453 Electronic Warfare Squadron (ACC)

Lineage.  Constituted as 453 Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 19 Jun 1942.  Activated on 4 Aug 1942.  Inactivated on 14 Dec 1945.  Redesignated as 453 Bombardment Squadron, Light on 10 May 1949.  Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949.  Ordered to Active Service on 10 Mar 1951.  Inactivated on 17 Mar 1951.  Redesignated as 453 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 9 May 1955.  Activated on 8 Aug 1955.  Inactivated on 1 Sep 1957.  Redesignated as 453 Flying Training Squadron on 28 Jul 1972.  Activated on 1 Apr 1973.  Inactivated on 31 May 1993.  Redesignated as 453 Electronic Warfare Squadron on 17 Jul 2000.  Activated on 1 Aug 2000.

Assignments.  323 Bombardment Group, 4 Aug 1942-12 Dec 1945; unkn, 13-14 Dec 1945.  323 Bombardment Group, 27 Jun 1949-17 Mar 1951.  323 Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957.  323 Flying Training Wing, 1 Apr 1973; 323 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-31 May 1993.  318 Information Operations Group, 1 Aug 2000; 53 Electronic Warfare Group, 18 Aug 2009; 850 Spectrum Warfare Group, 25 Jun 2021-.

Stations.  Columbia AAB, SC, 4 Aug 1942; MacDill AFB, FL, 21 Aug 1942; Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, SC 3 Nov 1942; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 26 Apr4May 1943; Horham, England, 12 May 1943; Earls Colne, England, 14 Jun 1943; Beaulieu, England, 21 Jul 1944; Lessay, France, 26 Aug 1944; Chartes, France, 21 Sep 1944; Laon/Athies, France, 13 Oct 1944; Denain/Prouvy, France, 9 Feb 1945; Gablingen, Germany, 15 May 1945; Haunstetten, Germany, 12 Jul 1945; Landsberg, Germany, c. 13 Sep 1945; Clastres, France, Oct-Dec 1945; Camp Myles Standish, MA, 13-14 Dec 1945.  Tinker AFB, OK, 27 Jun 1949-17 Mar 1951 (deployed at Eglin AF Auxiliary Field No. 2, FL, 11-25 Jun 1950).  Bunker Hill AFB, IN, 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957.  Mather AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1973-31 May 1993.  Kelly AFB (later, Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB), TX, 1 Aug 2000; Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland TX, 25 Jun 2021-.

Service Streamers.  None. 

Campaign Streamers.  World War II:  Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.  Distinguished Unit Citation:  Belgium and Germany, 24-27 Dec 1944.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:  1 Apr-31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976-28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 Jan 1980-30 Apr 1981; 1 Apr 1986-31 Mar 1988; 1 Aug 2000-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2020.  Air Force Organizational Excellence Award: 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 18 Apr 2022.

Emblem.  Approved on 1 Feb 1957; latest rendering, 8 Apr 2019.

Prepared by Melissa Lahue.

Reviewed by Margaret Ream.