30th Tactical Missile Squadron | |
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A CIM-10 Bomarc missile battery at Fort Dix
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Active | 1943-1945; 1952–1958; 1959–1964 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Light Bombardment, Tactical Missile, Air Defense Missile |
Size | Squadron |
Motto(s) | Seek and Destroy (BOMARC era) |
Mascot(s) | "Sureshot Sully" (WW II era) |
Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Insignia | |
Patch with the 30th Air Defense Missile Squadron emblem | |
Patch with the 69th Tactical Missile Squadron emblem | |
669th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 28 July 1943) | |
ETO fuselage code | 2A |
The 30th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. In 1985 the squadron was formed by combining three United States Air Force and Army Air Forces units that had served in World War II and the Cold War into a single unit with a common heritage. However, the combined unit has not since been active.
The consolidated squadron was first active during World War II as the 669th Bombardment Squadron. For most of 1943, the squadron served as a training unit, but in September, it began training for overseas movement to England, where it served in combat as part of Ninth Air Force and earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for action in France in 1944. After the surrender of Germany, the squadron prepared for redeployment to the Pacific, but returned to the United States, where it was inactivated.
The second unit was activated in 1952 as the 69th Pilotless Bomber Squadron, a tactical missile unit. It initially participated in the test and development of the Martin TM-61 Matador missile as part of Air Research and Development Command. It became part of Tactical Air Command, and trained until it deployed to Europe, where it stood alert as a part of United States Air Forces Europe. It was inactivated in 1958 and its mission, personnel, and mission were transferred to the 405th Tactical Missile Squadron.