322d Bombardment Squadron
Emblem of the 322d Bombardment Squadron
Active	1942-1968
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Bombardment

The 322d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Bombardment Wing, stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 25 June 1968.

Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, being one of the first heavy bomb squadrons arriving in England. The 322d was one of the most highly decorated strategic heavy bomb squadrons in the European Theater, flying combat missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945. Most personnel demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe, Squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re-equipped and remanned as a B-29 Superfortress squadron. Japanese capitulation canceled plans and was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during November 1945.

Activated in Japan during 1950 as a result of the Korean War. Equipped with RB-29 reconnaissance bombers for strategic reconnaissance missions over Korea and Northern Pacific coast of the Soviet Union. Re-equipped with RB-45C Tornado jet reconnaissance aircraft, flying reconnaissance and mapping combat missions over Korea until being assigned to the United States in mid 1952. Re-equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, performed various reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale until inactivation in 1957.

Activated as a SAC B-52D Stratofortress heavy bomber squadron in 1963 as a redesignation of the provisional 326th Bombardment Squadron. Deployed to Western Pacific, engaging in Arc Light combat missions over Indochina beginning in 1966 - 1968. Inactivated due to budget reductions and closure of Glasgow AFB in 1968.

• Constituted 322d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942

Activated on 15 Apr 1942

Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945

• Redesignated 322d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 23 May 1950

Activated in Japan on 6 Jul 1950

Inactivated on 8 Nov 1957

• Redesignated 322d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated on 15 Nov 1962

Organized on 1 Feb 1963 by redesignation of 326th Bombardment Squadron

Inactivated on 25 Jun 1968

• 91st Bombardment Group, 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945
• 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 6 Jul 1950
• 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952-8 Nov 1957
• Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962
• 91st Bombardment Wing, 1 Feb 1963-25 Jun 1968

Detached to Advanced Echelon, 3d Air Division: 11 Sep 1966–31 Mar 1967; 15 Feb–30 Apr 1968

Not Operational: 1 May-25 Jun 1968

• Harding Army Air Field, Louisiana, 15 Apr 1942
• MacDill Field, Florida, 16 May 1942
• Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 28 Jun-24 Aug 1942
• RAF Kimbolton (AAF-117), England, 13 Sep 1942 (ground echelon), early Oct 1942 (air echelon)
• RAF Bassingbourn (AAF-121), England, 14 Oct 1942-23 Jun 1945
• Drew Field, Florida, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945
• Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 6 Jul 1950

Deployed to Johnson AB and Yokota AB, Japan 6 July 1950-28 May 1952

• Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 11 Sep 1951-8 Nov 1957
• Glasgow AFB, Montana, 1 Feb 1963-25 Jun 1968

Deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam for Arc Light Missions, 11 Sep 1966-c. 31 Mar 1967

Deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa for Arc Light Missions, 16 Feb-c. 30 Apr 1968

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942-1945
• RB-29 Superfortress, 1950
• RB-45C Tornado, 1950-1953
• RB-47E Superfortress, 1953-1957
• B-52D Stratofortress, 1963-1968

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

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN: 0892010975