448th Missile Squadron

Activated in mid-1942 as a North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron, trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in early 1943. In North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa.

The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March–May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa islands during June, the invasion of Sicily in July, the landing at Salerno in September, the Allied advance toward Rome during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945.

Reactivated as part of the reserve in 1947 and then inactivated in 1949 due to budget cuts.

Was reactivated in 1959 as a Strategic Air Command Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron . Trained in air refueling and strategic bombardment operations with the B-47. in 1961, the squadron began transferring its B-47s to other SAC wings and became non-operational as part of the phaseout of the B-47.

On 1 September 1965 the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron was organized as a SAC LGM-30F Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile squadron. It became operational on 7 December 1966, with a complement of 50 missiles. Participated in "Project Long Life II", a unique reliability test in which modified Minuteman missiles were fueled to travel a few hundred yards. The first launch from a silo occurred on 19 October 1966 and was declared unsuccessful. Nine days later, a second attempt also failed. A third attempt under "Project Giant Boost" occurred in August 1968 and again proved unsuccessful.

From December 1971 to March 1973, converted to LGM-30G Minuteman III missiles. These missiles represented a significant technological advancement, having multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Coordinating the missile changeover required complex planning and execution.

With the restructuring of the Air Force and the disestablishment of Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the early 1990s was reassigned to Air Combat Command in 1992 and then under Air Force Space Command in 1993.

In March 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission selected the 321st Strategic Missile Wing for inactivation. Squadron was ordered to securely transfer its alert responsibilities to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Maintained nuclear alert until inactivated in 1997, nearly 40 years after it went on alert.

• 321st Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 12 September 1945
• 321st Bombardment Group, 29 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 321st Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1959 – 25 October 1961
• 321st Strategic Missile Wing (later 321st Missile) Wing), 1 September 1965
• 321st Operations Group, 1 September 1991
• 321st Missile Group, 1 July 1994 –23 September 1997[3]

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Alert and Launch Facilities

• North American B-25 Mitchell (1942–1945)
• North American AT-6 Texan (1947–1949)
• Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (1947–1949)
• Boeing B-47E Stratojet, 1953–1961
• LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965–1973
• LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972–1997

448th Missile Squadron Launch Facilities

Missile Alert Facilities (K-O flights, each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:

K-00 9.6 mi NE of Finley ND, 47°37′01″N 097°42′14″W

L-00 10.5 mi W of Hope ND, 47°20′03″N 097°56′24″W

M-00 3.8 mi SxSE of Hope ND, 47°16′17″N 097°41′19″W

N-00 6.1 mi S of Hannaford ND, 47°13′24″N 098°11′30″W

O-00 3.6 mi N of Cooperstown ND, 47°29′51″N 098°07′37″W

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Volume IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.