 History:
The proud history of this unit began with its constitution as the 393d Bombardment Squadron on February 28, 1944 by the Army Air Forces (AAF). It was first activated the 393d BMS on March 11, 1944 an assigned to the 504th Bombardment Group at Dalhart Army Air Field (AAFld), Texas.
Originally aquipped with B-17's , the unit moved to Wendover Field, Utah on December 14, 1944, where it began training on the massive B-29. On December 17, the 509th Composite Group was created, following this creation the 393rd was reassigned to this now Group.
By early August 1945 the 509th CG and 393d BMS where ready to claim their place in history, when in the early morning of August 6, Colonel Tibbets took to the sky from North Field, Tinian, the Marianas, flying his B-29 “Enola Gay”, and dropped the first atomic bomb when flying over Hiroshima.
The squadron remained at North Field until October 17, 1945 when the 509th returned to the United States of America and proceeded to their new home, Roswell AAFld (later Walker AFB), New Mexico.
Because of it's experience with the atomic bombs, the unit became the core organizer of the newly created Strategic Air Command (SAC), on March 21, 1946. In 1952 the 393rd welcomed a new aircraft, the B-50 and was reassigned directly to the 509th Bombardment Wing. 3 Years later (1955), the unit pioneered in a new chapter when it received the SAC's first all-jet Bomber the B-47.
In 1958 the 509th BMW moved with personnel and equipment to Pease AFB, New Hampshire. Eight years later the Sqn officially received its first B-52 on March 23, 1966. In November the 393d deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, to participate in “ARC LIGHT” operations over Vietnam.
In preparation for the arrival of the new medium bomber, FB-111A, the squadron released its last B-52 on November 19, 1969. During flight line ceremonies on December 16, 1970, the 393d received its first FB-111 at Pease AFB.
For the next several years 393 BMS crews pioneered tactics for this new jet. During the Mid 1980's the 509th BMW won virtually every major bomber award in the Eighth AF and SAC, winning the SAC's Bombing/Navigation Competition for three consecutive years (1981-1983).
On November 30, 1988, Sac determined that the 509th BMW would move to Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and enter the 21st century early, and become the Air Force's first B-2A “Stealth” Bomber unit. On March 12, 1993, the Air Force renamed the squadron 393d Bomb Squadron, as part of the 509th Bomb Wing Operations Group. On December 1993 the first Advanced technology Bomber, nicknamed “Spirit of Missouri” arrived at Whiteman.
On April 1, 1997, the squadron's efforts again paid dividends when the Air Force decreed initial Operational Capability for the 509th and the B-2A. 393D Tigers played a key role in taking the Spirit into it's first combat engagement when two of the aircraft attacked targets as part of operation ALLIED FREEDOM in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
During Operation ENDURING FREEDOM the Tigers flew to longest combat mission to date, 44.3 hours. In 2002 the Tigers deployed two aircraft to Nellis AFB, Nevada, and participated in Red Flag 02-02. Another year later the 393d Tigers led the way to start Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, flying an unprecedented 6-ship of B-2's during the first night.
Since the Incorporation of the B-2 into the Air and Space Expeditionary Force the unit made regular deployments to Andersen AFB, Guam. During one of those deployments which began on April 26, 2006, they participated in a 24-hour sortie in support of exercise POLAR LIGHTNING, integrating for the first time with the F-22 and executing the AF's Global Strike Task Force concept.
Thus, the 393d Bomb Squadron “Tigers”, one of the most historic units in the air force continues to prepare to put bombs.... On target and provide a team of preeminent war fighters, first in defense of America. |
