Lineage

Constituted 321st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Apr 1942. Redesignated 321st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 6 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946. Redesignated 321st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 11 Jun 1947. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 6 Sep 1948. Redesignated 321st Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 20 Dec 1950. Activated on 2 Jan 1951. Redesignated 321st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, on 16 Jun 1952. Discontinued on 20 Jun 1960. Redesignated 321st Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Minuteman) on 16 Sep 1963. Organized on 9 Apr 1964. Redesignated 321st Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.

Assignments

90th Bombardment Group, 15 Apr 1942?27 Jan 1946. 90th Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1947?6 Sep 1948. 90th Bombardment Group, 2 Jan 1951 (attached to 90th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 Feb 1951?15 Jun 1952); 90th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 Jun 1952?20 Jun 1960. Strategic Air Command, 16 Sep 1963; 90th Strategic Missile Wing, 9 Apr 1964; 90th Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991?.

Stations

Key Field, MS, 15 Apr 1942; Barksdale Field, LA, 17 May 1942; Greenville AAB, SC, 21 Jun 1942; Ypsilanti, MI, 9?23 Aug 1942; Wheeler Field, TH, 12 Sep 1942; Iron Range, Australia, c. 4 Nov 1942; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 10 Feb 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, Dec 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, c. 23 Feb 1944; Biak, 12 Aug 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, 26 Jan 1945; Ie Shima, 15 Aug 1945; Ft William McKinley, Luzon, 23 Nov 1945?27 Jan 1946. Andrews Field (later, AFB), MD, 1 Jul 1947?6 Sep 1948. Fairchild AFB, WA, 2 Jan 1951; Forbes AFB, KS, 14 Mar 1951?20 Jun 1960. Francis E. Warren AFB, WY, 9 Apr 1964?.

Aircraft and Missiles

B?24, 1942?1945. B/RB?29, 1951?1954; RB?47, 1954?1960. Minuteman I, 1964?1974; Minuteman III, 1974?.

Operations

Combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 22 Nov 1942?24 Jul 1945. Apparently not manned, 1 Jul 1947?6 Sep 1948. Operational training, 1 Jun 1951?Sep 1952; replacement training, 1 Jun 1951?1 Sep 1953; SHORAN training, 10 Nov 1952?30 Nov 1953; RB?47 crew training, c. 1 Jan 1959?20 Jun 1960. Strategic missile operations, 1964?.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua, [22 Nov] 1942?23 Jan 1943; New Guinea, 13 and 15 Sep 1943. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1968?30 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1973?30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1977?30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1982?30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1987?30 Jun 1989; 1 Aug 1991?31 Jul 1993. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).

Emblem

On a Gold disc issuing from chief a Blue inverted chevron framed by two lightning bolts divided White and Red and bearing six Gold stars three-two-one, all flanked by two Blue stars. In base a Light Blue sphere parted per pale of four White bars wavy and White grid lines and rimmed Blue. Arched from base of sphere on each side a White vapor trail each terminating behind a Blue missile ascending within a palm branch arched in dexter and an olive branch arched in sinister, both Green. Approved on 4 Nov 1965 (KE 18193); replaced emblems approved on 10 Jun 1954 (49653 A.C.) and 27 Mar 1943 (8886 A.C.).