37 Bomb Squadron (AFGSC)

Lineage.   Organized as 37 Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 15 Apr 1919. Reconstituted, and redesignated as 37 Pursuit Squadron, on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 1 Sep 1933.  Redesignated as 37 Attack Squadron on 1 Mar 1935.  Inactivated on 31 Jan 1938.  Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 Dec 1939.  Activated on 1 Feb 1940.  Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 9 Oct 1944.  Inactivated on 26 Nov 1945.  Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 29 Apr 1947.  Activated on 19 May 1947.  Inactivated on 10 Sep 1948.  Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder, on 8 May 1952.  Activated on 10 May 1952.  Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron, Tactical, on 1 Oct 1955.  Inactivated on 25 Jun 1958.   Redesignated as 37 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 16 Jun 1977. Activated on 1 Jul 1977.  Inactivated on 1 Oct 1982.   Activated on 1 Jan 1987.  Redesignated as 37 Bomb Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.

Assignments.  Unkn, 13 Jun–Sep 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1917–Jan 1919; unkn, Jan–15 Apr 1919.  18 Pursuit Group (attached to 8 Pursuit Group), 1 Sep 1933; 2 Wing (attached to 8 Pursuit Group), 1 Mar 1935–31 Jan 1938.  28 Composite Group, 1 Feb 1940; 17 Bombardment Group, 23 Apr 1941–26 Nov 1945.  17 Bombardment Group, 19 May 1947–10 Sep 1948.  17 Bombardment Group, 10 May 1952–25 Jun 1958 (attached to the 17 Bombardment Wing, 8 Jun 1957–25 Jun 1958).  28 Bombardment Wing, 1 Jul 1977–1 Oct 1982.  28 Bombardment Wing, 1 Jan 1987; 28 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991–.

Stations.  Camp Kelly, TX, 13 Jun–11 Aug 1917; Etampes, France, 18 Sep 1917; Issoudun, France, 23 Sep 1917; Bordeaux, France, c. 6 Jan–c. 18 Mar 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, c. 5–15 Apr 1919.  Langley Field, VA, 1 Sep 1933–31 Jan 1938.  Barksdale Field, LA, 1 Feb 1940; Lowry Field, CO, 10 Jul 1940; Pendleton, OR, 29 Jun 1941; Lexington County Aprt, SC, 16 Feb 1942; Barksdale Field, LA, 24 Jun–18 Nov 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 21 Dec 1942; Sedrata, Algeria, c. 13 May 1943; Djedeida, Tunisia, c. 25 Jun 1943; Villacidro, Sardinia, c. 5 Dec 1943; Poretta, Corsica, 21 Sep 1944; Dijon, France, 20 Nov 1944; Linz, Austria, c. 16 Jun 1945; Horsching, Austria, 6 Jul 1945; Clastres, France, c. 3 Oct–c. 17 Nov 1945; Camp Myles Standish, MA, 25–26 Nov 1945. Langley Field (later, AFB), VA, 19 May 1947–10 Sep 1948.  Pusan AB, Korea, 10 May 1952; Miho AB, Japan, c. 9 Oct 1954–c. 19 Mar 1955; Eglin AF Aux Field No. 9, FL, 1 Apr 1955; RAF Alconbury, England, 11 May 1958; Eglin AF Aux Field No. 9, FL, 12 May–25 Jun 1958.  Ellsworth AFB, SD, 1 Jul 1977–1 Oct 1982.  Ellsworth AFB, SD, 1 Jan 1987–.

 

Commanders.   Sgt Monroe Reynolds, 13 Jun 1917 (acting); Cpl Cody Dalton, 15 Jun 1917 (acting); 1 Lt Joseph C. Trees, 27 Jul 1917; 1 Lt (unkn) Patterson, c. 13 Nov 1917; 1 Lt Frederick C. Bowne, 25 Nov 1917; 1 Lt William W. Nolting, 10 Dec 1917; 1 Lt Richard H. Merkel, 28 Dec 1917; Capt Lester T. Gayle, 9 Jun 1918; 1 Lt Richard S. Davis, 22 Aug 1918; 1 Lt Richard H. Merkel, Sep 1918; 1 Lt Malcolm C. Wall, by Nov 1918; unkn, Nov 1918-15 Apr 1919.  Capt Caleb V. Haynes, 1 Sep 1933; Capt Ned Schramm, 18 Jul 1935-Jul 1936; unkn, Jul 1936-31 Jan 1938.  1 Lt Karl E. Bannister, 1 Feb 1940; Capt W. C. Mills, 10 Jul 1940-unkn; Maj Ferrell L. Bowen, 28 Jun 1942; Maj Robert A. Zaiser, 3 Jun 1943; Maj Audie S. Wright, 12 Jul 1943; Maj Raymond J. Downey, 24 Sep 1943; Maj Harold L. McKean, 15 Oct 1943; Capt Rodney S. Wright, 21 Jul 1944; Maj George H. Gibbens, 27 Aug 1944; Maj Eugene J. McCarthy, 10 Apr 1945; Maj Randle J. Dedeaux, 25 May 1945; unkn, Jun-26 Nov 1945.  Unkn, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948.  Lt Col Albert C. Hegenberger, 10 May 1952; Lt Col Rhodes M. Elam, 10 May 1952; Maj Alfred A. Beckner Jr., 22 Nov 1952; Lt Col Oscar L. Watson, 1 Jan 1953; unkn, Jul 1953-29 Jun 1955; Lt Col George J. Nied, by 30 Jun 1955; Lt Col Raymond A. Fulton, 30 Oct 1956-25 Jun 1958.  Lt Col Leroy A. Myers, 1 Jul 1977; Lt Col James S. Dillon, 26 Jul 1978; Lt Col Stanley O. Smith, 16 May 1980; Lt Col William R. Lennard, 3 Apr 1981-1 Oct 1982.    Lt Col Thomas A. O’Riordan, 1 Jan 1987; Lt Col Joseph P. Stein, 9 Nov 1989; Lt Col Kermit V. Boschert, 14 Dec 1990; Lt Col George A. Vidrine Jr., 1 Jun 1992; Lt Col Thomas C. Owskey, 11 Jun 1993; Lt Col Christopher Miller, 14 Jun 1994; Lt Col Richard E. Smith, 28 Jun 1996; Lt Col Stephen L. Wolborsky, 3 Oct 1997; Lt Col Jeffry F. Smith, 16 Jul 1999; Lt Col Todd C. Westhauser, Jun 2001; Lt Col Gary A. Mausolf, 25 Jun 2003; Lt Col David B. Been, 3 Jun 2005; Lt Col Kirk W. Hunsaker, 24 May 2007; Lt Col Steven W. Biggs, 2 Apr 2009; Lt Col Brian E. Meade, 1 Nov 2010; Lt Col Stuart W. Newberry, 4 May 2012; Lt Col Joseph L. Sheffield, 4 Apr 2014; Lt Col Daniel C. Diehl, 4 Mar 2016-.

             

Aircraft.   Evidently included Avro 504–K, Sopwith F–1 Camel, and DH–4, in addition to Nieuport 27, 1918.  P–6, 1933–1935; A–8, 1935–1936; A–17, 1936–1938.  B–18, 1940–1941; B–25, 1941–1942; B–26, 1942–1945.   B–26, 1952–1956; B–66, 1956–1958.  B–52, 1977–1982.  B–1, 1987–.

 

Operations.   Construction, 1917–1918; flying training, 1918.  Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941–c. Mar 1942.  Contributed aircrews and aircraft for the 18 Apr 1942 Doolittle raid on Japan.  Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and European Theater of Operations (ETO), 31 Dec 1942–1 May 1945.  Combat in Korea, c. 10 May 1952–Jul 1953.   Activated as wing’s second B-1B unit; tasked with both strategic and contingency missions, 1 Jan 1987.  Tested, evaluated and conducted training missions, 1988-1996.  Elements deployed to Southwest Asia, where a unit B-1B Lancer was the first to be used in combat.  Countered Iraq’s defiance of United Nations resolutions, Nov 1997-Jan 1998.   After 11 Sep 2001, elements deployed to Diego Garcia as part of 28 Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) to combat terrorism.  Supported 34 Bomb Squadrons strike mission launched from the US against military targets in Libya, 27 Mar 2011.       

 

Service Streamers.   World War I Theater of Operations.

 

Campaign Streamers.    World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.   Korea: Korea Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E.

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

 

Decorations.   Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 13 Jan 1944; Schweinfurt, Germany,

10 Apr 1945; Korea, 1 Dec 1952–30 Apr 1953.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003.  Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2011; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2013; 1 Jun 2013-31 May 2015.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1977–30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1988–30 Jun 1990; 1 Sep 1991–1 Jul 1993; 1 Jun-30 Nov 1994; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2005; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009.  French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and Jun 1944. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 24 May 1952–31 Mar 1953.

 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Mar 2018.

 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Mar 2018. 

 

Supersedes statement prepared on 9 Oct 2015. 

 

 Emblem.  Approved on 27 Dec 1956; newest rendition approved on 6 Jun 2008.

 

Prepared by Daniel Haulman.