447 Missile Squadron

Lineage. Constituted 447th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 26 Jun 1942. Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 6 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945. Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 26 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 22 Jun 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 447th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 25 Nov 1953. Activated on 15 Dec 1953. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Oct 1961. Redesignated 447th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman), and activated, on 19 Oct 1964. Organized on 1 Feb 1965. Redesignated 447th Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.

Assignments. 321st Bombardment Group, 26 Jun 1942-12 Sep 1945. Eleventh Air Force, 22 Jun 1947; 321st Bombardment Group, 29 Jun 1947-27 Jun 1949. 321st Bombardment Wing, 15 Dec 1953-25 Oct 1961. Strategic Air Command, 19 Oct 1964; 321st Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Feb 1965; 321st Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 321st Missile Group, 1 Jul 1994-.

Stations. Barksdale Field, LA, 26 Jun 1942; Columbia AAB, SC, c. 1 Aug 1942; Walterboro, SC, 18 Sep 1942; DeRidder AAB, LA, 2 Dec 1942-21 Jan 1943; Oujda, French Morocco, 7 Mar 1943; Ain M'Lila, Algeria, 12 Mar 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia, 1 Jun 1943; Soliman, Tunisia, 8 Aug 1943; Grottaglie, Italy, 3 Oct 1943; Amendola, Italy, c. 25 Nov 1943; Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, 14 Jan 1944; Gaudo, Italy, 18 Feb 1944; Solenzara, Corsica, 3 May 1944; Falconara, Italy, c. 9 May 1945; Pomigliano, Italy, c. Aug-12 Sep 1945. Luken Aprt, OH, 22 Jun 1947-27 Jun 1949. Pinecastle (later, McCoy) AFB, FL, 15 Dec 1953-25 Oct 1961 (deployed at RAF Lakenheath, England, 9 Dec 1954-5 Mar 1955; Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 9 Apr-3 Jul 1956). Grand Forks AFB, ND, 1 Feb 1965-.

Aircraft and Missiles. B-25, 1942-1945. AT-6 and AT-11, 1947-1949. B-47, 1953-1961. Minuteman II, 1965-1971; Minuteman III, 1971-.

Operations. Combat in MTO, 16 Mar 1943-25 Apr 1945. Not operational, 1 Feb-c. Dec 1965. Missile operations, Jan 1966-.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Athens, Greece, 8 Oct 1943; Toulon, France, 18 Aug 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987.

Emblem. Celeste, a cloud Argent surmounted by a wyvern Gules, its tail encoiled around a bomb descending bendwise sinister Silver Gray; all within a diminished bordure of the third. MOTTO: MAXIME SUPERIORES--The Very Best. Originally approved on 7 May 1956 (K 562) slightly modified and reinstated on 17 Oct 1994 (DFSC 95-00356); replaced emblem approved on 25 Nov 1966 (K 21636).