History
The 31st Aero Squadron was organized on 26 June 1917 at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, under the command of 1st Lieutenant John E. Rossel. A part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, it received personnel from First Company, B Provisional Battalion. The squadron served in France during World War I under a series of commanders, the most notable of which was Captain Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, who would later go on to become the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. Following the war, the squadron was demobilized.
On 1 April 1931, the redesignated 31st Bombardment Squadron was activated at March Field, California. The 31st left for Hickam Field, Hawaii, on 1 February 1938, becoming the first bombardment unit to be based there. On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field, and all of the squadron's B-18 Bolo bomber aircraft were either damaged or destroyed. Refitted with B-17 heavy bombers, the squadron was assigned to the 7th Air Force and relocated to Kipapa Gulch, Oahu. During the course of World War II, the 31st took part in numerous battles in the Pacific campaign, including the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands campaign, the Bougainville Campaign, the New Guinea Campaign, Operation Hailstone, the Philippines Campaign, and the Borneo Campaign.
After the World War II, the squadron was redesignated the 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. A part of the Far East Air Forces, it served throughout the Pacific and Korea on B-29 and RB-29 bombers.
During the Korean War, the squadron's primary mission included electronic counter measures and bomb-damage assessment photography. Operating out of Japan for greater efficiency, the squadron began flying combat missions on 29 June 1950. On 18 October 1950, a crew spied over 75 enemy fighter planes at Antung Airfield, across the Yalu River, immediately prior to the Chinese intervention. In 1950 the squadron returned to the United States and was assigned to the 5th Strategic Recon Wing at Travis AFB, California, whereupon it switched to flying RB-36s. The 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron assumed the duties of the 31st.
In 1955 the squadron was redesignated the 31st Bombardment Squadron (H) being equipped with B-36Js and began standing nuclear alert. In 1960 it was reassigned to SAC's provisional 4126th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with B-52G Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. Later the squadron was reassigned to Beale AFB, California, by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. From there it conducted worldwide strategic bombardment training missions and providing a nuclear deterrent before being inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its provisional Strategic Wings, redesignating them permanent Air Force Wings. As a result, the squadron was inactivated with its aircraft, personnel and equipment being redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron in an in-place, name-only transfer.
On 1 July 1986 it was once more reactivated at Edwards AFB, CA, and tasked to be the final inspection station of the Strategic Air Command's new weapons systems.
Read more about this topic: 31st Test And Evaluation Squadron
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