page_title: 524th Bomb Squadron
section_title: B-47 era
hierarchical_section_title: 524th Bomb Squadron / History / Strategic Air Command / B-47 era
caption_attribution_description: English: Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojet bombers c. 1950s. The world's first swept-wing bomber. The B-47 normally carried a crew of three--pilot, copilot (who operated the tail turret by remote control), and an observer who also served as navigator, bombardier and radar operator.
context_page_description: The 524th Bomb Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, and was inactivated on 15 December 1992 as the base was drawing down prior to closure.
  The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 524th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it moved to England, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The squadron twice was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron moved to Morocco, where it participated in the transportation of military personnel back to the United States until it was inactivated in June 1945.
  The squadron was reactivated in 1955 as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber squadron. In 1960, it began converting to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. However, Strategic Air Command was engaged in a project to disperse its B-52 wings to reduce their vulnerability to Soviet attack and the squadron moved to Wurtsmith in 1961. The squadron stood nuclear alert at Wurtsmith until the end of the Cold War.
context_section_description: The squadron was reactivated at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida in November 1955 and assigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing.  The unit's first few months were spent in organizing and manning as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber unit.  It received its Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers in April 1956 and began training for strategic bombing operations.  Once the wing became combat ready, it began overseas Operation Reflex alert operations training, sending five Stratojets to Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco.    Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments 
  From 1958, SAC's B-47 wings began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases.  General Thomas S. Power’s initial goal was to maintain one third of SAC's planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.    This program was short lived for the squadron.  In October 1960, it began to transfer its B-47s to other units, becoming non-operational.
caption: Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojets
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