page_title: 71st Tactical Missile Squadron
section_title: Tactical bomber operations
hierarchical_section_title: 71st Tactical Missile Squadron / History / Tactical bomber operations
caption_attribution_description: English: Martin B-57B-MA Serial 52-1560 of the 71st Bombardment Squadron - 1957. This aircraft was also one of the "Black Knights" aerial acrobatic team. After its withdrawal from France in 1958, this aircraft was eventually assigned to the 8th Bombardment Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base South Vietnam and flew combat bombing missions into the late 1960s. Français&#160;: Martin B-57B-MA Serial 52-1560 du 71st Light Bomber Squadron - 1957. Cet avion était aussi l'un de ceux de la patrouille d'acrobaties aériennes des Black Knights. Après son départ de France, cet avion fut affecté au 8th Tactical Bombardment Squadron basé à Phan Rang Air Base au Sud-Vietnam et effectua des missions de combat (bombardements) à la fin des années 1960.
context_page_description: The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 485th Tactical Missile Wing at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1989 with the implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
  The squadron was first activated as the 71st Bombardment Squadron in 1941 as the United States built up its military forces prior to World War II. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater, participating in combat until V-J Day, moving forward from Australia to Okinawa. It earned four Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions during the war. The 71st moved to Japan as part of the occupation forces, although it was only partly manned and equipped for some of this time. The squadron was inactivated in 1949 as the Defense budget was reduced.
  The squadron was again activated in France in 1953, when it replaced an Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War and was being returned to state control.
context_section_description: The 71st was reactivated at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France on 1 January 1953.  It assumed the mission, personnel and Douglas B-26 Invader light bombers of the 108th Bombardment Squadron, an Illinois Air National Guard squadron that had been mobilized for the Korean War, but was being returned to State control at the end of its active duty tour.  Over the next two years, the squadron completed an upgrade of its Invader force to planes equipped for night intruder missions.  As facilities at Laon were completed, it was able to move from tents to permanent buildings.
  In January 1955, the squadron's pilots began flying missions in jet Lockheed T-33 T-Birds to prepare them for conversion to Martin B-57B Canberras.  It would not be until the end of the year before the first B-57Cs, equipped with dual controls were on hand, so for some squadron pilots, their first solo in the Canberra was also their first flight in the bomber. In July 1955, the squadron's mission was changed from night intruder missions to the delivery of nuclear weapons.
  Starting in January 1956, the squadron, along with the other squadrons of the 38th Wing, began to rotate aircrews and aircraft to Landstuhl Air Base, where they stood alert with nuclear weapons (called Zulu Alert).  The squadron also participated in the wing's maintenance of twelve aircraft on alert at its home station.  To maintain efficiency in its operational mission, the squadron deployed to Wheelus Air Base, Libya for gunnery and bombing practice.  In December 1957, the 38th Bombardment Wing converted to the dual deputy organization.  The 38th Bombardment Group was inactivated and the squadron was assigned directly to wing headquarters.
  At the start of 1958, the squadron began transferring its B-57s back to the United States.  By 18 June, the squadron's operations at Laon had ceased.
caption: Squadron B-57A Canberra[note 1]
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