Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

448th Missile Squadron

The 448th Missile Squadron was one of three operational missile squadrons assigned to the 321st Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base. A complete warfighting unit comprised of operations, security forces, and support personnel, it controlled 50 launch facilities and five missile alert facilities.

Constituted 448th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 26 Jun 1942. Redesignated 448th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 6 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945. Redesignated 448th Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 29 Jan 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Mar 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 448th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 30 Oct 1958. Activated on 1 Feb 1959. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Oct 1961. Redesignated 448th Strategic Missile Squadron, and activated, on 2 Aug 1965. Organized on 15 Sep 1965. Redesignated 448th Missile Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.

Combat in MTO, 15 Mar 1943-25 Apr 1945. Not operational, 15 Sep 1965-c. Sep 1966. Missile operations, Oct 1966-. Minuteman II, 1966-1972; Minuteman III, 1972-.