564th Strategic Missile Squadron

564th Missile Squadron
LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenburg AFB, California
Active	1943-1945; 1947–1949; 1958–1964; 1966–2008
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Part of	Air Force Space Command
Nickname(s)	Deuce
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (6x)
Insignia
564th Missile Squadron emblem	(approved 28 February 1995)
564th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem (approved 9 July 1959)
564th Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 564th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.

On 1 December 1958, the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas) was the first Strategic Air Command (SAC) Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) squadron to go on operational alert status, being equipped with the first-generation SM-65D Atlas, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.

On 1 April 1966, the 564th was re-equipped with the LGM-30F Minuteman II ICBM, and in 1975 was upgraded to the LGM-30G Minuteman III.

The squadron was inactivated due to budget reductions on 19 August 2008.

Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron in December 1942; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in Texas and Colorado. Received deployment orders for the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in April 1943.

Deployed to England in May 1943, being assigned to the VIII Bomber Command and stationed at RAF Hethel. Upon its arrival at Hethel, was sent almost immediately to Libya, where it began operations on July 9, 1943. The detachment flew missions to Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Romania. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the detachment's participation in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti on August 1, 1943. Returned to England in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and the Netherlands.