1st Tactical Missile Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 1st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 585th Tactical Missile Group
and stationed at Bitburg Air Base
, West Germany. It was inactivated on 18 June 1958.
. Developed procedures and methods for deployment of tactical nuclear missiles.
Was deployed to the United States Air Forces in Europe, being assigned to the 36th Fighter-Day Wing at Bitburg AB, West Germany in March 1954, making it the first operational United States missile unit. Equipped with the B-61A Matador. The 1st PBS was re-designated as the 1st Tactical Missile Squadron at that time. The B-61A Matador was re-designated as the TM-61A Matador.
The 1st Tactical Missile Squadron was detached from the 36th FDW, no change of station, and assigned to the newly formed 7382d Pilotless Bomber Group headquartered at Hahn Air Base
, on 1 February 1956. The 7382d was later re-designated as the 7382d Guided Missile Group, and later still re-designated as the 7382d Tactical Missile Group.
The 7382d Tactical Missile Group was inactivated on 15 Sept 1956, and the 1st Tactical Missile Squadron was reassigned to the newly formed 585th Tactical Missile Group
at Bitburg Air Base, as part of the newly formed 701st Tactical Missile Wing, headquartered at Hahn AB. The unit converted from the TM-61A to the TM-61C during that time.
The 1st TMS was inactivated and replaced by the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron 18 Jun 1958
Dispersed Matador/Mace missile locations
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 585th Tactical Missile Group
585th Tactical Missile Group
The 585th Tactical Missile Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing and stationed at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany...
and stationed at Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Airport is a commercial airport serving Bitburg, a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is located 2 miles southeast of Bitburg, 20 miles north of Trier, and 135 miles west of Wiesbaden....
, West Germany. It was inactivated on 18 June 1958.
History
Established at Patrick AFB, Florida in 1951 as 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron. Experimented with tactical cruise missiles, including JB-2 Loon and MGM-13 MaceMGM-13 Mace
-See also:-External links:* * * * * * *...
. Developed procedures and methods for deployment of tactical nuclear missiles.
Was deployed to the United States Air Forces in Europe, being assigned to the 36th Fighter-Day Wing at Bitburg AB, West Germany in March 1954, making it the first operational United States missile unit. Equipped with the B-61A Matador. The 1st PBS was re-designated as the 1st Tactical Missile Squadron at that time. The B-61A Matador was re-designated as the TM-61A Matador.
The 1st Tactical Missile Squadron was detached from the 36th FDW, no change of station, and assigned to the newly formed 7382d Pilotless Bomber Group headquartered at Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base was a frontline NATO facility in Germany for over 40 years during the Cold War...
, on 1 February 1956. The 7382d was later re-designated as the 7382d Guided Missile Group, and later still re-designated as the 7382d Tactical Missile Group.
The 7382d Tactical Missile Group was inactivated on 15 Sept 1956, and the 1st Tactical Missile Squadron was reassigned to the newly formed 585th Tactical Missile Group
585th Tactical Missile Group
The 585th Tactical Missile Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing and stationed at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany...
at Bitburg Air Base, as part of the newly formed 701st Tactical Missile Wing, headquartered at Hahn AB. The unit converted from the TM-61A to the TM-61C during that time.
The 1st TMS was inactivated and replaced by the 71st Tactical Missile Squadron 18 Jun 1958
Lineage
- Established as 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron and activated on 1 October 1951
- Re-designated as 1st Tactical Missile Squadron, 14 March 1955
- Inactivated 18 June 1958
Assignments
- 4800th Guided Missiles Wing, 1 October 1951
- 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 31 March 1954
- 7382d Pilotless Bomber (later Guided Missile, later Tactical Missile) Group, 1 February 1956
- 585th Tactical Missile Group585th Tactical Missile GroupThe 585th Tactical Missile Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing and stationed at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany...
, 15 September 1956-18 June 1958
Stations
- Patrick AFB, Florida, 1 October 1951
- Bitburg AB, West Germany, 31 March 1954-18 June 1958
Dispersed Matador/Mace missile locations
- Site VII "B" Pad - 3.5 miles (5.6 km) NW of Bitburg AB 49°59′05"N 006°28′50"E
- Underground concrete launch facility, closed 1969. largely overgrown abandoned condition.
- Site VIII "C" Pad - 4.5 miles (7.2 km) SSW of Bitburg AB 49°53′21"N 006°33′30"E
- Underground concrete launch facility. After closure the site was transferred to the Bundesheer and converted into a Patriot AD missile site; closed 2001 now abandoned and overgrown with vegetation.