436th Training Squadron | |
|---|---|
 A 436th Training Squadron instructor trains two individuals on the weapons flightline course at Dyess AFB | |
| Active | 1917–1927; 1928–1946; 1946–1963; 1986–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Training |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Dyess Air Force Base, Texas |
| Engagements | World War I Occupation of the Rhineland Southwest Pacific Theater China Burma India Theater |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Hugh J. Knerr Lewis H. Brereton[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 436th Training Squadron emblem[a] |  |
| 88th Observation Squadron emblem[b][2] | _emblem.png) |
The436th Training Squadron is a non-flying trainingsquadron of theUnited States Air Force. The 436th Training Squadron, located atDyess Air Force Base, Texas, is a geographically separated unit within Air Combat Command’s552nd Air Control Wing, atTinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
The 436th is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the88th Aero Squadron on 18 August 1917 atKelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on theWestern Front duringWorld War I as a Corps observation squadron.
The squadron returned to the United States in 1919. In 1921, it participated in tests off the Atlantic coast of Virginia designed to test the effectiveness of aircraft against battleships. Following the tests the squadron moved to Ohio, where it served as the aviation element of the5th Division until 1927, when it moved to Texas as a training unit, but was inactivated shortly after the move and its personnel and equipment used to form another squadron. It was reactivated in 1928, becoming a long range reconnaissance unit in 1935. In 1941, it was ordered to reinforce theair defenses of the Philippines.
On 7 December 1941, elements of the88th Reconnaissance Squadron were one of theBoeing B-17 Flying Fortress units that landed atHickam Field, Hawaii during theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Until March 1942, it engaged in combat missions in the Pacific. It moved to theChina Burma India Theater, entering combat in June as the436th Bombardment Squadron. It converted from the B-17 to theConsolidated B-24 Liberator in the combat zone in fall 1942. From June through October 1944, the squadron was removed from combat operations and was engaged in airlifting fuel to bases in China to supportBoeing B-29 Superfortress strikes. It returned to combat and earned theDistinguished Unit Citation for an attack on railroads in Thailand. FollowingV-J Day, the squadron returned to the United States for inactivation.
The squadron was reactivated in 1946 as part ofStrategic Air Command's (SAC) strike force. In 1948, it began flyingConvair B-36 Peacemakers It converted toBoeing B-52 Stratofortresses and dispersed ToBarksdale Air Force Base. It maintained half of its bombers on alert during theCold War, and placed all planes on alert during theCuban Missile Crisis. The 436th inactivated in 1963 in a general reorganization of SAC units.
The squadron was reactivated in its current role as the436th Strategic Training Squadron in 1986
The 436th Training Squadron provides formal training toAir Combat Command using 14 classes atDyess Air Force Base, Texas and other programs exported directly to units for local training needs.[3]
Training includes flight, ground and weapons safety, Air Force operations resource management system, classroom instructor training, aircrew flight equipment, and computer software use and development. The 436th Training Squadron also develops multimedia and formal presentations used in training program development and formal presentations. Multimedia personnel are based at Dyess and deploy worldwide to perform their mission. Unit products and services are used throughout theDepartment of Defense.[3]
Thesquadron was organized atKelly Field, Texas in August 1917 as the88th Aero Squadron. It deployed to France onRMS Orduna in November 1917 and served on theWestern Front duringWorld War I . It engaged in combat as a corps observation squadron from 30 May 1918 until theArmistice of 11 November 1918, primarily withSalmson 2A2s. After the armistice, it served in theoccupation force, until June 1919 when the squadron returned to the United States.[4]
The squadron returned from Europe in the summer of 1919 and in July was stationed atScott Field, Illinois, where it began to equip withDayton-Wright DH-4s andDouglas O-2s. In the fall, it moved toLangley Field, Virginia, where it became part of the1st Army Observation Group. In 1921, it was reassigned to theAir Service Field Officers School, as the88th Squadron, but it was soon attached to the1st Provisional Air Brigade for operations. With the 1st Brigade, it participated in demonstrations of the effectiveness of aerial bombardment on capital warships from June to September 1921. It deployed a detachment toCharleston, West Virginia for service in connection withcivil disorders arising from West Virginia coal strikes in September 1921.[4][2]
In October 1921 the squadron moved from Langley and Charleston toGodman Field, Kentucky to support Army ground forces as part ofFifth Corps Area in 1922, it moved toWilbur Wright Field, Ohio, where it became the aviation element of the5th Division, a Regular Army unit that was inactive, but whose headquarters was manned byOrganized Reserve officers.[5][c] The squadron became the88th Observation Squadron in 1923. In May 1927, the squadron moved toBrooks Field, Texas, where it was assigned to theAir Corps Training Center, as reserve officers were withdrawn from the 5th Division.[5] The squadron was inactivated at Brooks on 1 August,[4] and its personnel and equipment formed thecadre for the52d School Squadron.[6]
The squadron was again activated atPost Field, Oklahoma on 1 June 1928 and assigned toEighth Corps Area. However, it was attached to theField Artillery School to provide support for the school's training mission. Although initially equipped with O-2s, it replaced them in 1930 withThomas-Morse O-19s. It also carriedDouglas O-31 monoplane observation aircraft andDouglas C-1 transport on strength.[2] The squadron was assigned once again to a Regular Army inactive unit, the14th Observation Group, but remained attached to the Field Artillery School.[1][4]
The squadron was reassigned to the12th Observation Group in the spring of 1931, but remained attached to the Field Artillery School until November 1931, when it moved to Brooks Field to join the 12th Group headquarters.[4] In May 1933, it participated in theGeneral Headquarters Air Force exercises in southern California.[1]
In 1935, the squadron was redesignated the88th Observation Squadron (Long Range, Amphibian) and was assigned to the1st Wing in November, moving to the newHamilton Field nearSan Francisco, California. In its first two months in the new unit role, it participated an both General Headquarters Air Force and 1st Wing maneuvers in Florida.[1] Although the squadron operatedDouglas OA-4 Dolphin andSikorsky Y1OA-8 amphibians starting in 1935, it also acquired a number of longer range land based aircraft and in September 1936 it became the88th Reconnaissance Squadron and was attached to the 7th Bombardment Group.[4] The squadron dropped food and supplies and flew photographic missions in connection with flood-relief operations in central California, in December 1937. It ended its amphibious mission in 1938. The squadron was equipped with multiengine aircraft, primarily theMartin B-10 until 1937, when it transitioned to theDouglas B-18 Bolo. It began receiving early modelBoeing B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1939.[2]
In January 1940, the squadron participated in joint amphibious exercises atFort Ord, California.[1] It moved toFort Douglas, Utah in September 1940 when the short runways at Hamilton proved inadequate for B-17 operations, operating out of the runways at Salt Lake City Airport, which was adjacent to Fort Douglas. The following January, the Army took over Salt Lake City's airport asSalt Lake City Army Air Base, a separate facility which became the squadron's base.[4] In October 1941, the squadron and the rest of the 7th Bombardment Group was ordered to move toClark Field, Philippines to build up forces there due to increased tensions between the United States and the Japanese Empire. Due to a lack of planes, some pilots were sent to Seattle to fly new B-17s overseas while the ground echelon departed on 12 November from Salt Lake City, by train, arriving at Angel Island by ferry; sailing on 20 November for Hawaii, on the troopshipUSS Republic. At Hawaii, theRepublic joined a convoy escorted by the heavy cruiser theUSS Pensacola (CA-24) for the Philippines, this was also known as thePensacola Convoy. 7 December they had reached the Equator. Hearing the news of theattack on Pearl Harbor, the convoy changed course toBrisbane, Australia.[7]
The squadron's B-17s being ferried came under attack during their arrival atHickam Field, Hawaii on 7 December in the middle of the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor. Some of the planes managed to land atHaleiwa Fighter Strip, one set down on a golf course, and the remainder landed at Hickam under the strafing of Japanese planes. Following the attacks in Hawaii and the Philippines, the decision was made to divert the 7th Bombardment Group to Java, where it would be reunited with its ground echelon and begin operations there starting in January 1942.[8] However, the 88th Squadron air echelon did not proceed across the Pacific with the other elements of the 7th Group, but remained behind to serve in theair defense of Hawaii until 10 February 1942. It spent a brief period flying missions fromNandi Airport in the Fiji Islands, before proceeding toTownsville Airfield, Australia later that month.[4][2] However, by the time the squadron arrived in the Southwest Pacific, it had been determined that the 7th Group would not remain there, but would be sent forward to reinforceAllied forces in India. The squadron continued to fly missions from Australia until March 1942, when it moved to India.[8]
The squadron arrived in India in March 1942. It was redesignated the436th Bombardment Squadron in April 1942. It flew its first mission in theChina Burma India Theater on 4 June 1942. Later that month, the need for reinforcements against GeneralErwin Rommel's attacks in the Middle East resulted in the withdrawal of most of the 7th Bombardment Group's heavy bombers from the theater, and two of thegroup's squadrons converted toNorth American B-25 Mitchells, leaving the 436th as the only remaining squadron in the group flying B-17s.[9] However,Clayton Bissell, commander ofTenth Air Force considered the B-17 unsuitable for the long range operations from India, and in August 1942, the decision was made to convert the group to aConsolidated B-24 Liberator unit.[10]
Squadron operations were primarily directed against Japanese installations in Burma (Myanmar). The squadron attacked airfields, supply dumps, locomotive manufacturing facilities, and vulnerable sites in the Japaneseline of communications, including docks, warehouses and shipping. Other targets included power plants in China oil refineries and railroads in Thailand, and shipping in the Andaman Sea.[8]
On 10 June 1944, the squadron was taken off combat operations and provided support forBoeing B-29 Superfortress raids by transporting fuel to bases in China, an operation that continued through November 1944, then the squadron returned to attacking warehouses, shipping, and troop concentrations in Burma, although it maintained a detachment based atLuliang Airfield, China that continued the fuel transportation mission through January 1945. It received aDistinguished Unit Citation for an attack on railroads and bridges in theKra Isthmus of Thailand, the narrowest point on the Malay Peninsula. on 19 March 1945, which disrupted Japaneselines of communication betweenSingapore andBangkok. The mission lasted over 17 hours and was the longest formation flight in the CBI.[10] In June 1945 it moved toTezpur Airfield, India, which placed the squadron on the same station as the 7th Group for the first time since it left the United States.[4][8]
However, later that month, the squadron resumed transporting fuel overthe Hump to China. It continued this mission pastV-J Day, ending it in September 1945. The squadron departed India in December 1945 and was inactivated on reaching Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the Port of Embarkation, on 6 January 1946.[4]
The bridge that was the subject of the filmThe Bridge on the River Kwai, based on the novelThe Bridge over the River Kwai has been identified withBridge 277 of the Burma Railway, over theKhwae Noi River. The real bridge was two parallel bridges, one wooden as depicted in the movie and one concrete. The bridges were constructed byprisoners of war in a forced labor camp. On 13 December 1943, an attack was made on the bridge, with the 436th providingflak suppression. Finally, on 13 February 1944, the concrete bridge was rendered unusable, although damage to the wooden bridge was repaired. On 3 April 1945, in an attack led by a crew from the 436th, the wooden bridge was destroyed and not rebuilt during the war.[10]
In October 1946, the squadron was reactivated atFort Worth Army Air Field, along with other elements of the 7th Bombardment /group and equipped initially withB-29 Superfortress bombers,[4][2] and trained in global bombardment operations, flying simulated bombing missions over various cities, as well as performing intercontinental training missions over the Pacific and later to Europe. In late June 1948 the first fiveConvair B-36A Peacemakers were delivered to the7th Bombardment Wing. The B-36As lacked combat equipment and were used primarily for transition and conversion training.[11] In November 1948, the wing began to receive B-36Bs, which were capable of carrying nuclear weapons,[12] By 1951, almost all B-36As and B-36Bs had been withdrawn from service to be modified to newer configuration. The 7th Wing conducted the first overseas deployment of the B-36 in January 1951, toRAF Lakenheath.[13]
Strategic Air Command (SAC)’s mobilization for theKorean War highlighted that SAC wing commanders focused too much on running the base organization and not spending enough time on overseeing actual combat preparations. To allow wing commanders the ability to focus on combat operations, the air base group commander became responsible for managing the base housekeeping functions. Under the plan implemented provisionally in 1951, combat squadrons reported directly to the wing commander, who focused primarily on the wing's combat units and the maintenance necessary to support them. The plan became permanent in June 1952, as the 7th Bombardment Group was inactivated.[14] From July to September 1955, the squadron deployed with the wing toNouasseur Air Base, Morocco.[15]
In 1958, the squadron began to replace its B-36s withBoeing B-52F Stratofortresses. SAC bases with large concentrations of bombers made attractive targets. SAC’s response was to break up its wings and scatter their aircraft over a larger number of bases.[16] SAC began to disperse its B-52 bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[17] On 15 April 1958, SAC ended its B-47 operations atBarksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, when the301st Bombardment Wing moved toLockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, where it replaced the26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.[18] 1 August 1958, the 436th dispersed to Barksdale. where it became the strike element of the new4238th Strategic Wing.[4]
Starting in 1960, one third of the squadron's aircraft were maintained on fifteen minutealert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[19]
Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962, on 20 October all B-52 units, including the 436th, were directed to put two additional planes on alert.[20] On 22 October 1/8 of the B-52s were placed on airborne alert.[21] On 24 October SAC went toDEFCON 2, placing all aircraft on alert.[22] On 21 November SAC returned to normal airborne alert posture.[23] On 27 November SAC returned to normal ground alert posture as tensions over Cuba eased.[24]
In February 1963, The2nd Bombardment Wing moved on paper fromHunter Air Force Base, Georgia[25] and assumed the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the 4238th Strategic Wing, which was discontinued. The 4238h was aMajor Command controlled (MAJCON) wing, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage,[26] and SAC wanted to replace it with a permanent unit. The 436th was inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 2nd Wing's20th Bombardment Squadron. While these actions were almost tantamount to redesignation, they were not official redesignations."[27][28]
The squadron reactivated in July 1986 atCarswell Air Force Base, Texas as the436th Strategic Training Squadron to supported the SAC mission through classroom instruction, multimedia production, and training aid fabrication. With the disestablishment of SAC andTactical Air Command in June 1992, the term "strategic" was dropped from the squadron name and the squadron was reassigned toAir Combat Command as the436th Training Squadron. In 1993, the squadron moved toDyess Air Force Base, Texas when Carswell became a joint reserve base. The squadron continues to provide classroom instruction for over 10 courses to students from every major command and multimedia productions used throughout the Department of Defense.[4][3]
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Distinguished Unit Citation | 19 March 1945 | Thailand 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
 | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2013-31 May 2015 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2015-31 May 2016 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2020-31 May 2021 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1986-30 June 1988 | 436th Strategic Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1988-30 June 1990 | 436th Strategic Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1990-29 May 1990 | 436th Strategic Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1992-30 June 1994 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1996-31 May 1998 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1998-31 May 2000 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2002-31 May 2004 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2005-31 May 2007 | 436th Training Squadron[4] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Champagne-Marne | 15 July 1918 – 18 July 1918 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
| Aisne-Marne | 18 July 1918 – 16 August 1918 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
| Oise-Aisne | 18 August 1918 – 11 November 1918 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
| St Mihiel | 12 September 1918 – 16 September 1918 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
| Meuse-Argonne | 26 September 1918 – 11 November 1918 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
| Champagne | 88th Aero Squadron[4] | |
| Ile-de-France | 88th Aero Squadron[4] | |
| Lorraine | 88th Aero Squadron[4] | |
 | World War I Army of Occupation (Germany) | 12 Nov 1918–1 June 1919 | 88th Aero Squadron[4] |
 | Central Pacific | 7 December 1941 – 14 March 1942 | 88th Reconnaissance Squadron[4] |
| East Indies | 1 January 1942 – 14 March 1942 | 88th Reconnaissance Squadron[4] |
| Burma | 12 March 1942 – 26 May 1942 | 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 436th Bombardment Squadron)[4] |
| India-Burma | 2 April 1943 – 28 January 1945 | 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
| Central Burma | 29 January 1945 – 15 July 1945 | 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
| China Defensive | 4 July 1942 – 4 May 1945 | 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
| China Offensive | 5 May 1945 – 2 September 1945 | 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
| Air Combat, Asiatic–Pacific Theater | 7 December 1941 – 10 September 1945 | 436th Bombardment Squadron[4] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from theAir Force Historical Research AgencyBergin, Bob (2019)."Bombing Burma's Bridges". Vol. 18, no. 3. WW II History. Retrieved4 April 2024.
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