6th Attack Squadron
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The 6th Attack Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron is a formal training unit for crews learning to operate unmanned aerial vehicles.
6th Attack Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1946; 1955–1962; 1963–1969; 2009–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Unmanned aerial vehicle attack |
Garrison/HQ | Holloman Air Force Base |
Nickname(s) | Hawks |
Motto(s) | Raptores (Latin for 'Raptors') |
Engagements | China Burma India Theater Pacific Theater of Operations |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Insignia | |
6th Attack Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 1][1] |
The squadron was first organized in 1943 as the 794th Bombardment Squadron, one of the first Boeing B-29 Superfortress units of the Army Air Forces. After training in the United States, the squadron moved to India, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan. In 1945, it moved to the Mariana Islands, from which it continued its attacks against Japan, earning three Distinguished Unit Citations before returning to the United States. It converted to the aerial reconnaissance role as the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, becoming one of the first units in Strategic Air Command (SAC) before inactivating in March 1946.
The squadron was again activated in SAC in June 1955 as the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, flying Boeing RB-47 Stratojets, before returning to the bombardment mission as the 6th Bombardment Squadron. It was inactivated in 1962 as the B-47 was phased out, but activated as a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress unit the following year. It was inactivated in December 1969, when SAC removed older B-52s from its inventory. The squadron was activated in its current role in 2009.