405th Tactical Missile Squadron
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The 405th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first organized in January 1941 as the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron. In early 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron's ground echelon moved to reinforce American forces in Australia, although the air echelon remained in the United States for additional training until August. While completing its training, the unit was redesignated the 405th Bombardment Squadron. The squadron moved forward through New Guinea and the Philippines, earning three Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions, operating from Okinawa in the closing month of the war. Following V-J Day, it moved to Japan and became part of the occupation forces until inactivating in April 1949.
405th Tactical Missile Squadron | |
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BGM-109G Gryphon missile ready to fire | |
Active | 1941–1949; 1953–1966; 1987–1988 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Tactical missile |
Nickname(s) | Green Dragons[1][2] |
Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater[3] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[3] |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Ralph Cheli[4] |
Insignia | |
405th Tactical Missile Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 1][3] | ![]() |
It was reactivated in France in January 1953, when it took over the personnel and equipment of an Air National Guard unit that had been called to active service for the Korean War. In June 1958, it moved to Germany, where, as the 405th Tactical Missile Squadron, it assumed the resources of another unit, which was inactivated. It was inactivated in September 1966 as the Air Force withdrew most of its missiles from Europe. It was activated again from August 1987 to September 1988 as a Ground Launched Cruise Missile squadron, but was inactivated at Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands with the implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.