History
551st Strategic Missile Squadron: 1961-1965. Atlas-Fs
Constituted as the 551st Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy) and activated on December 1, 1942, as part of the 485th
Bombardment Group flying B-17s. In June 1943, the 485th
arrived in the United Kingdom and was assigned to the 4th
Bomb Wing, 8th Air Force. The group was based at Great
Ashfield in Suffolk, England and flew its first combat mission in July
1943. The group flew bombing missions against Fokker aircraft
assembly plants at Amsterdam and submarine pens in Norway. It also
flew missions to Germany, including Schweinfurt. The group was
de-activated on
August 28, 1945. The 551st Strategic Missile Squadron
was activated on April 1, 1964 under the 98th Aerospace Wing
at Lincoln AFB. The squadron was equipped with 12 HGM-16F (Atlas)
intercontinental ballistic missiles with a seven megaton warhead.
Playing a major role in the “Cold War”, they were the last Atlas-F
squadron to stand alert. The unit was de-activated on June 30, 1965.
Veterans of the 551st SMS have their own association, and may
be contacted at: 551st AMS Association, 2890Lafayette Ave.,
Bronx, NY 10465-2231, or at ams551@aol.com.