Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

28th Bomb Squadron

The 28th Bomb Squadron is the largest bomb squadron in the Air Force and the largest flying squadron in Air Combat Command. Its primary mission is to provide all B-1 initial qualification, requalification and instructor upgrade training for Air Combat Command. The squadron determines, evaluates and implements formal training requirements to qualify crew members in long-range day and night, all-weather and air-to-ground attack. Each year the 28th trains more than 200 B-1 crew members from all the active duty and Air National Guard B-1 units. The unit services, launches, recovers, repairs and inspects 25 B-1 aircraft. The squadron also maintains conventional combat readiness supporting higher headquarters contingency taskings worldwide.

The 28th Bomb Squadron was activated on July 22, 1917, at Kelly Field. After World War I, the 28th was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines and flew the Martin MB-2, the Keystone B-3 and then the B-17 bomber as a member of the 19th Bomb Group. In World War II, the 28th provided critical support of the air war in the South Pacific. Assigned to the 7th Bomb Group, the 28th flew alongside the 9th Bomb Squadron in the battle of the Coral Sea, Java Sea, and East Indies. The unit received eight distinguished unit citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

As the only unit to be active at the start and finish of World War II, the 28th survived the drawdown and was among the first combatants of the Korean Conflict. The 28th flew the B-29s into "MiG Alley" and scored several kills against the new MiG-15. The 28th received two distinguished unit citations and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

The 28th moved to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in July 1968 and furnished B-52 crews to combat operations in Southeast Asia. During July 1972, the squadron was not capable to perform additional duties as all its crews and aircraft were loaned to other organizations. By October 1973, the crews and aircraft were returned to duty with the 28th and normal operations resumed.

On Oct. 1, 1983, the squadron was inactivated, and then reactivated July 1, 1987, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The squadron, now flying the B-1B, moved to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 1, 1994.