77th Weapons Squadron: Difference between revisions

|branch={{air force|United States|23pxUSA}}

|type= Bombardment trainingSquadron

|command_structure=[[Air Combat Command]]

|garrison=[[Dyess Air Force Base]], Texas

* [[File:World War II - American Campaign Streamer AC(Plain).PNGpng|150px]] Aleutian Campaign

|decorations= [[File:Streamer PUC Army.PNG|150px]]<BRbr>Distinguished Unit Citation<BRbr>[[File:AFOUA with Valor.jpg|150px]]<BRbr>[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]] with Combat "V" Device<BRbr>[[File:US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Stremer.jpg|150px]]<BRbr>[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]] (12x)<BRbr>[[File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross - Streamer.jpg|150px]]<BRbr>Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm<ref name=77WSfacts/>

|identification_symbol=[[File:77th77 Weapons SquadronSq emblem.jpgpng|125px165px]]

|identification_symbol_label= 77th Weapons Squadron emblem{{efn|Changed 27 March 2023.}}<ref name=77WSfacts/>

The '''77th Weapons Squadron (77 WPS)''' is a [[United States Air Force]] unit assigned to the [[USAF Weapons School]], stationed at [[Dyess Air Force Base]], Texas. The 77th is a geographically separated unit of the [[Texas57th Wing]], stationed at [[Nellis Air Force Base]], Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to provide [[B-1 Lancer]] instructional flying.

The [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was activated in January 1941 as a [[Northwest Air District]] [[medium bomber]] squadron, equipped with a mixture of [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]]s, [[Stearman PT-17 StearmanKaydet]] trainers and early model [[Martin B-26 Marauder]]s. Upon completion of training, it was assigned to the new [[Elmendorf Field]], near [[Anchorage, Alaska]]; being one of the first [[United States Army Air Corps]] units assigned to the [[Alaska Territory]]. After the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]], the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols over the [[Gulf of Alaska]].

When the Japanese invaded the [[Aleutian Islands]] in June 1942, the squadron was reassigned to [[Fort Glenn Army Airfield]] on [[Adak Island]]; and began combat missions over the captured islands of [[Kiska]] and [[Attu Island|Attu]]. Flew combat missions with [[B-26 Marauder]]sMarauders and later [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] medium bombers during the [[Aleutian Campaign]], remaining in Alaska until the end of World War II in 1945 when the squadron personnel were demobilized and the unit inactivated as a paper unit in early of November 1945. SSgt [[Charlton Heston]] served as a radio operator and gunner aboard a B-25 of the 77th from 1944–45.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mecca|first=Pete|url=http://www.covnews.com/archives/47708|title=During World War II, Hollywood got serious|publisher=The Covington News|date=10 December 2013|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904044627/http://www.covnews.com/archives/47708/|archive-date=4 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Reactivated as a [[Strategic Air Command]] [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] squadron in 1946, being trained in the midwestMidwest then reassignedmoved to Alaska in late 1946. Mission changed from [[strategic bombardment]] training to [[aerial reconnaissance|strategic reconnaissance and mapping]]; engaging in very long range reconnaissance missions in the [[Bering Strait]]s; North Pacific coast and [[Arctic Ocean]] coastline of the [[Soviet Union]]. Squadron performed charting and other mapping missions, most likely including ferret and ELINT missions, possibly overflying Soviet airspace.

Squadron returned to the Continental United States in 1947, being equipped with [[Convair B-36 Peacemaker]] strategic bombers, both in the bomber and strategic reconnaissance versions. Undertook strategic bombardment training missions on a global scale, including strategic reconnaissance missions with the RB-36s until the phaseout of the B-36 from SAC in 1957.

Re-equipped with [[Boeing B-52D Stratofortress]]es and stood nuclear [[alert status|alert]] and conducted global strategic bombardment training missions until 1966. Began rotational deployments to [[Andersen AFBAir Force Base]], Guam where squadron began flying conventional strategic bombardment [[Operation Arc Light|Arc Light]] missions over Indochina (1966–1970). Converted to B-52G in 1971 and returned to nuclear alert status; upgrading to B-52H in 1977. Received first production [[Rockwell B-1B Lancer]]s in 1985 and maintained nuclear alert until taken off alert after the end of the [[Cold War]] in 1991. Performed strategic bombardment training until inactivated in 1997 as part of the drawdown of the USAF.

Organization reactivated activatedestablished as the [[USAF Weapons School]] B-1 Division on 28 August 1992 at [[Nellis AFBAir Force Base]], Nevada. Re-designatedReplaced asby the 77th Weapons Squadron in 2003. It provides training to B-1 aircrews at Dyess.

===Lineage===

[[File:* Constituted as the '''77th Bombardment Squadron''' - SAC -(Medium) Emblem.png|thumb|175px|SACon bomb20 squadronNovember emblem]]1940

* Re-designatedRedesignated '''77th Bombardment Squadron''', (Very Heavy)''' on 15 July 1946

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)''', Medium on 28 May 1948

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''', Heavy on 16 May 1949

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic)''', Photographic on 1 April 1950

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy)''', Heavy on 16 July 1950

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy''', Heavy on 1 October 1955

: Re-designated:Redesignated '''77th Bomb Squadron''' on 1 September 1991

* Re-designatedRedesignated '''77 Weapons Squadron''' on 24 January 2003

: Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of B-1 Division, USAF Weapons<ref Schoolname=77WSfacts/>

* [[28th OperationsComposite Group|28 Composite]] (later, 28 Bombardment) Group]]), 2 January 1942

* [[Eleventh Air Force]], 20 October- – 5 November 1945

* [[28th Operations Group|28 Bombardment Group (later, 28 Strategic Reconnaissance) Group]]), 4 August 1946 (attached to [[28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]] after 10 February 1951)

:* Attached to [[28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]], 10(later February28 Bombardment Wing), 1951-1516 June 1952

* [[28th Operations Group]], 1 SeptemberApril 1991-311997 March– 1995; 1 April 1997-19 September 2002

* [[USAF Weapons School]], 3 February 2003–present2003 – present<ref name=77WSfacts/>

* [[Salt Lake City Army Air Base]], [[Utah]], 15 January 1941

* [[Gowen Field]], [[Utah]]Idaho, 4 June- – 14 December 1941

* [[Elmendorf Field]], [[Alaska Territory]], 29 December 1941 (air echelon operated from Fort Glenn Army Air Field, Alaska beginning 30 May 1942

:* [[Adak Army Air Field]], Alaska Territory, 3 October 1942 (air echelon operated from [[Fort GlennAdak Army Airfield]]Air Field, Alaska, beginning 12 December 1942 and from [[AlaskaAmchitka TerritoryArmy Air Field]], Alaska, beginning 309 MayMarch 19421943)

*: Air echelon operated from [[Adak ArmyAttu Airfield]], [[Alaska, Territory]],beginning 310 OctoberJuly 19421943

* [[Amchitka Army Airfield]]Air Field, [[Alaska Territory]], 11 September 1943

* [[Attu Airfield]], [[Alaska Territory]], 11 February 1944- – 19 October 1945

* [[Fort Lawton]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], 29 October-5 November 1945

* [[Grand Island Army AirfieldAir Field]], [[Nebraska]], 4 August-6 October 1946

* [[Elmendorf Field]], [[Alaska Territory]], 20 October 1946- – 24 April 1947

* [[Ellsworth AFB|Rapid City AAFldArmy Air Field]] (later, Rapid City AFBAir Force Base; Ellsworth AFBAir Force Base)]], [[South Dakota]], 17 April 1947 (air echelon), 3 May 1947 (ground echelon)- – 31 March 1995

* [[Ellsworth AFB]]Air Force Base, [[South Dakota]], 1 April 1997- – 19 September 2002

* [[Dyess AFBAir Force Base]], [[Texas]], 3 February 2003–present2003 – present<ref name=77WSfacts/>

* [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]], 1941, 1942–1943

* [[Stearman PT-17 Kaydet]], 1941

* [[Martin B-26 Marauder]], 1941–1943

* [[North American B-25 Mitchell]], 1942–1945

* [[B-29|Boeing B/RB-29 Superfortress]], 1946–1950

* [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]]

: [[B-52|B-52D Stratofortress]], 1957-19711957–1971

: [[B-52|B-52G Stratofortress]], 1971-19771971–1977

: [[B-52|B-52H Stratofortress]], 1977-19851977–1985

* [[Rockwell B-1B Lancer]], 1985–1995, 1997–2002, 2003–Present2003 – present<ref name=77WSfacts/>

{{AFHRANotelist}}