394th Strategic Missile Squadron

Summary

The United States Air Force's 394th Strategic Missile Squadron was an intercontinental ballistic missile that operated the LGM-30 Minuteman and LGM-25C Titan II[citation needed] missiles at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

394th Strategic Missile Squadron
Minuteman I test launch
Active1958–1993
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Roleintercontinental ballistic missile training
Part of1st Strategic Aerospace Division
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
394th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem

History edit

The squadron was first activated in 1958[1] and assigned to the 704th Strategic Missile Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base as a training unit for intercontinental ballistic missiles. In December of that year, the squadron and the 392d Missile Training Squadron, which was the training unit at Vandenberg for intermediate range ballistic missiles, were inactivated and replaced by a single training squadron, the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron.[2]

The squadron was activated again in 1960 as the training unit for Minuteman missiles.[3] The squadron supported all LGM-30 Minuteman test launches.[4] When the 30th Space Wing became the single wing at Vandenberg under the Objective Wing organization, the squadron was transferred to the 30th[5] and inactivated.

Lineage edit

  • Constituted c. 6 March 1958 as the 394th Missile Training Squadron (ICBM)
Activated on 1 April 1958[1]
Inactivated 15 December 1958[1][6]
  • Redesignated 394th Missile Training Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) on 1 July 1960[3]
  • Redesignated 394th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 February 1964[7]
  • Redesignated 394th ICBM Test Maintenance Squadron on 8 July 1976[8]
  • Redesignated 394th Maintenance Support Squadron on 1 September 1991
Inactivated c. 1 July 1993

Assignments edit

Stations edit

  • Vandenberg Air Force Base, 1 July 1958 – 15 December 1958[6]
  • Vandenberg Air Force Base, 1 April 1960 – c. 1 July 1993[8]

Missiles edit

  • SM-65 Atlas (1958)[1]
  • LGM-30 Minuteman I (1960–unknown)
  • LGM-25 Titan II (unknown)

Decorations edit

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1963–30 June 1965 394th Strategic Missile Squadron[9]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1970–30 June 1971 394th Strategic Missile Squadron[10]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1974–30 June 1976 394th Strategic Missile Squadron[11]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1977–30 June 1979 394th ICBM Test Maintenance Squadron[11]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Abstract, History 1 Missile Division Jan-Dec 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Abstract, History 704 Strategic Missile Wing Jan-Dec 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Abstract (Unclassified), History 1 Missile Division (Secret) Jul-Dec 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History 1 Strategic Aerospace Division (Secret) Jan-Dec 1985". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Abstract, Vol. 1, History 30 Space Wing Jan-Dec 1993". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b 1958 dates at Vandenberg and designation in Mueller, p. 574.
  7. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History 1 Strategic Aerospace Division (Confidential) Jan-Jun 1964". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  8. ^ a b 1960-1982 dates at Vandenberg and designations in Mueller, p. 574.
  9. ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 363
  10. ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 69
  11. ^ a b "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 24 June 2016. (search)

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
  • AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Archived 2015-08-04 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
  • AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Archived 2015-08-04 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976