34th Bombardment Squadron

34th Bomb Squadron
Aircrews from the 34th Bomb Squadron and 28th Operations Support Squadron stand in front of B-1B Lancer 86-0095 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., 30 March 2011.
Active	1917–1919; 1931–1945; 1947–1948; 1952–1958; 1962–1976; 1992–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Strategic Bombing
Part of	Global Strike Command 8th Air Force 28th Bomb Wing 28th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Ellsworth Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Original Thunderbirds (Doolittle's Raiders)
Colors	Red, Black
Mascot(s)	T-Bird
Engagements	World War I World War II Doolittle Raid Korean War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable commanders	Ira Eaker
Insignia
34th Bomb Squadron emblem (approved 18 June 1932)

The 34th Bomb Squadron is part of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It operates Rockwell B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.

The 34th Bomb Squadron is presently the 4th-oldest active squadron in the United States Air Force, being formed on 10 May 1917, less than a month after the United States' entry into World War I. Members of the squadron participated in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Today, the 34th Bomb Squadron stands ready to provide combat-ready aircrews to project global power anytime in support of the Combatant Commander's objectives.

The 34th Bomb Squadron can trace its origins to the organization of 2d Company H, Kelly Field, Texas which was organized on 10 May 1917. At the time Kelly Field consisted mostly of a field of cotton plants, as it was just obtained by the Army for the establishment of a training airfield, just to the south of San Antonio, Texas. When the first soldiers arrived, there were not any tents or cots for them so they slept on the ground. When the first tents arrived, they were assigned locations for them and they were pitched. A few days later, when the Company received its full quota of men, it was changed to 1st Company G, Kelly Field. The men received their indoctrination into the Army as soldiers, standing guard duty and other rudimentary duties. The lack of sanitary facilities and also uniforms meant most men worked in the civilian clothing they arrived in and slept in them without bathing until latrines and washing facilities were constructed. The men dug ditches for water mains, erected wooden buildings for barracks and a large YMCA.

On 15 July, the unit was redesignated as the 34th Provisional Squadron, and rumors began to circulate that the unit would be sent to Europe. On the 25th, it was again re-designated as the 34th Aero Squadron, and they were issued proper uniforms and began to be equipped for overseas duty. On 10 August, the squadron received orders to leave Kelly Field for transport to Hoboken, New Jersey the next day. Five days later, the squadron arrived at Fort Totten, New York. On the 22d they were transported to the Port of Entry, Hoboken, and were boarded on the RMS Baltic. The next day, they left Pier 59, en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia where the ship anchored awaiting for a convoy. Finally, on 5 September, the convoy was formed and the trans-Atlantic journey began.