405th Tactical Missile Squadron

405th Tactical Missile Squadron
250px Emblem of the USAFE 405th Tactical Bombardment Squadron
Active	1942-1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Tactical Missile
Part of	United States Air Forces in Europe
Nickname(s)	Green Dragons
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Ralph Cheli

The 405th Tactical Missile Squadron ("Green Dragons") is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.

History

Activated in early 1941 by the Army Air Corps as a medium bomber squadron during the pre-war mobilization by the United States. Performed coastal patrols as part of First Air Force with B-18 Bolos and early-model B-26 Marauders.

Deployed to Australia in early 1942 to reinforce Fifth Air Force after its withdrawal to Australia. Re-equipped with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and flew missions from Northern Queensland over New Guinea. Moved to forward airfields in New Guinea and followed MacArthur's advance along the northern coast of the island into the Netherlands East Indies flying tactical bombardment missions against Japanese strong points and airfields. Moved to Luzon, Philippines, as part of the United States liberation forces in 1945, then moved to Okinawa during the summer in preparation for the Invasion of Japan. Moved to Japan and became part of the Occupation Forces. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

Reactivated in France in 1953 as a NATO B-57 light bombardment squadron, equipped for night bombardment with nuclear weapons. Moved to West Germany in 1958 as a MGM-1 Matador tactical missile squadron when the unit was ordered out of France. Remained as a tactical missile unit until 1966 when the Mace was retired.

Lineage

• Constituted 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 20 November 1940

Activated on 15 January 1941

Redesignated: 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 April 1942

Redesignated: 405th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 6 May 1946

Inactivated on 1 April 1949

• Activated on 1 January 1953

Redesignated: 405th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) on 1 October 1955

Redesignated: 405th Tactical Missile Squadron on 18 June 1958

Organized on 18 June 1958, assuming personnel and equipment of 69th Tactical Missile Squadron

Activated 25 September 1962

Inactivated 25 September 1966

Assignments

• 38th Bombardment Group, attached on 15 January 1941; assigned 25 February 1942-1 April 1949, 1 January 1953

Associated with: 1st Photographic Group, 10 Jun 1941-22 Apr 1942 (training)

• 38th Bombardment Wing, 8 December 1957
• 586th Tactical Missile Group, 18 June 1958
• 38th Tactical Missile Wing, 25 September 1962-25 September 1966

Stations

• Langley Field, Virginia, 15 January 1941
• Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi, c. 5 June 1941-19 January 1942
• Doomben Field (Eagle Farm Airport), Australia, 25 February 1942
• Ballarat Airfield, Australia, 8 March 1942
• Breddan Aerodrome, Australia, 7 August 1942
• RAAF Base Townsville, Australia, c. 30 September 1942
• Durand Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, 26 November 1942
• Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 4 March 1944

• Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 1 October 1944
• Pitoe Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, 15 October 1944
• Lingayen Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, c. 29 January 1945
• Motobu Airfield, Okinawa, 25 July 1945
• Itazuke Airfield, Japan, c. 22 November 1945
• Itami Airfield, Japan, 26 October 1946-1 April 1949 * Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, 1 January 1953
• Hahn AB, West Germany, 18 June 1958—25 September 1966

Dispersed Matador/Mace missile locations

• Site V "Pot Fuse" - 7.0 miles (11.3 km) ESE of Hahn AB

Abandoned since 1961. Shelters torn down, site very obscured by trees and other vegetation in thick woodland area.

• Site VI "Heroin" - 9.7 miles (15.6 km) NE of Hahn AB

After 405th TMS left this site was transferred to US Army and converted into a Nike-Hercules Air Defense missile site; operational 1970-1979. The area was transferred back to USAF in 1982 and was converted again; this time into a Cruise missile Ground Alert Maintenance Area. The 38th Tactical Missile Wing became operational with its BGM-109 Gryphon cruise missiles at this location 1985 and was inactivated 1991 after the signing of the INF treaty.

Aircraft and missiles

• B-18 Bolo, 1941
• PT-13, 1941
• B-26 Marauder, 1941–1942
• B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1946, 1947–1948

• A_26 (later B-26) Invader, 1946, 1947–1949, 1953–1955
• B-57 Canberra, 1955–1958
• MGM-1 Matador, 1958–1962
• MGM-13 Mace, 1962–1966

See also

• United States Army Air Forces in Australia
• List of United States Air Force missile squadrons

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, (2009), George Mindling, Robert Bolton ISBN 978-0-557-00029-6

External links

• 38th Bomb Group Association WWII