87th Tactical Missile Squadron
deployed BGM-109G Gryphon launcher
Active1941–1944; 1962–1966; 1986–1989
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Rolecruise missile
EngagementsAntisubmarine Campaign
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
87th Tactical Missile Squadron Emblem
87th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 26 August 1942)[1]

The 87th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force last based at RAF Molesworth, England. The squadron was originally activated as the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron. The unit served on antisubmarine patrol early in World War II, then as a training unit until it was disbanded in 1944.

The 887th Tactical Missile Squadron was active as a Mace missile unit in Germany from 1962 to 1966.

In September 1985 the two squadrons were consolidated.[2] However, the consolidated squadron remained inactive until August 1986. In that month it was reactivated as a BGM-109G Gryphon cruise missile squadron in the United Kingdom. It was inactivated in January 1989 as required by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

History

Douglas A-20 of the 46th Bombardment Group at Blythe Army Air Field

World War II

The squadron was first activated as the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) in early 1941. It was one of the four original squadrons of the 46th Bombardment Group. In August the squadron changed its role to bombardment and was redesignated the 87th Bombardment Squadron. The 87th was equipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft at Hunter Field, Georgia.[1][3] The 51st participated in maneuvers, including desert maneuvers,[4] and flew anti-submarine warfare patrol and search missions over the Gulf of Mexico in early 1942.[3]

The squadron later served as an operational training unit,[1] which involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres for "satellite groups."[5] In late 1943 the squadron mission changed to replacement training of individual pilots and aircrews.[1][5] Just before disbanding, it began to convert to North American B-25 Mitchells.[1]

However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[6] This resulted in the squadron, along with other units at Morris Field, being disbanded and its personnel, equipment and functions transferred to the 333d AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light Bombardment).[7][8]

887th Tactical Missile Squadron

CGM-13 Mace tactical missile

The 887th Tactical Missile Squadron was organized in September 1962 at Sembach AB, Germany and assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing. At Sembach the squadron operated the TM-76A Mace missile from Site III "Hacksaw" – 12.5 miles (20.1 km) ENE of Sembach AB 49°33′27″N 008°08′05″E / 49.55750°N 8.13472°E / 49.55750; 8.13472 (Site III).

The squadron was discontinued and inactivated on 25 September 1966 along with its parent wing as United States Air Forces Europe reduced its tactical missile force.

From 1975 – 1978, Site III "Hacksaw" was used by Det B, 502nd Army Security Agency (ASA) Bn for the Guardrail I, II, and IIa Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) site. The unit was redesignated as the 330th Electronic Warfare Aviation Company (Forward) (330th EW Avn Co (FWD)), and resubordinated to the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) in 1978. It appears that this unit used the RC-12 Guardrail aircraft.

From 1979 – 1985, Site III "Hacksaw" was upgraded to the Guardrail V (GRV) IPF, and in the fall of 1985 the unit moved to Echterdingen Army Airfield (Stuttgart International Airport). The site was subsequently used by various and sundry communications units on deployment before being closed and turned over to the German government.

In September 1985, the 887th TMS was consolidated with the 87th Bombardment Squadron but it remained inactive.

Ground Launched Cruise Missile

The consolidated squadron was redesignated 87th Tactical Missile Squadron and reactivated at RAF Molesworth as a BGM-109G Gryphon cruise missile squadron in August 1986. It maintained 64 operational cruise missiles at combat readiness. The squadron was inactivated in January 1989 as a result of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which resulted in the elimination of the BGM-109G missile from service.

Lineage

87th Tactical Missile Squadron
Redesignated 87th Tactical Missile Squadron
Activated on 12 December 1986[10]
Inactivated on 31 January 1989[10]

Assignments

  • 46th Bombardment Group: 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944[1]
  • United States Air Forces Europe: 10 September 1962 (not organized)
  • 38th Tactical Missile Wing: 25 September 1962 – 25 September 1966[11]
  • 303d Tactical Missile Wing: 12 December 1986 – 31 January 1989[12]

Stations

Mace missile site (Site III "Hacksaw") located at 12.5 miles (20.1 km) ENE of Sembach AB 49°33′27″N 008°08′05″E / 49.55750°N 8.13472°E / 49.55750; 8.13472 (Site III). This site was later used by the Army Security Agency as an intelligence processing facility from 1975 to 1985.
  • RAF Molesworth, England, 12 December 1986 – 31 January 1989[10]
BGM-109G Missile site located at 52°22′55″N 000°25′41″W / 52.38194°N 0.42806°W / 52.38194; -0.42806 (303d TMS)

Aircraft and Missiles

  • Douglas A-20 Havoc, 1941–1944
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1944[1]
  • Martin TM-76A (later CGM-13A) Mace[9]
  • General Dynamics BGM-109G Gryphon, 1986–1989

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 June 1964 – 1 June 1966887th Tactical Missile Squadron[14]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award12 December 1986 – 31 July 198887th Tactical Missile Squadron[14]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Antisubmarine[1]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 299
  2. 1 2 3 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  3. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 110
  4. ↑ Abstract, History of 46th Bomb Gp 1941–1944. Retrieved 26 June 2012
  5. 1 2 Craven & Cate, Introcuction, p. xxxvi
  6. ↑ Craven & Cate, p. 7
  7. ↑ See Abstract, History of Morris Field, 1940–1944. Retrieved 26 June 2012
  8. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 7
  9. 1 2 3 4 See Robertson, Factsheet 38 Combat Support Wing
  10. 1 2 3 See Bailey, AFHRA Factsheet 303 Aeronautical Systems Wing
  11. ↑ Robertson, Patsy AFHRA Factsheet 38 Combat Support Wing Archived 28 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine 6 April 2008 (retrieved 19 September 2013)
  12. ↑ Bailey, Carl E., AFHRA Factsheet 303 Aeronautical Systems Wing Archived 7 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine 7 December 2011 (retrieved 19 September 2013)
  13. ↑ Wilson, p. 128
  14. 1 2 "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 14 January 2021. (search)

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading

  • Mindling, George; Bolton, Robert (2008). U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969: The Pioneers. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-557-00029-6. LCCN 2008908364.
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