Lineage. Constituted as 490 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 14 Aug 1942. Activated on 15 Sep 1942. Redesignated as 490 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 1 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 2 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 490 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 11 Mar 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 4 Apr 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated as 490 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 7 Jun 1955. Activated on 1 Sep 1955. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1961. Redesignated as 490 Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman), and activated, on 18 Dec 1961. Organized on 1 May 1962. Redesignated as 490 Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. 341 Bombardment Group, 15 Sep 1942; Tenth Air Force, 25 Oct 1943 (attached to 341 Bombardment Group, 25 Oct 1943-c. 7 Jan 1944); 341 Bombardment Group, 7 May-2 Nov 1945 (312 Fighter Wing for operational control, 7 May-c. 25 Aug 1945). 341 Bombardment Group, 4 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. 341 Bombardment Wing, 1 Sep 1955-25 Jun 1961. Strategic Air Command, 18 Dec 1961; 341st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 May 1962; 341 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991-.
Stations. Camp Malir, Karachi, India, 15 Sep 1942; Moire Camp, Ondal, India, 5 Jan 1943 (operated from Chakulia, India, 20-25 May 1943); Kurmitola, India, 25 May 1943; Dergaon, India, 26 Aug 1944; Moran, India, 20 Oct 1944; Warazup, Burma, 29 Nov 1944; Hanchung, China, 13 Apr-13 Sep 1945 (detachment operated from Hsian, China, 16 Apr-4 Aug 1945); Camp Kilmer, NJ, 1-2 Nov 1945. Dow Field (later, AFB), ME, 4 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. Abilene (later, Dyess) AFB, TX, 1 Sep 1955-25 Jun 1961 (deployed at Andersen AFB, Guam, 9 Jan-c. 3 Apr 1958). Malmstrom AFB, MT, 1 May 1962-.
Commanders. Capt Ridgell, 15 Sep 1942; Maj James A. Philpott, Oct 1942; Lt Col Robert D. McCarten, 9 May 1943; Lt Col Robert A. Erdin, 14 Jun 1944; Capt Edward L. Tengler, 1 Apr 1945; Capt Richard H. Johnson, c. Sep 1945-unkn. Unkn, 4 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. Capt James A. Frost, 1 Sep 1955; Maj Richard D. Sullivan, 16 Nov 1955; Lt Col Campbell Palfrey Jr., 4 Jun 1957; Maj Troey Daffern, Apt 1958; Lt Col Edward T. Solomon, 1 Sep 1960-Jun 1961. Lt Col George V. Leffler, 1 May 1962; Col George A. Wischmann, by Jul 1962; Lt Col George V. Leffler, 19 Sep 1962; Lt Col Albert M. Elton, c. 22 Oct 1962; Col Edward J. Hertel, Mar 1963; Col William A. Breeze, Mar 1964; Lt Col Warren T. Seeley, 22 Jun 1965; Col George W. Eldridge, 13 Jul 1965; Lt Col Ralph E. Spraker, 1 Jul 1969; Lt Col James H. Eischeid, 12 Dec 1969; Lt Col William R. Barry, 25 Jan 1972; Lt Col Lawrence F. Page, 18 Jun 1973; Lt Col Jack A. Leach, 29 Jan 1976; Lt Col Howard J. Brubaker, 7 Aug 1977; Lt Col Michael J. Babbidge, 10 Jun 1978; Lt Col Frank E. Zachary, 1 Jul 1979; Lt Col Byron W. Scott, 1 Oct 1981; Lt Col James G. Webb, 15 Nov 1982; Lt Col David L. Olson, 15 Jun 1984; Lt Col William H. Oakley, 11 Jul 1985; Lt Col William R. Hodge, 19 Nov 1987; Lt Col Michael L. Heinemeyer, 5 Apr 1989; Lt Col Dale D. Rowse, 12 Jul 1990; Lt Col David J. Bertholf, 20 Sep 1991; Lt Col Glenn A. Trimmer, 15 Jun 1993; Lt Col Bruce W. Suddath, 29 Jun 1994; Lt Col Kenneth P. Van Sickle, 18 Jun 1996; Lt Col Lloyd H. Keeton, 6 Jul 1999; Lt Col Kevin P. McGinnis, 26 Jan 2001-unkn; Lt Col Carlos F. Rice, 19 Aug 2004; Lt Col David M. Mason, 15 Jun 2006; Lt Col Zannis Pappas, 22 Jun 2008-.
Aircraft and Missiles. B-25, 1942-1945. AT-6, 1947-1949; AT-11, 1947-1949. B-47, 1956-1961. Minuteman I, 1962-1969; Minuteman II, 1969-1996; Minuteman III, 1996-.
Operations. Combat in Central Burma and India, 18 Feb 1943-20 May 1944 and 5 Jul 1944-4 Aug 1945; flew supplies from Chittagong, India to Imphal, India, 20 May-30 Jun 1944 and dropped leaflets for the US Office of War Information, Jan-Aug 1945. Strategic missile operations, 1962-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma; China Offensive.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Burma, 1 Oct-31 Dec 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 22 Oct 1962-31 Dec 1963; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1979-30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1988-30 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1991; 1 Sep 1991-31 Aug 1993; 1 Sep 1993-31 Aug 1994; 1 Sep 1994-30 Sep 1995; 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1996; 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999; 1 Oct 2000-30 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-30 Sep 2006; 1 Oct 2006-30 Sep 2008; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2009; 1 Jan 2010-31 Dec 2011.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 3 May 2013.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2008.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved on 2 Mar 1995.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.