568th Strategic Missile Squadron

568th Strategic Missile Squadron
First successful launch of an SM-68 Titan I ICBM at Cape Canaveral, Florida on 10 August 1960 at the Atlantic Missile Range
Active	1942–1945; 1962–1965
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Garrison/HQ	Larson Air Force Base, Washington
Engagements	World War II (EAME Theater)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)
Insignia
568th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem

The 568th Strategic Missile Squadron (568 SMS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 462d Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Larson AFB, Washington

On 1 April 1961, the 568th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan) went on alert status as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) squadron, being equipped with the first-generation SM-68 Titan I, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.

The squadron was inactivated as part of the phaseout of the Titan I ICBM on 25 March 1965

First activated in early 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadron, it trained under the Second Air Force. It deployed to England in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during July 1943 where it was assigned to VIII Bomber Command as a strategic bombardment squadron. The squadron participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945. Its personnel demobilized in England and returned to the United States; the squadron was reassigned to the Second Air Force and was slated to be re-equipped with B-29 Superfortresses for deployment to the Pacific Theater. The Japanese capitulation led to the squadron's inactivation in August 1945, being neither manned or equipped.

The squadron was activated in the postwar Air Force Reserve as a B-29 unit in 1947 and inactivated due to budget reductions in 1949.

It was re-activated in 1961 as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) HGM-25A Titan I ICBM launch unit. SAC placed the 568th Strategic Missile Squadron on operational status on 25 September 1962. The squadron was deployed in a 3x3 configuration, which meant a total of nine missiles were divided into three bases. Each base had three ICBMs ready to launch at any given time.