42d Attack Squadron - History

History

The squadron was organized as the 42d Aero Squadron on 17 June 1917, shortly after the United States declared war on Germany. Based at Camp Kelly, Texas, the squadron flight-trained new pilots as part of the Air Service until demobilized on 21 February 1919.

The squadron was reconstituted in 1922 and became the 42d School Squadron in January 1923 as part of the 10th School Group at Kelly Field. In 1924 its lineage was consolidated with that of the 42d Aero Squadron. The 42d School Squadron continued its flying training role as part of the Air Corps in 1926, and was assigned to the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in 1931.

On 1 March 1935, with the activation of the General Headquarters Air Force, the squadron was redesignated a bombardment squadron, although it remained a training squadron at Kelly until its inactivation in September 1936.

The 42d Bombardment Squadron was reactivated on 1 February 1940, in the expansion of the Air Corps anticipating U.S. participation in World War II, as part of the 11th Bombardment Group based at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii. Initially flying B-18s, the squadron was converting to B-17 Flying Fortresses when Hickam was attacked by Japanese carrier aircraft as part of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The 42d Bomb Squadron deployed with the 11th Bomb Group to Espiritu Santo, where it participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign. It conducted long-range reconnaissance and bombing missions throughout the South, Southwest, Central, and Western Pacific areas until the end of the war, converting to B-24 Liberator bombers in 1943.

In 1946, while based on Guam, the 42d BS was briefly equipped with B-29 Superfortresses, but had no aircraft or flying mission from 1947 to its inactivation on in 1948.

The squadron was re-activated as a unit of the United States Air Force on 1 December 1948. Assigned to the 11th Bomb Wing as part of the Strategic Air Command, it flew B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental bombers from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. In 1957 it moved to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, to convert to B-52 Stratofortresses.

In 1960 was reassigned to SAC provisional 4043d Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52E Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. Was reassigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. Conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing nuclear deterrent. Was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. Squadron was inactivated with aircraft/personnel/equipment being redesignated 34th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.

On 9 November 2006, the squadron was re-designated the 42d Attack Squadron and re-activated at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, initially as part of the 57th Wing before being assigned as one of the six unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadrons of the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing, and the only squadron designated as an attack squadron.

The 42d ATKS received its first MQ-9 on 13 March 2007. Officially combat-operational in Afghanistan since September 2007, the typical MQ-9 system consists of several aircraft, a ground control station, communications equipment/links, spares, and active duty and/or contractor personnel. The crew consists of one unmanned aerial system (UAS) pilot, one sensor operator and one mission intelligence coordinator (MIC).