Base, Japan (1954 - 1955)
*Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1955 - 1958)
*RAF Alconbury, England (1958)
*Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota (1977 - 1982, 1987 - Present)

Aircraft Operated

*Avro 504 (1918)
*Sopwith Camel (1918)
*DH-4 (1918)
*Nieuport 27 (1918)
*P-6 Hawk (1933 - 1935)
*A-8 Shrike (1935 - 1936)
*A-17 Nomad (1936 - 1938)
*B-18 Bolo (1940 - 1941)
*B-25 Mitchell (1941 - 1942)
*B-26 Marauder (1942 – 1945, 1952 - 1956)
*B-57 Canberra (1955 - 1956)
*B-66 Destroyer (1956 - 1958)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1977 - 1982)
*B-1 Lancer (1987 - Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0034bs.html USAF 34th Bomb Squadron History]
* [http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3736 28th Operations Group Fact Sheet]