490th Missile Squadron

The 490th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. The 490 MS is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.

The squadron was first activated in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It served in combat until V-J Day. Following the war, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated. The squadron was again activated in 1955 as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet unit of Strategic Air Command until inactivating in 1961. The following year, it activated in its current role as the 490th Strategic Missile Squadron.

World War II
Activated as a North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron at Karachi, India, 16 September 1942, assigned to 341st Bombardment Group, which was activated the day before. Cadre personnel were drawn from 11th Bombardment Squadron and other units in India. After receiving full complement of ground support personnel 1 December 1942, Ground Echelon began transfer to Camp Moire, Ondal (Aandal), India 30 December. Air Echelon transferred 1 February 1943 with first combat mission on 18 Feb. Operating under Tenth Air Force for next two years, squadron primarily performed interdiction missions against Japanese lines of communications as well as supporting British ground forces in Burma during 1943 and 1944. The squadron interrupted combat operations and flew supplies from Chittagong, India to Allied Forces defending Imphal, India between 20 May and 30 June 1944 before resuming combat operations. 490th Bomb Squadron developed and perfected bridge destroying bombing technique and became known as "Burma Bridge Busters." Assumed secondary role of dropping leaflets over Burma for the United States Office of War Information from, January–March 1945. Reassigned to Fourteenth Air Force in China; beginning combat operations in China on 16 April 1945; squadron interdicted enemy lines of communication and supported Chinese ground forces until the end of the war.

Personnel demobilized in India, squadron returned to the United States and inactivated as a paper unit.

Strategic Air Command
Was reactivated in 1955 as a Strategic Air Command Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron. Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. in 1961, the squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron
Reactivated on 1 May 1962 as an ICBM squadron assigned to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Initially equipped with 50 LGM-30A Minuteman Is in early 1962, becoming SAC's third operational Minuteman ICBM squadron. Upgraded to the Minuteman IB in 1964; Minuteman IIF, in 1967. Received control of LGM-30G Minuteman III silos from inactivating 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota in 1996; Minuteman IIs being retired. Has maintained ICBMs on alert ever since.

Lineage

 * Constituted as the 490th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 14 August 1942
 * Activated on 15 September 1942
 * Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 1 August 1943
 * Inactivated on 2 November 1945


 * Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 11 March 1947
 * Activated in the reserve on 4 April 1947
 * Inactivated on 27 June 1949


 * Redesignated 490th Bombardment Squadron, Medium''' on 7 June 1955
 * Activated on 1 September 1955
 * Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1961


 * Redesignated 490th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated on 18 December 1961 (not organized)
 * Organized on 1 May 1962
 * Redesignated 490th Missile Squadron on 1 September 1991

Assignments

 * 341st Bombardment Group, 15 September 1942
 * Tenth Air Force, 25 October 1943 (attached to 341st Bombardment Group until c. 7 January 1944)
 * 341st Bombardment Group, 7 May-2 November 1945 (attached to 312th Fighter Wing for operational control, 7 May until c. 25 Aug 1945)
 * 341st Bombardment Group, 4 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
 * 341st Bombardment Wing, 1 September 1955 – 25 June 1961
 * Strategic Air Command, 18 December 1961 (not organized)
 * 341st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 May 1962
 * 341st Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present

Stations

 * Camp Malir, Karachi, India, 15 September 1942
 * Moire Camp, Ondal, India, 5 January 1943 (operated from Chakulia Airfield, India, 20–25 May 1943)
 * Kurmitola Airfield, India, 25 May 1943
 * Dergaon, India, 26 August 1944
 * Moran, India, 20 October 1944
 * Warazup, Burma, 29 November 1944


 * Hanchung Airfield, China, 13 April – 13 September 1945
 * Detachment operated from Hsian Airfield, China, 16 April – 4 August 1945


 * Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1–2 November 1945
 * Dow Field (later Dow Air Force Base), Maine, 4 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
 * Abilene Air Force Base (later Dyess Air Force Base, Texas), 1 September 1955 – 25 June 1961
 * Deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, 9 January – c. 3 April 1958


 * Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, 1 May 1962 – present